Watch On Sunday, Learn on Monday - What we learnt from BTCC at Donington Park this weekend
As the dust settles on a wet and wild weekend at Donington Park for what was the first round of the 2023 BTCC Championship, Ignition Human Performance's Nick Butcher reflects on the three things we can learn from the action we saw on-track and put into our own business or personal performance.
Preparation is the key to success:
As the weekend progressed, it became clear who had been having the better pre-season preparations with Napa Racing, West Surrey Racing and our very own on-track partners Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport (also run by WSR) taking the top 5. Four of these five drivers/team partnership were continuing on from where they left off last season with only pole man Daniel Rowbottom having moved from Team Dynamics to Napa Racing during the winter.
Watch On Sunday, Learn on Monday - What we learnt from BTCC at Donington Park this weekend
As the dust settles on a wet and wild weekend at Donington Park for what was the first round of the 2023 BTCC Championship, Ignition Human Performance's Nick Butcher reflects on the three things we can learn from the action we saw on-track and put into our own business or personal performance.
Preparation is the key to success:
As the weekend progressed, it became clear who had been having the better pre-season preparations with Napa Racing, West Surrey Racing and our very own on-track partners Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport (also run by WSR) taking the top 5. Four of these five drivers/team partnership were continuing on from where they left off last season with only pole man Daniel Rowbottom having moved from Team Dynamics to Napa Racing during the winter.
Preparation is often cited as the key to success, and for good reason. Whether it's in business, sports, or any other field, those who put in the time and effort to prepare are more likely to achieve their goals. Preparation involves developing a plan of action, anticipating potential obstacles, and honing one's skills and knowledge. It requires discipline, focus, and a willingness to put in the hard work necessary to succeed. Those who prepare thoroughly are better equipped to handle challenges, make quick decisions, and seize opportunities when they arise. Ultimately, preparation is not just about getting ready for a specific task or event, but about developing a mindset of readiness and a commitment to excellence that can help one succeed in all aspects of life.
Preparation is key to success. Here Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver Jake Hill practices his reaction time before the race, which would come in very handy during the weekend's tricky conditions (photo: Jakob Ebrey)
Adaptability and Decision Making is Critical:
Drivers must be able to adapt quickly to changing conditions on track. This can mean adjusting their driving style to suit different weather conditions or making a split-second decision to pit for a change onto wet tyres. The latter choice was the one we saw from eventual race two winner Tom Chilton. Halfway through the warmup lap he noticed the track was starting to show more signs that the rain was coming in quickly and took the decision to ask his engineer on the team radio if it was also raining in the pitlane, who confirmed it was. With this information he made the call to change to wet weather tyres as most of the rest of the grid was lining up to start the race. In a decision that could have gone either way, ultimately Tom didn't have much to lose as he started the race from further down the grid, leading to his first race win since 2019.
In business, the ability to adapt and make critical decisions is just as important. Companies that can pivot quickly to changing market conditions or customer needs are more likely to succeed than those that are stuck in their ways.
The tricky conditions meant drivers had to adapt their driving styles and make split second decisions, throughout the weekend (photo: Jakob Ebrey)
Persistence pays off:
Also, in race two we saw Nic Hamilton (with his brother Lewis secretly watching from the side lines) score a career highest position of 7th, just missing out on his 1st independent’s win of his career having run for 6th for most of the race, making a very similar decision to the Tom Chilton to pit early for wet tyres. Born with cerebral palsy, Hamilton has faced many obstacles in his life, but he has refused to let his disability hold him back. This result is a testament that persistence and hard work does pay off, a lesson which is true of any of us can use when undertaking a personal or business project.
MB Motorsport Sporting Director Mark Blundell, watches the action unfold (photo: MB Motorsport)
From an Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport point of view, on-track it was a strong start to the season as driver Jake Hill, qualifying on the second row and leading the majority of race 1 before eventually finishing in 2nd. It was a tricky race 2 in changing conditions which saw Jake start near the back of the grid for race 3. This didn’t dampen his spirits though (excuse the rain pun!) and he climbed through the field to finish just off the podium in 4th place. He leaves Donington 3rd in the championship with 32 points.
Off-track it was also just as strong, with Laser Tools Racing and MB Motorsport kicking off its brand new partnership for the season ahead, with both parties welcoming a number of guests throughout the weekend, all keen to learn how the performance seen on-track could lead to lessons off it.
Throughout the weekend Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport welcomed their team partners and guests, to show them how lessons from motorsport can be used to unlock performance (Photo: MB Motorsport)
Next round is Brands Hatch, on the 6th & 7th May 2023. Full coverage can be seen on ITV4 and ITVX.
Jake Hill celebrates in 2nd place in race one with MB Motorsport Sporting Director Mark Blundell and the team's Chairman Theo Paphitis (Photo: Jakob Ebrey)
Ignition Human Performance is the Official Business Performance Partner to Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport. To learn more about how MB Motorsport and Ignition Human Performance are unlocking performance both on and off track using lessons from motorsport via areas such as Learning and Development and People Strategic Consultancy, please visit IgnitionPerformance.com or email nickbutcher@ignitionperform.com
It was a unique weekend in Azerbaijan, as we saw a brand-new weekend format. On-track Red Bull Racing's Sergio Perez won ahead of his teammate and championship rival Max Verstappen. Ignition Human Performance's Nick Butcher reflects on the three things we can learn from the action we saw and put into our own business or personal performance.
