Baseline Driver Training
At Sim Formula Europe 2024, we had many conversations with both manufacturers and suppliers of sim racing products. Most of the time, these involved products or brands we were already familiar with, until we were approached by Tommy from Baseline Driver Training. He kindly invited us to try out Baseline Driver Training’s software. After a thorough explanation and a hands-on experience with the software, we agreed to test it further at home and share our experiences. And so we did!
Baseline Driver Training is a standout name in the world of sim racing, offering a unique approach to improving driving techniques for both novice and experienced drivers. The team behind Baseline Driver Training is a dynamic group of professionals passionate about motorsport and training. Led by founder and CEO Tommy Schröter, the team includes professional sim racer Kasper Stoltze, project manager Morten Roth Nielsen, and psychologist Inge Wilms, who together provide an innovative method for enhancing driving skills.
What is Baseline Driver Training?
Baseline Driver Training is an innovative training tool designed to revolutionize the way both race car drivers and sim racers practice. This tool focuses on improving driving techniques without the need to be in a real car. The program emphasizes pedal control and targets key skills such as pedal input, visual focus, eye-foot coordination, muscle memory, and mental capacity. By combining these elements, Baseline Driver Training enables users to refine and enhance their skills, whether they’re on an actual race track or immersed in the world of sim racing.
One unique aspect of Baseline Driver Training is its ability to let users customize their own setup, rather than just the car settings. This is crucial for success in motorsport and sim racing, as it allows drivers to adapt to varying conditions. Additionally, users can import and compare their own telemetry data with that of reference drivers, adding an extra layer of realism and practicality to the training. With more than 500 different training variations, Baseline Driver Training offers a new way for race car drivers and sim racers to acquire the skills needed to excel in motorsport and sim racing.
Investment
Baseline Driver Training is available on a subscription basis. For exact pricing and subscription options, it’s recommended to visit the official website. A significant advantage is the 30-day free trial, allowing users to test the service and see how it can contribute to improving driving skills without any immediate commitments. When purchasing the software, consider using the affiliate link to support SimRaceBlog.
Software and Usage
After downloading the Baseline Driver Training software, installation is straightforward. Within moments, the software is up and running on our computer. While it’s available in multiple languages, we opted for the English version. Upon launching the program, we accepted the “Terms of Service,” and then we were ready to begin. Our first step was to navigate to the ‘Options’ menu to check our input settings. In our case, all pedal settings were correctly recognized by the Baseline Driver Training software right away. If this isn’t the case for you, you can calibrate them through the menu. We left the rest of the options unchanged.
In the ‘Practice’ menu, we can try out different exercises. When we click on this menu item, a drop-down menu appears where we can choose from various categories. After selecting a category, we see the available exercises within it, with full descriptions that appear when you hover over each exercise. We select the ‘Left Foot Braking’ category, which focuses on practicing different braking zones. This exercise is also one of the most common for sim racers. We start with a speed setting of ‘1’ and set the number of repetitions to ‘5’. When the exercise begins, a side-scrolling graph of throttle and brake inputs appears. We need to match our pedal input to this graph as it scrolls by. The exercises are fairly short, but we quickly notice improvements. As we get better and more consistent, we adjust the speed and the number of repetitions.
Our experience(s) with the Baseline Driver Training
Improving Pedal Input
One of the most noticeable changes we’ve observed since starting Baseline Driver Training is the improvement in our pedal input. Before, it was sometimes challenging to find the right balance between accelerating and braking, which often resulted in inconsistent lap times and reduced control in corners. Thanks to the exercises and feedback from Baseline Driver Training, we’ve learned to coordinate our foot movements much more precisely. This has not only led to smoother driving but also to more efficient use of available grip. The ability to control pedal input accurately has helped us drive faster and more consistently. The training has shown us how small adjustments can make a big difference in vehicle control, especially in technical sections of the track where precision is crucial.
Adjusting to Different Braking Points
We’ve learned to better adapt to various braking points. Where we once struggled to find and maintain consistent braking zones, we can now adjust more flexibly to changes in track conditions or vehicle settings. The techniques we’ve learned enable us to quickly identify and apply the optimal braking points, resulting in a more controlled and efficient braking phase. This improved adaptability has also boosted our confidence behind the wheel. Whether dealing with unexpected braking zones or changing weather conditions, we feel better prepared to respond quickly to new challenges.
Quick and Effective Training Sessions
Another major benefit of Baseline Driver Training is the efficiency of the training sessions. With our busy schedules, it can be difficult to find time for lengthy training programs. However, Baseline Driver Training offers sessions that are both quick and effective. Even with limited time, we can focus on specific aspects of our driving style and still make significant progress. The ability to train briefly but effectively, without sacrificing quality, makes it easy to incorporate Baseline Driver Training into our routine. This has helped us stay consistent with our training, even during hectic periods, and continuously see improvements in our performance.
Training Diary
We also receive a free training diary, a 13-page PDF that helps us understand and analyze our driving behavior and pedal inputs. It’s important to read through the diary first to grasp how it’s organized and what data we need to track. The diary provides insights into our basic skills and helps us identify and improve our weak points. By tracking our progress, we can recognize patterns and adjust our training accordingly in the software. They recommend printing the diary and keeping it beside you during training, so it’s easier and quicker to fill out. Naturally, we’ve followed this advice, and we regularly use the diary to enter data or for a quick analysis.
Conclusion
Our experience with Baseline Driver Training has been a pleasant surprise. What started as an experiment has now become a regular part of our sim racing routine. The benefits are clearly evident in our driving performance. With improved pedal input and precise adjustment of braking points, we’ve made significant progress in our driving skills.
The Baseline Driver Training software is easy to install and quick to set up. The options for pedal settings are more than sufficient, and the various programs (like Left Foot Braking) ensure there’s a training option for every situation. By varying speeds and repetitions in the exercises, as the software allows, we’ve been able to enhance our braking techniques. The graphical display of throttle and brake inputs is especially helpful in fine-tuning our pedal control.
The training journal that comes with Baseline Driver Training is invaluable for analyzing and improving our driving behavior and pedal input. By carefully reviewing the journal and regularly entering data, we gain insights into our strengths and weaknesses. The advice to print out the journal and keep it handy during training makes it easier to track progress and adjust our training.
All in all, Baseline Driver Training is a valuable tool for any sim racer looking to improve their skills. The positive results we’ve experienced speak for themselves, and we’re excited to see further improvement with the help of Baseline Driver Training.
Feeling excited after reading our review? Baseline Driver Training is available on a subscription basis, and you can try the software free for 30 days. If you decide to purchase it, consider using our affiliate link to support SimRaceBlog.
Do you want to stay informed about SimRaceBlog content, news, announcements and (future) give-aways? Follow us on Instagram @simraceblognl and/or our Discord channel.
