Fitness testing is essential for athletes whose goal is to reach elite or world-class status in their chosen sports. Most sports, after all, demand that players be at their physical peak to be the best they can be while competing with other athletes.
But what about machine-assisted sports like motorsport, for instance? Do drivers need fitness testing or training when all they have to do is drive a vehicle? Today, we will answer these questions and more. But first, we need to review the basics of fitness testing when it comes to motorsport.
Most people, especially those not intimately familiar with motorsport, will probably think that racing is more mental than physical. But anybody who has been behind the wheel of even a Formula Ford knows the truth: You need to be physically fit to be able to man handle it around a track.
So, when you talk about fitness testing for drivers, which aspects do you typically include?
● Muscular fitness: Since motorsport deal with high G-forces, motorsport athletes’ should focus on fitness training for their legs, arms, backs, neck and shoulder muscles. Their necks should not only be able to withstand G-forces but also support their head and the weight of their helmet.
● Cardiovascular fitness: Even when seated, the anticipation of the race will push a driver’s heart rate up. It goes higher from the heat and forces that the drivers are exposed to while racing. This is why race car drivers typically do cardiovascular exercises to prepare before a race weekend.
What advantages does fitness training offer car racing pros and even amateur drivers? We outlined the benefits below.
● Combating fatigue behind the wheel: driver are often required to stay highly focused and alert while driving, often for extended periods of time.Maintaining that level of concentration can take its toll on a racer’s physical and mental capabilities. Fitness training helps a driver’s mind and body go the distance.
● Helping one’s body withstand G-forces: F1 drivers can experience 4–6 G’s when braking and driving around corners. NASCAR drivers, meanwhile, experience G-forces ranging from 3 to 5 Gs. With fitness training, drivers can develop the necessary core and muscular strength to cope with G-forces better.
● Preparing drivers for race car conditions: Depending on where they are competing, the temperature inside a race car’s cockpit could range between 50-60 degrees Celsius. If drivers are not fit, there is no way they can stay inside the cockpit for long and remain fully focused.
● Managing heart rate levels while racing: A Supercar drivers’ heart rate could reach 160 – 170 beats per minute (BPM) — basically the same as the heart rate of a marathon runner. Therefore, it is essential that drivers undergo physical conditioning because motorsport is no walk in the park in terms of physical demands.
To ensure that motorsport drivers obtain the physical conditioning required in professional motorsport, they can sign up for fitness programmes. These programmes include various routines that address the following:
● Strength training: This involves exercises to develop the driver’s core stability so they can withstand high G-forces when competing. Stretch exercises are also an integral part of strength or muscular training.
● Flexibility training: This includes training to strengthen drivers’ neck muscles, and exercises for their arms and legs. Flexibility training also helps trainees prevent injuries, especially after spending extended periods inside the cramped quarters of a cockpit.
● Heat training: There are many ways a fitness programme can be designed to simulate the high-temperature conditions of a cockpit. Drivers may be made to train in environments with similar climate conditions. simulators can also be used for heat acclimation purposes.
Apart from the factors mentioned above, what other benefits can fitness programmes offer race car drivers? Let us tackle each below.
One of the best things about enrolling in a fitness programme is the regular monitoring that’s done to evaluate a driver’s progress. Depending on the preferences and needs of each driver, progress tracking can be done on a monthly or weekly basis.
Progress tracking helps motivate a driver to keep the momentum going. Regular monitoring helps them identify areas requiring improvement. They also get a better idea of how to pace themselves throughout the programme to achieve their goals and make necessary adjustments where needed.
Fitness programmes are not only designed to develop and prepare a driver’s body for the rigours of racing. They are also formulated to identify specific areas of improvement. Of course, trainers need to be quite adept at revising programmes depending on the needs of the driver.
Note that not all drivers progress the same way when it comes to fitness programmes. Some may have specific needs requiring adding additional exercise routines or incorporating a specialised training regimen. The flexibility of fitness programmes should allow for these modifications to be employed if necessary.
Here atFocus Driver Performance, our development programmes typically consist of the following basic offerings:
● Complete Motorsport Specific Fitness Assessment
● Body Composition Scan & Analysis
● VO2 Max Test
● Fitness Training & Programmes
We also offer tailored training programmes depending on a driver’s specific requirements. Drivers can also leverage the individual and collective experience of our team to come up with a customised fitness programme.
For drivers who already follow a training programme, our coaches would love the opportunity to streamline your existing regimen further. We can identify those parts of the programme already producing results and those needing fine-tuning.
The Focus Driver Performance team would love to share the many benefits of our development programmes with you. Sign up today or drop us a message.