11-09-2026
Behind Race Day: How Oliver Prepares for Competition
From pre-race rituals to staying calm under pressure, preparation plays an important part in Oliver Bamford-Senior’s approach to racing.
Right glove before left. A freshly cleaned kart. A sweet before heading down to the pits. And, occasionally, a Lucid duck hitching a ride.
Every racing driver develops their own way of preparing for competition and Oliver Bamford-Senior is no exception. Some of his pre-race habits may be more superstition than science, but behind them is something much more important: creating the right mindset before the lights go green.
For Oliver, staying calm is a vital part of that preparation. Rather than shutting everything out before a session, he finds that talking to the people around him helps him focus on what lies ahead. His recent weekend at Kimbolton showed just how important that ability to remain composed can be when events don’t go to plan.
Strong Pace at Kimbolton
KimFest brought a slightly different format to a traditional race, with Oliver heading into qualifying feeling confident, thanks to his previous experience with Club100. With tyre conservation in mind, he came in after his sixth lap, securing 22nd place from a field of 30 and his starting position for the first heat.
That first heat, however, changed the course of the weekend.
An incident ahead left a kart spinning in the centre of the circuit. While attempting to avoid it, Oliver was forced towards the barrier before the other kart moved into his path. The resulting collision caused Oliver’s kart to roll, bringing his race to an abrupt end.
Thankfully, Oliver escaped with relatively minor injuries. His kart also avoided chassis damage, although several components needed replacing. His team and mechanic worked late into the evening to get everything repaired and ready for the following day’s racing.
Photo credit: Stu Stretton photography
Resetting and Getting Back on Track
Missing Heat 2 meant Oliver started Heat 3 from last place. Understandably tentative at first, he soon began making progress through the field and finished 22nd. He started the Pre-Final in 30th and climbed to 24th before another incident caused damage to both the kart and his already injured hand, eventually leaving him 27th. By the Final, however, Oliver had rediscovered his pace. Starting 27th, he gained seven places to cross the line in 20th.
It wasn’t the weekend he had expected, but perhaps it demonstrated the value of preparation more effectively than a straightforward race ever could.
Prepare for the Unexpected
There are obvious differences between lining up on a racing grid and delivering enterprise AV systems, but Oliver’s approach reflects a philosophy we recognise at Lucid. Preparation isn’t about assuming everything will go perfectly. It is about putting the right foundations, processes and people in place so you are better equipped to respond when circumstances change.
For Lucid, that means thinking ahead, testing thoroughly and using standardised, repeatable approaches that reduce unnecessary uncertainty during AV deployment. It also means having experienced people who can respond when something doesn’t go according to plan.
At Kimbolton, preparation couldn’t prevent the unexpected. It did, however, help Oliver and his team regroup, adapt and get back on track. And sometimes, that’s when preparation matters most.
Get in Touch
At Lucid, we believe strong performance starts with preparation, the right people and the ability to adapt when circumstances change. If you’re looking for an experienced software partner to help deliver consistent, enterprise-ready AV solutions, we’d love to hear from you. Contact the Lucid team to find out how we can support your next project.
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