While the automotive industry was looking for different exit points to reverse the continuous shrinking trend, it faced perhaps one of the biggest crises in its history due to the new type of coronavirus COVID-19, which was first seen in China in December 2019 and affected the whole world in a short time. While the pandemic showed its effect at different times in each country, the contraction rates also showed the same effect. The pandemic affected not only sales but also the flow of production due to disruptions in the supply chain. Health concerns in society caused giant companies to stop their machines with the support of non-governmental organizations and unions. Automotive factories in almost every country in the world had to stop their production.
Passionate Driving
Impact of Coronavirus on the Automotive Industry & Chip Shortage
Motor Shows
The pandemic has spread to almost all areas of automotive, not just production and sales/marketing. The Geneva Motor Show, the world's most famous auto show, scheduled to be held for the 90th time in March 2020, was not held at the last minute as the Swiss Federal Council canceled "events with more than 1,000 people". The pandemic spread so quickly that no one could have guessed it would be so destructive. It wasn't just Geneva that was canceled. Mobile World Congress, the technology fair in Barcelona in February, was also among those canceled. The reason why we included a technology fair within the automotive topic is due to the desire of automotive brands to take part in technology fairs effectively. While the New York Auto Show was postponed to a later date at the first stage, this postponement was canceled in May, saying "see you stronger in 2022" due to the conversion of the fairground to a temporary hospital.
According to the report published by Meticulous Market Research in May, the automotive industry lost $5.7 billion worldwide at the end of all these processes. Europe's automotive industry was the region that suffered the most, with a loss of $2.5 billion. According to the same research; In 2020, the automotive industry is expected to shrink by 15 to 20 percent compared to the previous year. In the European market, where 2.6 million people work directly, 1.1 million employees were economically affected by this pandemic. It is reported that the loss of production in Europe alone is over 1 million units.
Sharing & Rentals
Certain topics among the trends of the last 10 years in the automotive industry suffered losses during this pandemic period. The first of these was "Car Sharing Systems", which we can call the sharing economy. Simply put, car rental companies are on the verge of bankruptcy with the cessation of airline transportation. As of May, Hertz, one of the oldest and largest car rental companies in the world, applied for a concordat for its operations in the USA and Canada.
Due to the anxiety arising from the pandemic, daily or hourly car rental services came to a standstill. To revive this system, automotive companies announced that they will set new hygiene rules. 100 percent electric vehicle investments, which gained momentum with the declaration of diesel vehicles as "bad siblings" due to the emissions they spread to the environment, were interrupted during the pandemic process. New electric cars, the production of which was delayed due to disruptions in the raw material supply chain, caused a loss to companies every day they were not produced. Automotive companies, which still gave the green light to low-profit productions to show their environmentalism, had to postpone their plans.
PR Works
During the pandemic period, the automotive industry carried out the largest public relations work with R&D studies such as respiratory devices or mask production. Brands such as McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 Team, and Ford have developed medical products in a short time and delivered them to regions where they are needed. It would bring great criticism if they did the opposite while their production had stopped; This should not be overlooked either. So much so that the breathing apparatus designed by Ferrari, inspired by F1 snorkels, will be a collector's item in the future.
What is Happening at the Moment?
While canceled fairs or world launches were replaced by online launches attended by limited people in studios, e-sports competitions began to take the place of familiar motorsports activities. Fairs, which have lost their popularity in the last 10 years, are perceived as the sector that has taken the biggest blow in this process. While office workers continued their lives from their homes, layoffs were tried to be reduced by methods such as short work schedules and the use of annual leaves. But hourly workers suddenly found themselves unemployed. Automotive services were tried to be continued uninterruptedly, but service entrances decreased by up to 95 percent. Governments announced support packages, donations were collected, it was tried to get out of this pandemic with minimum loss.
The Chip Crisis
Car production in the whole world fell sharply last month due to the impact of the chip crisis. Automobile production in July 2021 is the worst July performance for the industry since 1956.
Due to the lack of personnel, the global chip crisis, the coronavirus pandemic, and the problems in the supply chain, the production crisis in the automobile market continues all over the world. One of the places most affected by the crisis was England.
Production and Export Drop
According to the data announced by the Association of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), one of the most important trade associations of England, automobile production in the country in July decreased by 37 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. Exports also decreased at the same rate. Production in the first 7 months of the year fell 29 percent behind the pre-pandemic period of 2019.
The automobile industry is one of the most important parts of the UK economy, with a turnover of £78.9 billion. This industry employs 180 thousand people in production and 864 thousand people in the supply chain. The crisis of the automotive industry in the UK may put the economy, which is in trouble due to Brexit and the pandemic, even more difficult.
What is the Chip Crisis?
