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Listen Notes
StitcherToday’s guest is Neil Wearden
- Neil and I started competing together in 1997 using Asquith Autosport’s Honda Civic in the British Rally Championship and on a selection of other events.
Over the next 2 years we had huge success as a team, putting in some giant-killing performances, which led to offers from 4 different manufacturer teams.
We chose Vauxhall and began a 2-year programme in an Astra Formula 2 kit car, during an era seen by many as the most iconic. We won the Ulster Rally in our 1st year, before winning the Manufacturer’s title in 2000.
The highlight of our career together was competing in a Peugeot 206 World Rally Car on selected rounds of the World Rally Championship in 2001, where we were able to set some top 5 stage times in our debut year.
I have no doubt that had circumstances been a little more favourable, Neil had the talent and character needed to become a multiple World Rally Champion.
In the show, we learn how his role as a retained fire-fighter helped him stay calm in the pressured environment of the World Rally Championship.
We talked a lot about the need for meticulous preparation
We also learn about his grit and determination to succeed, even after his driving career as a very successful endurance athlete.
Neil lives just outside Blackpool where he continues to run the family garage business.
Here’s the suggested actions from this show.
- Preparation and a routine will help you stay calm and be more relaxed. That in turn will help you absorb information more easily, give you more sensitivity to the car’s movements, help you drive more smoothly which means you will be easier on your car. It will also help you preserve energy.
- Try to balance your hands on the steering wheel at the 10 to 2 position for maximum efficiency and smooth driving.
- Use a racing instructor or coach to help understand lines and the physics of driving, e.g. how the forces work on a tyre.
- Look as far ahead as you can, you will steer where you look. That’s the same for looking where the corner finishes.
- Aim to guide your car rather than fight it – it’s all about momentum and carrying speed.
- Visualise your competitor when you are training and do one more rep or sprint that little bit faster
- Work hard, practice hard, put everything into it, nothing half-hearted
- Don’t let your mind tell your body to stop, keep going until you physically stop. Focus on the process, one stride or swimming stroke after the other
- Teach yourself how to quickly adapt your driving
- You’ve got to be true to yourself
- Commit 100% to what you’re doing
- For everything you do in life, ask these 3 things to maximise your learning and add to your experience: –
- What went well?
- What could have gone better?
- What could I do differently next time?
- Make the car float
- Be creative in trying to find an edge over your competitors, e.g. using a hypnotherapist.
Show references: –
Neil & Trevor interview on the Absolute Rally podcast from 14.07.19 (from 30mins 30 secs): –
https://www.absoluterally.co.uk/episode-6-season-17-14-08-19/
Neil & Trevor interview on the Sprint podcast from 28.05.20: –
https://sprintpodcast.podbean.com/e/s1-2001-wrc-special-interview-with-neil-wearden-trevor-agnew/
You can find Neil on Twitter: – @neilwearden
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That’s it for now, thanks very much for listening, until the next time, take care.