Motorsport mental performance
Mental Coaching for Drivers & Riders
Private sessions by Zoom for track-day drivers, racers, autocrossers, rally competitors, sim racers and motorcycle riders, to help manage nerves, stay focused at speed and drive the lap they know they have in them.
Book my free consultation20 minutes · No cost · No obligation
Work directly with Robert BarnettCertified Hypnotherapist · C.Ht., PMP, MBA
Free 20-minute consultation
No cost · No obligation · By phone
Motorsport asks you to make a decision every fraction of a second while managing fear, adrenaline and expectation. Most drivers and riders already know what the fast line looks like. What gets in the way is the mind: nerves on the grid, hesitation after a scare, overdriving when the clock is running, or a mistake that follows you through the next five corners. Mental coaching and hypnosis train the skills that hold up under that pressure: staying present, resetting quickly and trusting your preparation. Robert Barnett, C.Ht., PMP, MBA, is a certified hypnotherapist and mental performance coach with 35+ years of hypnosis experience who works with competitive athletes in nearly every sport. He is also a lifelong motorsport enthusiast: he has ridden motorcycles since he was 16, has driven advanced-level HPDE at Lime Rock Park and Thompson Speedway, has done autocross at Lime Rock and other venues, enjoys rally, and has experience with sim racing on iRacing. He works with drivers and riders by Zoom from anywhere.
When the mental side matters
Sound familiar?
Drivers and riders who:
Fast in practice, slower when it counts
Hit your numbers in practice, then tighten up when the lap is timed, qualifying starts or the stage is on the clock.
Fear after a spin, scare or crash
Lift, hesitate or brake early after a close call, and cannot fully commit to the corner, the braking zone or the lean angle again.
Nerves on the grid or at the start
Pre-race adrenaline, a shaky paddock or a poor start drains focus before the first corner.
Overdriving and chasing
Push past the limit to make up time or catch someone, and the mistakes and lost seconds pile up.
Carrying a mistake through the lap
Replay a missed apex or a bad shift and bring it into the next several corners instead of resetting.
Focus that fades late in a session
Concentration slips late in a stint, a long race or a rally day, and lap times and decisions slip with it.
The pattern behind it
Why speed exposes the mental game
In a calm practice session you drive on trained habit. When the stakes rise, whether a timed lap, a race start or a corner that scared you last time, an automatic stress response can take over: tension in the hands, a narrowed focus, earlier braking or a rushed input. Seat time and coaching improve your technique, but they do not change that response, because it runs below conscious thought. That gap is what mental coaching works on.
In Robert's experience, many drivers and riders get stuck on the result, such as the lap time, the rival ahead or what others think, and performance tends to improve when attention returns to the process: your marks, your inputs and the next corner.
The mental game plan
The solution: a mental plan built around your discipline
The work usually follows three steps, shaped around your discipline, your car or bike and your goals:
Map your pressure moments
We pin down when and where your driving or riding changes: the start, a particular corner, traffic, qualifying, or the first lap after a scare.
Rehearse a better response
Hypnosis and guided visualization work at the subconscious level, where automatic reactions live, so you can rehearse the calm focus and commitment you want before you are strapped in.
Take a routine to the grid
You leave with a pre-session routine, a focus cue and a short reset you can use after a mistake, a spin or a poor start.
Hypnosis is a state of focused attention, and it is one tool among several. Most pressure reactions, such as freezing, overdriving or overthinking, are automatic habits that run below conscious thought, which is why willpower and positive thinking rarely fix them. We combine hypnosis with complementary methods: cognitive behavioral techniques (CBT) to identify and restructure the thoughts that feed doubt, NLP methods to change how you picture and respond to pressure situations, and subconscious pattern work to replace old reactions with new ones. In Robert's experience, combining them gets results more quickly than any one alone. It is not mind control, and you stay in charge throughout.
Visualization is a core skill we teach, and we use it inside hypnosis. Drivers and riders have long rehearsed laps in their heads, and a 2025 meta-analysis of 86 studies found that imagery works better when combined with other psychological skills, which is why we pair it with hypnosis and cognitive tools.
