Feeling nervous before a race doesn’t mean something’s wrong. It means you care. The pressure, the waiting, the noise, It builds up. And if you don’t know how to deal with it, it’ll mess with your focus and slow you down.
But nerves can be a weapon if you know how to use them. Here’s how to stop them from getting in your way and start using them to race better.
1. Accept that nerves are normal
Most racer gets them frequently. Pro or rookie, local or national. That tension in your chest before the green flag waves is part of racing. The goal isn’t to kill it. The goal is to embrace it and control it.
Start by accepting it. Stop telling yourself it means you’re not ready. You are.
2. Shift your mindset
Don’t think of nerves as fear. Think of it as energy and excitement. That rush you feel? That’s your body getting ready to perform.
Tell yourself, “This is what being prepared feels like.” The more you see nerves as a signal that you’re switched on, not stressed out, the more you can use that adrenaline to stay sharp. Use positive mantras like, ‘All that I need is within me now, I’m ready to crush it.” before hitting the track
3. Stick to a routine
Routines build confidence. Simple, repeatable habits help calm your brain and lock in your focus. Stretch the same way. Warm up the same way. Review your notes or track map. Get your gear on at the same time before every session. When the routine is solid, you don’t waste energy thinking about what’s next. You’re just ready.
4. Focus on what you can control
You can’t control who you’re racing against, how the weather changes, or if someone sends it three-wide into Turn 1. So don’t waste mental space on it. Focus on your job. Your braking points. Your line. Your starts. That’s where the results come from. Keep your world small and stay in control.
5. Use your breath
This one’s simple but powerful. Deep, slow breathing lowers your heart rate and clears your head.
Try this before you get in the kart: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4. Repeat it a few times. It’s a quick reset button. Do it on the grid, before a big race, or any time you feel your mind racing faster than your kart.
Final word
Nerves don’t mean you’re weak. They mean you’re ready. Own them. Use them. The drivers who perform under pressure aren’t fearless. They just know how to turn that tension into focus. And that’s what wins races.
Sources
This article is based on performance coaching methods used in youth motorsport, input from driver psychologists, and practical advice from karting coaches across SKUSA, USPKS, and WKA-level racing.