Chips can be defined as electronic circuits placed on a metal plate designed with semiconductor materials. Chips are used in many electronic products, from computers to automobiles. New tools also contain multiple microchips, also called semiconductors.
The increase in demand for electronic products and disruptions in the supply chain due to the coronavirus pandemic that started in 2020 brought along a global shortage in the supply of chips used in the production of many technological products, from smartphones to computers, from military equipment to automobiles.
Analysts at Goldman Sachs predict that the chip crisis will plunge global automakers' operating profits by $20 billion in 2021. Due to the global chip problem, it is estimated that 7.1 million fewer cars will be produced worldwide this year than last year.
What Does the Future of the Automobile Look like?
The speed of the digitization process, which is more common in every aspect of our lives, will increase. The usual sales and marketing techniques will begin to be replaced by new ones. While more environmentally friendly and sustainable products will come to the fore, we will simplify our consumption habits. At least as long as we remember the pandemic, this process is expected to continue in this direction. Another thought is that an explosion is expected in the consumption habits that have been postponed with the loss of the effect of the pandemic. It seems that human beings' urge to consume cannot be restrained and their satisfaction will take place in a different direction.
Read more
While the automotive industry was looking for different exit points to reverse the continuous shrinking trend, it faced perhaps one of the biggest crises in its history due to the new type of coronavirus COVID-19, which was first seen in China in December 2019 and affected the whole world in a short time. While the pandemic showed its effect at different times in each country, the contraction rates also showed the same effect. The pandemic affected not only sales but also the flow of production due to disruptions in the supply chain. Health concerns in society caused giant companies to stop their machines with the support of non-governmental organizations and unions. Automotive factories in almost every country in the world had to stop their production.
Motor Shows
The pandemic has spread to almost all areas of automotive, not just production and sales/marketing. The Geneva Motor Show, the world's most famous auto show, scheduled to be held for the 90th time in March 2020, was not held at the last minute as the Swiss Federal Council canceled "events with more than 1,000 people". The pandemic spread so quickly that no one could have guessed it would be so destructive. It wasn't just Geneva that was canceled. Mobile World Congress, the technology fair in Barcelona in February, was also among those canceled. The reason why we included a technology fair within the automotive topic is due to the desire of automotive brands to take part in technology fairs effectively. While the New York Auto Show was postponed to a later date at the first stage, this postponement was canceled in May, saying "see you stronger in 2022" due to the conversion of the fairground to a temporary hospital.
According to the report published by Meticulous Market Research in May, the automotive industry lost $5.7 billion worldwide at the end of all these processes. Europe's automotive industry was the region that suffered the most, with a loss of $2.5 billion. According to the same research; In 2020, the automotive industry is expected to shrink by 15 to 20 percent compared to the previous year. In the European market, where 2.6 million people work directly, 1.1 million employees were economically affected by this pandemic. It is reported that the loss of production in Europe alone is over 1 million units.
Sharing & Rentals
Certain topics among the trends of the last 10 years in the automotive industry suffered losses during this pandemic period. The first of these was "Car Sharing Systems", which we can call the sharing economy. Simply put, car rental companies are on the verge of bankruptcy with the cessation of airline transportation. As of May, Hertz, one of the oldest and largest car rental companies in the world, applied for a concordat for its operations in the USA and Canada.
Due to the anxiety arising from the pandemic, daily or hourly car rental services came to a standstill. To revive this system, automotive companies announced that they will set new hygiene rules. 100 percent electric vehicle investments, which gained momentum with the declaration of diesel vehicles as "bad siblings" due to the emissions they spread to the environment, were interrupted during the pandemic process. New electric cars, the production of which was delayed due to disruptions in the raw material supply chain, caused a loss to companies every day they were not produced. Automotive companies, which still gave the green light to low-profit productions to show their environmentalism, had to postpone their plans.
PR Works
During the pandemic period, the automotive industry carried out the largest public relations work with R&D studies such as respiratory devices or mask production. Brands such as McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 Team, and Ford have developed medical products in a short time and delivered them to regions where they are needed. It would bring great criticism if they did the opposite while their production had stopped; This should not be overlooked either. So much so that the breathing apparatus designed by Ferrari, inspired by F1 snorkels, will be a collector's item in the future.
What is Happening at the Moment?
While canceled fairs or world launches were replaced by online launches attended by limited people in studios, e-sports competitions began to take the place of familiar motorsports activities. Fairs, which have lost their popularity in the last 10 years, are perceived as the sector that has taken the biggest blow in this process. While office workers continued their lives from their homes, layoffs were tried to be reduced by methods such as short work schedules and the use of annual leaves. But hourly workers suddenly found themselves unemployed. Automotive services were tried to be continued uninterruptedly, but service entrances decreased by up to 95 percent. Governments announced support packages, donations were collected, it was tried to get out of this pandemic with minimum loss.
