Q: If I want to improve my mental approach to my sport would I not be better off studying books on the subject specific to motor racing, or should I start with an in-the-flesh person?
A: The advantage a book or books have is that they are relatively cheap. But my own experience is that they are neither time nor results effective when compared to working with a Performance Coach or as a second string going to group sessions. I like to use the analogy of seeing a coach as a taxi. I want to get from here to there across London. Do I do the knowledge, get a license and buy a cab or do I hail a taxi and use the services of someone who has done all the hard work for me.
Q: Do you think that I should speak with a coach who only deals with the mental aspects, rather than, say, a race driving coach who covers the racing and the driving?
A: This is largely a matter of personal choice. But I think the essence of your answer lies in your question, in that you mention both driving and racing. The act of driving is a skill developed through instruction and physical practice. The process of racing is not a physical skill but a mental one and is essentially different. My recommendation would be that the two aspects should be handled separately, although the coaches could collaborate. The skill aspect should come first followed by the mental aspect. But the mental aspect should not follow too far behind as the improvement in mental ability would make the skill aspects quicker to absorb.
Q: If I choose to use a mental coach should I choose someone who specialises in sport or even my sport specifically or should I choose a coach who practises generally?
A: In general either type of coach should be able to coach you effectively. There is a well-known story where a coaching school teaching a tennis course ran out of tennis coaches and drafted in some golf coaches. When the results were tabulated it was found that the golf coaches had produced better results than the tennis coaches. If looking for a coach who specialises there are two things to look out for. The first is the coaches’ motivation for choosing your particular sport. Look for someone who is passionately interested in your sport rather than someone who thinks it is a good business opportunity. Secondly look for someone who is interested in helping you develop in the way you want to rather than someone who prescribes what you should be doing and where you should be going.