RACE DAY SUPPORT

Driver Physical Preparations

Our aim is to get the driver in the car feeling 100% ready on the very first lap, and this always involves a structured physical warm-up. The exact nature of the warm-up depends largely on the driver’s preference. For example, some drivers like to feel ‘pumped-up’ before a session, and some need to feel calm, controlled and relaxed. Whatever the goal, we tailor our warm-up routine to fit. It could be a sports massage treatment to activate muscles and nerves, some boxing drills to increase blood-flow and hand-speed, or some reaction drills.

Heat Preparation

High ambient and track temperature can play a big part in driver performance. Small increases in core body temperature can have a very negative effect on concentration, reaction times and fatigue. How a driver prepares for a track session in the heat can really aid their heat-tolerance level when in the car. Over the course of a race weekend, we scientifically monitor a driver’s response to the heat (measure temperature, sweat loss, hydration and heart rate) and offer proven interventions such as pre-cooling, correct consumption of electrolyte salts and post-session cooling methods and re-hydration.

Post-Session Recovery

Recovering after a practice session or race is extremely important toavoid injury over the course of the season, and to help prepare the driver for the next session in the car either later that day or the following day. We can facilitate good recovery with the appropriate nutritional interventions, physical cool-downs, ice/cooling methods and sports massage treatments.

Nutrition Support

A driver’s average day at the circuit is made up of a number of small situations; driver briefings, weigh-ins, engineering meetings, media responsibilities, track walks, relaxation time, physical preparations, waiting for a session to start, and the on-track sessions themselves. It is the job of the Pro Performance consultant to ensure that the driver’s meals, snacks and hydration strategies are planned around these commitments and are geared for optimal performance in the car.

Injury Treatment and Management

Obtaining a soft-tissue injury over a race weekend can be extremely detrimental to performance, because if a driver feels uncomfortable in the car, or is unable to cope with the physical demands of racing, lap times will slow and concentration will lapse.

Injuries obtained over a race weekend can often be solved by a Pro Performance Consultant, but failing this, we can assist the driver to feel as comfortable as possible when they get back into the car. We will manage the acute treatment plan over the race weekend and provide therapy treatments to improve function and reduce pain. In other words, get the driver back to the best possible shape, as quickly as possible.

Mental Preparation

Part of our race day support package is to ensure the driver is organised, calm, focussed, positive and is able to deal with the pressure of their racing situation. Techniques are applied for specific situations such as qualifying, starting a race on pole, starting from the back of the grid, pit-stops, etc so the driver is able to execute their skills with total precision.

Team Personnel Care

At a race weekend the driver(s) are always our top priority. However, with every team we work with, we take on the physical care of the team personnel over the weekend. This can involve specific injury treatments, pit-stop warm-ups, advice on dealing with illness, jet-lag and nutrition, keeping the team hydrated and recommending exercise programmes.

Take a look at our ‘Fit to Pit’ article on our Media page here for a look at how we can improve team performance…