Sessions are one-on-one by Zoom, so they fit around your racing calendar and travel, and you do not need a car, a bike or a track. Sessions are always done at rest, never while driving or riding. Robert offers three program lengths and recommends one after your free phone consultation. In Robert's experience, the shortest is a starting point, since skills that hold up in competition usually take longer to build.
You start with a free 20-minute phone consultation. We talk through what happens when you drive or ride under pressure and whether this is a fit. Your sessions are then held one-on-one by Zoom.
Mental coaching complements your instructor's or coach's training. It is not driving or riding instruction, it does not replace medical or mental health care, and it is never a reason to take risks beyond your skill, equipment or the rules. Progress is individual; results vary.
Free consultation
Book your free 20-minute consultation
We start with a short phone call about what happens when you drive or ride under pressure, what you want to change, and whether this is a fit. No cost, no obligation. Sessions are then held one-on-one by Zoom.
Consultations by phone. Sessions by Zoom, worldwide. Based in Trumbull, CT.
Your discipline. Your season.
Commit to the
next corner.
Every driver and rider has different pressure points. The work is built around your discipline, your calendar and the moments that trip you up.
- A pre-session routine you can repeat
- A quick reset after a mistake, a spin or a scare
- A plan for qualifying, race starts and big days
For parents and guardians
How it works for young drivers and riders
For athletes under 18, such as karters and young riders, a parent or guardian contacts Robert first. The free 20-minute phone consultation is a chance to talk about your young driver's goals, whether the timing is right, and how sessions would work. The details of parent involvement are discussed there.
Robert has worked with athletes as young as 6 in several sports, and finds that engagement with the work becomes more consistent around ages 8 to 10. Sessions are private, one-on-one by Zoom, and fit around school and the racing calendar. You will get a clear plan for what to expect, and no obligation to continue.
In their words
What athletes and parents say
High Performance Hypnotherapy has 65+ five-star reviews on Google. The reviews below are quoted as posted by athletes and parents in several sports, since the mental skills carry across disciplines. Individual experiences vary and results are not guaranteed.
“Over a period of a few weeks, I saw definitive progress in my confidence on and off the field. Using High Performance Hypnotherapy has been undoubtedly beneficial to helping me work towards the goals I set before starting sessions.”
College athlete, Google review, 5 stars
“Robert achieved excellent results for my son. He provided great strategies for handling the mental side of sports, and it was very obvious that he really cared. The hypnotherapy had a very noticeable effect and my son really looked forward to the sessions. I highly recommend Robert!”
Parent of a young athlete, Google review, 5 stars
“He worked wonders with my nine-year-old, showing genuine care, delivering results, and communicating like a pro. Robert’s dedication and skill are unmatched.”
Parent of a young athlete, Google review, 5 stars
More client stories are on our client reviews page.
Meet your mental coach
About Robert Barnett
Robert Barnett is a certified hypnotherapist (C.Ht.) with a PMP and an MBA. He has practiced hypnosis for more than 35 years and runs High Performance Hypnotherapy from Trumbull, CT, working with executives, business owners and competitive athletes worldwide, including college and high school athletes. Learn more about Robert. Robert competed at a high level himself and knows sports anxiety from the inside: it built through years of competition in high school and college, with teammates counting on him and his name known across campus. He has worked with athletes in nearly every sport, from youth and high school to college and professional levels. Outside the office he has been a motorsport enthusiast since he started riding motorcycles at 16, with advanced-level HPDE at Lime Rock Park and Thompson Speedway, autocross at Lime Rock and other venues, rally and sim racing, so he understands the pull of speed as well as the coaching side. The conversation begins with your experience and the change you want to make.
HMI · Diploma in Hypnotherapy
Sports Performance TrainingWatch
Overthinking and the flow state
A short introduction to how we help athletes get out of their own way.
Individual experiences vary and results are not guaranteed. Coaching with hypnosis is not medical or mental health treatment.
Questions drivers, riders and parents ask
Motorsport mental coaching FAQ
What is mental coaching and hypnosis for drivers and riders?
It is mental performance training that uses hypnosis, a state of focused attention, together with complementary tools such as CBT, NLP techniques, visualization and subconscious pattern work. The aim is to help you stay calm, focused and confident at speed.
