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Learn about the importance of keeping fit in Formula E…
All forms of motorsport pose their own unique set of challenges, but when it comes to fitness, Formula E no longer diverges to other forms of competition.
Although it is often overlooked by the untrained eye, fitness plays a key role in motor racing and defines the very lifestyle that a driver lives by.
Every time that a pilot climbs into the cockpit, it is crucial for them to be at the very top of their game, having not only a healthy body but also a healthy mind.
Alongside the physical demands of navigating a 900kg car around a street circuit, every race requires complete concentration, turning every E-Prix into the ultimate test.
Fresh from his winter training camp in Dubai, Norman Nato is ready to ROKiT ahead of his debut season and shed more light on the art of fitness in Formula E.
“It’s very demanding to drive a Formula E car so it’s really important that you’re ready for it, both physically and mentally,” said the Frenchman.
“The cars are heavy, you experience G forces in the corners and you are battling other drivers on track which creates a very high-pressure environment.
“Over a race, it’s vital to have proper physical training because you can easily lose concentration if you don’t.
“If you start to feel a pain or start to feel tired, you lose focus which means that you’re no longer able to drive the car on the limit which impacts performance heavily.”
Given this demand, Norman puts in the work off the track so he can be at the peak of his performance on it but expressed that planning and preparation are key.
Finding a fine balance underpins his fitness regime, with it being crucial for training to take place at the right time to prevent tiredness from setting in during the season.
“The amount of training you do depends on the way you like to work,” he continued. “I have been working with my coach for eight years now and recently finished my winter training camp.
“It’s important to exercise every part of your body and I always try to find a balance in my exercise routine. The demand on the shoulders and neck is especially high.
“The winter time is the most important part when it comes to training because this is the period when you push the most so you can be ready for the start of the season.
“During the season, you usually do light training and maintain this so you can keep your body in shape but it’s very important that you don’t get tired.
“If you push too hard or worse, get injured, it means that you’re not at 100% on race day which you need to avoid at all costs.”
With a seat fit taking place in the off-season and teams having to adhere to strict weight regulations, it is essential for a driver to maintain the same weight during a campaign.
As such, keeping a balanced diet is often at the top of a driver’s to-do list, with it holding equal importance with physical training throughout a season.
“Maintaining a balanced diet is important, we do a seat fit at the start of the year and if our weight changes during the season, the seat can become uncomfortable which is a problem,” added Norman.
“We also set up the weight of the car in-line with the regulations and it’s good for us drivers to remain the same weight so we don’t have to add or remove ballast during the races.
“Miscalculating the weight of the car can lead to disqualification if it’s underweight so we don’t really want to play with this kind of thing if we don’t have to.”
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