Being fit is very important to motor sports athletes. A poll about the fitness of car drivers found that most people are very aware of the fitness requirements of motor sport drivers. They need to be both physically and mentally strong, and to use all sport science disciplines to maximize their performance.
Aerobic endurance is the most important fitness component required for success, according to polls on this site. Motorsport drivers and riders need to undertake specific training to develop high levels of endurance, plus training in the areas of muscle strength and core stability. See more about training for motorsports, and fitness testing for motorsports.
An article in "the Australian" Newspaper in 2007 quoted Toyota's F1 team doctor Riccardo Ceccarelli saying that grand prix racing is the most physically demanding sport in the world. He may be a bit biased, but he put F1 test driver Franck Montagny head-to-head in a fitness test with a leading Aussie Rules football player, and the F1 player came out on top. Ceccarelli said formula one drivers include some of the sporting world's best in aerobic capacity, upper body and leg strength, and ability to perform while dehydrated and with heart beats of up to 200 per minute.
Related Pages
- Fitness Testing for motorsports athletes.
- Fitness Training for motorsports athletes.
- Factors of Success for Motorsports (general) and for Motocross Riders
- Poll about the Fitness components for motorsports
- Who is the greatest auto sports athlete of all time?