Browsing by Subject "Autourheilu"

The qualities required for achieving expert performance and for developing expertise have been researched a lot. According to the expertise theory and the theory of achieving expert performance, at least 10 years’ practice is needed to become a master in one’s own field. Especially being aware of one’s own strengths is seen as an important prerequisite for succeeding in sports and achieving expert performance. Part of important mental characteristics of a driver in autosports are good self-esteem and self-confidence (Pahkinen 2007, 17–18). A good self-concept in its turn is a significant part of good self-esteem. The purpose of the study was to find out what characteristics young drivers consider important for the success in autosports and how they experience their own skill level in relation to these characteristics. In this study the drivers assess themselves and their own skills in autosports. The AKK-Motorsport’s national junior team group, who represent Finnish top level in their own field, was chosen as the target of the study. Thirteen drivers aged 13 to 21 participated in the study with four of them racing in touring and formula series and nine in different karting series. The questionnaire with open-space questions about the drivers’ background and likert-scaled questions about their different characteristics were used as study material. The average results of the participants’ own characteristics and the characteristics considered important were compared with each other using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The reliability of the analysis was examined with the help of Cronbach alfa. The characteristics that were regarded as the most important were driving skills, the will to win and self-confidence whereas drivers’ external support groups were least appreciated. Older and more experienced drivers considered their own skills better than younger and less experienced ones. Many of the characteristics that were valued the most important were psychical skills, which indicates that mental skills are a significant factor in autosports. Mental training, awareness of one’s own self-concept and the boosting of self-confidence are important qualities to be taken into consideration in autosports in addition to physical practice and the training of driving skills.