The Chip Crisis
Car production in the whole world fell sharply last month due to the impact of the chip crisis. Automobile production in July 2021 is the worst July performance for the industry since 1956.
Due to the lack of personnel, the global chip crisis, the coronavirus pandemic, and the problems in the supply chain, the production crisis in the automobile market continues all over the world. One of the places most affected by the crisis was England.
Production and Export Drop
According to the data announced by the Association of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), one of the most important trade associations of England, automobile production in the country in July decreased by 37 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. Exports also decreased at the same rate. Production in the first 7 months of the year fell 29 percent behind the pre-pandemic period of 2019.
The automobile industry is one of the most important parts of the UK economy, with a turnover of £78.9 billion. This industry employs 180 thousand people in production and 864 thousand people in the supply chain. The crisis of the automotive industry in the UK may put the economy, which is in trouble due to Brexit and the pandemic, even more difficult.
What is the Chip Crisis?
Chips can be defined as electronic circuits placed on a metal plate designed with semiconductor materials. Chips are used in many electronic products, from computers to automobiles. New tools also contain multiple microchips, also called semiconductors.
The increase in demand for electronic products and disruptions in the supply chain due to the coronavirus pandemic that started in 2020 brought along a global shortage in the supply of chips used in the production of many technological products, from smartphones to computers, from military equipment to automobiles.
Analysts at Goldman Sachs predict that the chip crisis will plunge global automakers' operating profits by $20 billion in 2021. Due to the global chip problem, it is estimated that 7.1 million fewer cars will be produced worldwide this year than last year.
What Does the Future of the Automobile Look like?
The speed of the digitization process, which is more common in every aspect of our lives, will increase. The usual sales and marketing techniques will begin to be replaced by new ones. While more environmentally friendly and sustainable products will come to the fore, we will simplify our consumption habits. At least as long as we remember the pandemic, this process is expected to continue in this direction. Another thought is that an explosion is expected in the consumption habits that have been postponed with the loss of the effect of the pandemic. It seems that human beings' urge to consume cannot be restrained and their satisfaction will take place in a different direction.
Read more
24Hours of Spa: The real test for cars and drivers both!
Posted by Karim Ojjeh
NEWS: 24Hours of Spa, The real test for cars and drivers both!
29.07-01.08 Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
NEWS: 24Hours of Spa, The real test for cars and drivers both!
Two weeks before the race I trained in the simulator - getting back on my marks, my sequencing, and my focus. To some, the simulator might be nonsense or something of no matter, but I can tell you by experience, today, it is a must for everyone to be prepared!
5 days before the race, Tuesday, we had the bronze test. It went fine until we got hit with heavy rain. The car felt good. Then came the “long” Thursday. We started at 10:55 am and finished the next morning at 00:55! We had a good qualifying session, finishing in the middle of our pack. We felt good for the race.
We decide to have our pro driver start the race which at the end was a good thing, as all cars in our category did the same. Everyone wanted to play it safe.
Unfortunately, 10 laps into the race, the full-course-yellow (FCY) was deployed due to a very very heavy accident at the top of the Raidillon. 4 cars were involved. Three cars were destroyed. All drivers ended up at the hospital. Two left and were fine. One was badly injured with broken vertebrae and another one with broken bones, flown to the UK. The other had minor injuries.
What happened?
The first car had a puncture going up the Raidillon and went into the wall, ending in the middle of the circuit. Another car slammed into him and then another. On the second hit, the engine/gearbox flew off the car! Luckily everyone is still alive. The race continued under FCY for 40 minutes at which time the team brought me in the car.
The safety car was deployed and the race restarted 10 minutes later. We had a good pace. The weather kept on changing from dry to rain and dry - it was Spa! All the drivers/mechanics/team did a great job until the next day at noon, at which point we had raced more than 70% of the race.
The 70% is an important milestone in a 24h race as it means that you have completed the minimum amount of time/race laps which allows you to be classified. Although we did not need to “finish” the race and take the checkered flag, we did. 20 minutes before the end, the car, having been repaired, left the pits for the last time and crossed the finish line. It was the last time for the BMW M6 GT3 to cross the finish line at 24h of Spa. We were also the ONLY BMW to have finished as the other BMWs all had to be retired.
Why did we stop at 12:00 pm, 4 hours before the end, and then return back at the end?
Because the car was “broken”, it was done with. No, we did not have an accident. We had a slight impact at night, but it did not affect the car’s condition. The car was finished: suspension broken, dampers broken, anti-roll bar broken, headlights broken … etc. The car took such a hit it could not continue.
