Sebastian Buurma, MSc, Scientist-Practitioner in Performance & Sports Psychology
Bridging research and practice in elite race driver development
I help racing drivers assess, develop and utilize the psychological and cognitive resources behind elite performance, on track, at the sim, and across a career.
Vision
My vision on performance in motorsport
There isn't another sport where the psychological and cognitive side determines so much of the outcome, not just of a session, but of an entire career, as in motorsports.
The difference is made by your capacity to adapt to a car in any circumstance, to convert an overload of data into real improvement, and to extract your full potential in any session, over all those years, exactly when it matters. My job is to help you develop the psychological and cognitive resources that make that possible. Just like every skill in racing, these resources are trainable to a huge extent.
Co-founder of Emotiplus
Alongside my work in motorsports, I co-founded Emotiplus, a company fully dedicated to developing courses, content and tools that enable individuals and organizations to unlock the power of emotional intelligence in relation to performance, well-being and communication. Services include coaching, workshops, self-guided tools, e-learnings, assessments and educational courses for professionals and practitioners who want to add our methods to their own work (also in-company).
On Track
Your sports psychologist on track
I'm specialized in psychological development and training for racing drivers across karting, rally, GT, the junior single-seater formulae and sim racing, since 2016. I explore your potential, develop it with you and your team, and help you to fully use your potential when it matters.
How I work
- Individual sessions Full focus to work on the fundamental aspects of your development and actual experiences.
- Psychological and mental assessments To assess your capacities and potential, and evaluate progress.
- On-track and on-sim guidance Active observation, reflection and coaching in your natural racing environment.
- Remote coaching Accessible wherever and whenever you're driving, to quickly act when needed.
These are the basic building blocks in my way of working. What we'll do exactly depends on which of my services best fits what you're aiming to achieve.
Working with me
My services for racing drivers
Working with me takes the shape of one Driver Development program, built around your ambition, and broad enough to cover everything from long-term psychological growth to the specific pressure points that show up along the way.
Helping you achieve your ambition
You include me as part of your personal team and career, and let me help you proactively develop and unlock your potential. We're not running a one-off intervention. We're setting a foundation to build your career on.
Getting to know each other
A short, free meeting to see if we're a match, and to hear about your experience and ambition.
Driver Development Assessment
An in-depth look at your current resources versus what elite performance requires, resulting in a tailored plan.
Working on your development
A monthly package of one-on-one hours, plus active or remote guidance on selected testing days or race weekends. I also involve the driver's direct team in this guidance where it adds value.
Psychological resources we train
- Emotional intelligence Recognizing and using emotions, in yourself and in others, and dealing with them quickly when they stand in your way.
- Adaptability Extracting the best out of the car and circumstances, whatever the cards you're dealt with.
- Deliberate learning Converting feedback, onboards and telemetry into actual driving performance, quickly and efficiently.
- Deliberate training Making each moment of practice count by putting effort into exactly what improves performance, not simply going around.
- Task and ego orientation Ego-focus as the fuel for the long journey off-track; task-focus to effectively build your race weekend.
- Personality Understanding your natural strengths and the preferences that might get in your way.
- Teamwork and leadership Optimizing working with your team and sponsors, and being a genuine leader of your own career.
- Psychological skills usage Applying psychological skills when it matters, in service of what you're aiming to achieve.
- Motivation and commitment What drives you, and what keeps you going over the years it takes to build a career.
- Coping with pressure and setbacks Staying calm, positive and effective when things go wrong.
Charged through a monthly package of one-on-one sessions and on-track or simulator coaching hours.
Book A Free Intro Call
Get In Touch
Ready to become a complete race driver?
Start with a free introduction call.
sebastian@sebastianbuurma.nlMedia
Media & publications
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Podcast
NOS Formule 1 Podcast, “De mentale worsteling van Formule 1-coureurs”
Guest specialist on the mental side of Formula 1.
Listen to the episode → -
Podcast
Prestatie Podcast, “Kunnen emoties je helpen beter te presteren?”
Guest on Renate Hensen's podcast, on the role of emotions in performance and building a career as a sport psychologist.
Listen to the episode → -
Podcast
Prestatie Podcast, “Hoe zet je emotionele intelligentie in?”
A conversation on emotional intelligence, naming your feelings, and preparing for high-pressure moments.
Listen to the episode → -
Interview
Slimme Ondernemer, live interview with Kenneth Smith
Emotional intelligence, the forgotten key to leadership and sales.
Watch the interview →
Publications
- Coaching met behulp van HRV: Op zoek naar de ideale wedstrijdvoorbereiding. Sportgericht, 70(6), 16–19 (2016).
- Emotionele intelligentie als sleutel tot topprestaties, Deel 1. Sportgericht, 74(1) (2020).
- Emotionele intelligentie als sleutel tot topprestaties, Deel 2. Sportgericht, 74(2) (2020).
- Bouwsteen 11: Omgaan met emoties. In Frontlinie, Trainingshandboek, 101–120 (2022, with V.A. Siderius).
In writing
- Interview Instituut voor Sport- en Prestatiepsychologie On the importance of emotional intelligence in performance. Read the interview →
Behind The Scenes
Off track: writing & music
Being a scientist-practitioner is my profession, but not the whole story.
I doubt it, but maybe you're here on my website for something else. Since 2008 I've written and made music, first as a lead guitarist, and since 2018 as a solo artist under my own name. Always working on new music and writing new stories, so keep in touch if it's my music or writing you came for!