On Ragnar’s way to becoming a World Champion, he had to tackle heats and prefinals. Despite starting at the front it is wise to approach each heat as an individual race. Ragnar explains his approach for the big heat races.

“I took each session – qualifying, heat, prefinal or final – as an individual race. I drove to make the best of my situation. When I knew I didn’t have to risk, I didn’t rush, like in my prefinal. When I knew that there’s nothing to wait anymore, I made the moves as soon as possible, like in the final.”

Mental Preparation

Ragnar knew he had to drive cleaverly to secure his position for the final. He focused on each heat race like an individual event.

“I imagined what I would do in the first corners and set myself on a path. It usually worked and already knew my plan after the lights went out. It was much easier to imagine where I would like to be, rather than let the others decide.”

“Maintaining focus throughout the week is the hardest. Mindset before every race is the most important. When you’re scared, you will be scared throughout the race. When you’re dreaming, you’re not focusing on the current race. When your mind is full of thoughts, it’s overwhelming, and when it’s empty, you’re not focusing either. So you really have to filter what you need with you and what you don’t.”

Managing Pace

Ragnar kept his head cool, even accepted a P3 after starting from pole, trying to take the best of his sitauation in every single race. This resulted in P2, P3 and P1 finishes in heats.

“In the last heat race I was least worried. I knew I had great pace, especially in cooler night conditions. I imagined leaving the field behind and wasn’t going to give up my position to anyone. And that’s what I did. I blocked all possible attacks and then left the others behind for good.”

Before prefinal, Ragnar knew his chances of keeping P3 for the final is good, when he finished in top 4. He had rough start from the outside, dropping to P6, but he fought back to P4.

“I was confident in my speed, so I really wanted a place on the inside row for the final. And I got it. Doing just enough, not taking too many risks and keeping it clean.”