Can it help with nerves before a race, a start or a timed lap?
Yes. Pre-race nerves and start-line adrenaline are among the most common reasons athletes work on the mental game. Training can help you settle your focus and use a repeatable routine, though no one can promise a specific result.
Can it help me get over a spin, a close call or a crash?
Many drivers and riders are physically fine but hesitate, lift or brake early after a scare, and that reaction is largely automatic. Mental coaching works on the fear and tension behind it. It does not assess physical readiness or replace medical care, so follow your doctor's guidance after any injury.
Why am I fast in practice but slower when it counts?
In practice the stakes are low, so you drive on trained habit. When a lap is timed or a race starts, pressure can trigger an automatic stress response that practice does not change. Mental coaching trains a different response, so the driver or rider you are in practice is easier to access when it counts.
Does this work for HPDE and track-day drivers, or only racers?
It works for both. Many people who drive HPDE or track days feel nerves, hesitate in certain corners or struggle to relax at speed, and the same mental skills apply. You do not need to be racing competitively.
Does it work for motorcycle riders?
Yes. Riders deal with the same pressure, along with the added awareness that a mistake can hurt. Mental coaching can help you rebuild confidence, quiet doubt and stay focused, while technique stays with your coach or instructor.
Can it help in autocross and rally?
Yes. Autocross is a short timed run where one lapse of focus costs the run, and rally demands sustained concentration over many stages. Both put heavy demands on focus, composure and resetting after a mistake.
Can it help with overdriving or chasing other drivers?
Many drivers push past their limit when they feel behind or are chasing a rival. Mental coaching works on the urgency and frustration behind it, helping you focus on your own process and stay consistent.
Will hypnosis make me less alert or unsafe at speed?
No. Hypnosis is a state of focused attention, and sessions are always done at rest, never while driving or riding. The skills you build, such as a routine and a reset, are designed to sharpen your focus. They are never a reason to take risks beyond your skill, equipment or the rules.
How do online sessions work?
Sessions are mental training, so you do not need a car, a bike or a track. They are held privately, one-on-one by Zoom, from a quiet place where you can sit comfortably and speak without interruption. His practice is based in Trumbull, CT, and most clients work with him remotely.
Does it work for sim racers and esports drivers?
Yes. Sim racing puts real pressure on focus, nerves and consistency, from qualifying laps to race starts and long events, and the same mental skills apply. Robert has experience with sim racing and iRacing himself. Sessions are mental training, held privately by Zoom.
Do you work with young drivers and karters?
Yes. For athletes under 18, a parent or guardian contacts Robert first for the free 20-minute phone consultation to talk about goals, readiness and how sessions would work. Robert has worked with athletes as young as 6 and finds that engagement becomes more consistent around ages 8 to 10.
Does this replace my driving coach, instructor or a sports psychologist?
No. Mental coaching complements your coach's or instructor's technical training. It is not driving or riding instruction and does not replace medical or mental health care.
What happens in the free consultation?
It is a 20-minute phone call about what happens when you drive or ride under pressure, what you want to change, and whether this approach fits. There is no obligation. If you decide to work together, sessions are held one-on-one by Zoom.
How many sessions will I need, and how quickly will I see a change?
It depends on your goals, your discipline and how much you practice between sessions. Robert offers three program lengths and recommends one after the free consultation. Results and timelines vary, and no one can promise a specific result.
Who is Robert Barnett, and does he have motorsport experience?
Robert Barnett, C.Ht., PMP, MBA, is a certified hypnotherapist and mental performance coach who has practiced hypnosis for more than 35 years. He founded High Performance Hypnotherapy in Trumbull, CT, in 2019 and works one-on-one by Zoom with athletes, executives and business owners worldwide. He has ridden motorcycles since he was 16 and has driven advanced-level HPDE at Lime Rock Park and Thompson Speedway and has done autocross at Lime Rock and other venues.
Free consultation
Ready to commit to the next corner?
Call (203) 816-0015 or request your free 20-minute phone consultation. You can also contact us here or see our athlete coaching overview.
Book my free consultation