As the dust settles on what was a fantastic 100th Anniversary of the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a victory for car 51 the Ferrari AFCourse, with drivers James Colado, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Antonio Giovinazzi - what exactly can we learn from one of the most prestigious endurance races in the world and use to unlock your own personal or business performance?
Fresh from working for Sky Sports F1 in Azerbaijan this weekend, Ignition's Nick Butcher caught up with former Race Strategist & now TV pundit Bernie Collins, to discuss her career and how she has translated the lessons she learnt from the pitwall into business performance and her new career.
Ignition Human Performance is pleased to announce that another fantastic member of the grid joining its Motorsport Speakers roster, Julien Simon-Chautemps, who was most recently Kimi Räikkönen’s last Formula One Race Engineer.
In recent years, the Formula 1 landscape has witnessed a notable shift in sponsorship trends, with an increasing number of online betting & gambling companies entering the scene. This growing presence of online bookmakers as sponsors for F1 teams has sparked discussions about the implications for the sport's image, financial dynamics, and the potential influence on its global fan base.
Back in February 2021, I was fortunate enough to sit down with two Formula One World Champions, Sir Jackie Stewart OBE and Damon Hill OBE, to help raise money for their respective charities, Race Against Dementia and halow project.
Back in February 2021, I was fortunate enough to sit down with two Formula One World Champions, Sir Jackie Stewart OBE and Damon Hill OBE, to help raise money for their respective charities, Race Against Dementia and halow project.
In 2004 the Red Bull Drinks Company purchased the Jaguar Racing Team for $1. The Jaguar team, who were owned at the time by the Ford Motor Company, had been in Formula 1 since 2000 after Ford purchased 3 time Formula 1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart’s Stewart Grand Prix team.
Ignition Human Performance (IHP) and Niesslein Sustainability Partners (NSP), are pleased to announce they have teamed up to launch a pioneering questionnaire looking at the current state of Sustainability in Motorsport and its associated industries.
Over the next few months Ignition Human Performance will be following the progress of Raj Kular, who is applying to compete in the new Formula Woman series, which if she wins, will be awarded a drive in a two car Formula Woman entered McLaren GT4 race cars in the 2022 GT Cup championship.
You may remember back in November we shared the story of Raj Kular, who was competing in Formula Woman, with a seat in a McLaren GT4 in the British GT Cup for the winner!
Well the good news is that from 850 applicants she is now down to the final 75 drivers.
As part of our ethos "Watch on Sunday, Learning on Monday" here at Ignition Human Performance, we are always looking for ways to take the lessons you will see this weekend at the race track and look at how they can be translated into unlocking business or personal performance.
As part of our ethos "Watch on Sunday, Learning on Monday" here at Ignition Human Performance, we are always looking for ways to take the lessons you will see this weekend at the race track and look at how they can be translated into unlocking business or personal performance.
In the realm of Formula 1, where speed, precision, and strategy collide, Lewis Hamilton's decision to join the Ferrari team from 2025 onwards has sent shockwaves through the motorsport community.
In 2010, Mercedes-Benz made its return to Formula One as a Constructor for the first time since 1955 taking over the Brawn GP team. The German car manufacturer had been back in the sport involved as a engine provider, first with Sauber in 1993 and then as a 40% shareholder of McLaren from 1995.
As part of HR Strategy Pro's 'Ignition'#OurMotorsportDNA, we will be producing a series of blogs from our research into the Secrets to Sustainable Success in Formula One. Each Wednesday, we will look at the lessons we can learn from top flight Motorsport such as Formula One, WEC and Formula E and how you can put it back into your business regardless of industry.
Back in 1993 Ferrari were in the middle of a season which would bring them no wins. They also hadn't won a championship since 1979 so in a change of management they brought in Jean Todt, the Frenchman who had over seen a huge amount of success in sports cars and rallying with Peugeot throughout the 80s and early 90s.
In 2010, Mercedes-Benz made its return to Formula One as a Constructor for the first time since 1955 taking over the Brawn GP team. The German car manufacturer had been back in the sport involved as a engine provider, first with Sauber in 1993 and then as a 40% shareholder of McLaren from 1995.
As we look to bring our teams back together for a successful 2022, Ignition Human Performance Managing Director Nick Butcher looks at 5 short case studies from the world of Formula One, with lessons that can help us unlock a High-Performance Culture, regardless of business industry.
The Ignition Book Club is a weekly review of different books from the bookshelf in the Ignition Human Performance office. These books all have a common cross over, which is a focus on lessons from elite motorsports that can be translated into business performance
The Ignition Book Club is a weekly review of different books from the bookshelf in the Ignition Human Performance office. These books all have a common cross over, which is a focus on lessons from elite motorsports that can be translated into business performance.
The Ignition Book Club is a weekly review of different books from the bookshelf in the Ignition Human Performance office. These books all have a common cross over, which is a focus on lessons from elite motorsports that can be translated into business performance.
The Ignition Book Club is a weekly review of different books from the bookshelf in the Ignition Human Performance office. These books all have a common cross over, which is a focus on lessons from elite motorsports that can be translated into business performance.
With the announcement this week that Motorsport To Business® powered by Ignition Human Performance, would be rejoining MBP's Official Partner Network (having worked as a team partner to their BTCC team MB Motorsport the last two seasons), our Managing Director Nick Butcher met up with their CEO, former F1 Driver Mark Blundell, to reflect on the lessons he has learnt from a career in motorsport and business.
%20Logo%20PNG%20Black%20Background%20%20(1640%20x%20924%20px)%20large.png)
