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The human factor
is crucial in motor sport. Drivers and crew must be as fit as any
elite athlete, and with the 45th Bathurst 1000 and
Australian Rally Championship events looming nothing can be left to
chance. For that reason the Britek Motorsport Team has turned to
Melbourne-based Stay Tuned Sports Medicine to ensure it leads the pack
in physical fitness.
With millions of
dollars invested in machinery and technology, a driver's physical
condition can be the difference between winning and losing. The Britek
team is among the first to have its crew professionally trained as
well.
Using its
comprehensive health programs, Stay Tuned is fully conditioning Britek
drivers and crew for 2007 and beyond. As well as the Pirtek Rally Team,
Stay Tuned also looks after Britek Motorsport's sister V8 Supercar team
Fujitsu Racing and IRWIN Racing.
The Britek
Motorsport Team is investing in probably its most valuable and crucial
asset - the bodies its staff, technicians and drivers. Without their
health they cannot perform at their best.
Fujitsu Racing
Falcon V8 Supercar driver and Pirtek Rally Team Managing Director Jason
Bright is fully aware of the importance of getting his team into shape.
"As a
driver I need to be on my game; it's the same for the crew at the track
and back at the workshop," said Bright.
"In the V8s
we are working towards pit stops under three seconds with the crew from
Stay Tuned Sports Medicine. On the rally side we have 20-minutes to
service a car - but that might include a gearbox change, so you get an
idea of what pressure the boys have to work under.
"I consider
all our team members athletes. Not just the ones who are in the cars.
Being fit physically is important, but it's more about making the
rights calls mentally that this program will bring."
Stay Tuned
Sports Medicine has an expert team of sports scientists, osteopaths and
dietitians all aiming to maximise crew members' health and fitness to
ensure peak performance. It will also use its podiatrist, health
psychologist and remedial massage therapists.
Stay Tuned founder, osteopath and personal trainer Dr
Paul Hermann is one of Australia's leading experts in Swiss Ball
Training and exercise rehabilitation, as well as an experienced gym
instructor.
Hermann treats several elite athletes and has travelled
overseas with athletes and teams. He lectures in exercise
rehabilitation at RMIT and wrote the popular book: Effective Swiss
Ball Training.
"A lot of people think of the health and wellbeing
of the drivers," said Hermann.
"But the Pirtek Rally Team has a crew of around
20. All require just as much attention.
"The
ability to concentrate for long periods can determine the outcome of a
rally. To prevent physical and mental fatigue all crew members need to
minimise the effects of dehydration by drinking and fuelling up on
appropriate foods before and during the rally.
"Dehydration
of 1.5-2 per cent (1.1 - 1.5kg for a 75kg individual) can significantly
affect both physical and mental performance; a five per cent drop in
hydration can decrease productivity by 10 per cent.
"At times
crew members have to carry out tough physical and mental activities in
very trying conditions. We came on board to help improve their
productivity and decision-making process."
Stay Tuned
dietitian and sports scientist Emma Morris, who is also Williamstown
Football Club's dietitian and regularly presents to a variety of
sporting clubs, has no doubt the team's performance can be improved.
"It's the
little things as well as the general fitness training for these
guys," said Morris.
"Optimal
performance requires these athletes to be properly hydrated and
adequately fuelled throughout not only the rally, but also in lead-up
and recovery periods.
"Demands
are increasing on drivers, mechanics and support crew to look at what
is fuelling those controlling the car as well as what fuels the car
itself."
Pirtek Rally
Team head technicians Paul Cane and Grant Howse were the first team
members to start the program, which includes a thorough health
examination and dietary analysis.
"I have worked
in freezing conditions in Sweden and blistering weather in Cyprus,"
said Cane.
"You might
not think we get those extremes in Australia, but we had an event in Queensland
in March and another rally in Canberra in June and the air temperature
difference was over 30 degrees. At both events we have to prepare and
service two cars. The importance of being in good shape physically and
mentally is critical.
"We were
concentrating so much on the cars that we let our own health suffer.
Now we have to get that back into line and believe me I know the
difference it can make to a result.
"Good teams
now look at the health of their crew members. However, simply supplying
a gym membership is not enough. That's why the crew at Stay Tuned
Sports Medicine are so important; they will make sure we follow the
program.
"I'm very
excited from a team point of view but also a personal point of view.
I'm looking forward to getting back into a healthy way of life."
Stay Tuned
Sports Medicine will continue to carry out analysis and create programs
for the Pirtek Rally Team crew throughout the season.
www.staytuned.com.au
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