The brutality/speed of the race is such that you need to go on every single curb. The constant attacking, lap after lap, was too much. It was not only the car that was impacted but also the drivers. We were constantly pushed, back and forth, our helmet hitting the roll cage, our bodies flying up and down within our seat belt, that it took me 48 hours to recuperate. It was tough!
So we finished 32nd overall, out of 58, 8th in class, out of 15. We said goodbye to Spa. We have two races left, Nürburgring (beginning of September) and Barcelona (middle of October), after which the BMW M6 GT3 will be retired.
A big thanks to all of you for your support. I wish you all a good end to the summer wherever you are. Be safe. Be healthy.
Karim Ojjeh
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Facts
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is a motorsport race track built in 1924 near the town of Francorchamps within the Belgian Ardennes.
The circuit, which is nicknamed The Cathedral of Speed, is best known as the venue for the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix, which it first hosted in 1925.
The track is famous for its top-speed section called the F1-Beckers Curve and the downhill plunge to Stavelot named Eau Rouge. The circuit is located in the Ardennes Forest, east of Francorchamps town. The forest also lends the track its name as it is a shortened version of Circuit des 24 heures du Mans, due to the fact that it takes exactly 24 hours to complete the race distance of the endurance classic held here since 1923.
WE ARE INSPIRED BY SPA
In order to create a product that really works you must have experienced one that doesn't. After years of racing Karim Ojjeh decided to take matters into his own hands.
Following his maiden participation at the 2005 Le Mans 24 Hours, where he finished second in class, he looked forward to driving his Lamborghini back to home in Switzerland. After the podium ceremony he changed out of his racing gear and jumped into his sports car. Immediately he felt that the connection he had enjoyed with his racer was missing in his road car.
He stopped at the next gas station and put his racing boots back on, problem solved. It was at this point he decided to create a shoe that was to be both stylish and casual but had the performance of a traditional racing boot.
The KO-Racer driving shoes were born.
Read more
NEWS: 24Hours of Spa, The real test for cars and drivers both!
29.07-01.08 Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
NEWS: 24Hours of Spa, The real test for cars and drivers both!
Two weeks before the race I trained in the simulator - getting back on my marks, my sequencing, and my focus. To some, the simulator might be nonsense or something of no matter, but I can tell you by experience, today, it is a must for everyone to be prepared!
5 days before the race, Tuesday, we had the bronze test. It went fine until we got hit with heavy rain. The car felt good. Then came the “long” Thursday. We started at 10:55 am and finished the next morning at 00:55! We had a good qualifying session, finishing in the middle of our pack. We felt good for the race.
We decide to have our pro driver start the race which at the end was a good thing, as all cars in our category did the same. Everyone wanted to play it safe.
Unfortunately, 10 laps into the race, the full-course-yellow (FCY) was deployed due to a very very heavy accident at the top of the Raidillon. 4 cars were involved. Three cars were destroyed. All drivers ended up at the hospital. Two left and were fine. One was badly injured with broken vertebrae and another one with broken bones, flown to the UK. The other had minor injuries.
What happened?
The first car had a puncture going up the Raidillon and went into the wall, ending in the middle of the circuit. Another car slammed into him and then another. On the second hit, the engine/gearbox flew off the car! Luckily everyone is still alive. The race continued under FCY for 40 minutes at which time the team brought me in the car.
The safety car was deployed and the race restarted 10 minutes later. We had a good pace. The weather kept on changing from dry to rain and dry - it was Spa! All the drivers/mechanics/team did a great job until the next day at noon, at which point we had raced more than 70% of the race.
The 70% is an important milestone in a 24h race as it means that you have completed the minimum amount of time/race laps which allows you to be classified. Although we did not need to “finish” the race and take the checkered flag, we did. 20 minutes before the end, the car, having been repaired, left the pits for the last time and crossed the finish line. It was the last time for the BMW M6 GT3 to cross the finish line at 24h of Spa. We were also the ONLY BMW to have finished as the other BMWs all had to be retired.
Why did we stop at 12:00 pm, 4 hours before the end, and then return back at the end?
Because the car was “broken”, it was done with. No, we did not have an accident. We had a slight impact at night, but it did not affect the car’s condition. The car was finished: suspension broken, dampers broken, anti-roll bar broken, headlights broken … etc. The car took such a hit it could not continue.
The brutality/speed of the race is such that you need to go on every single curb. The constant attacking, lap after lap, was too much. It was not only the car that was impacted but also the drivers. We were constantly pushed, back and forth, our helmet hitting the roll cage, our bodies flying up and down within our seat belt, that it took me 48 hours to recuperate. It was tough!
So we finished 32nd overall, out of 58, 8th in class, out of 15. We said goodbye to Spa. We have two races left, Nürburgring (beginning of September) and Barcelona (middle of October), after which the BMW M6 GT3 will be retired.
A big thanks to all of you for your support. I wish you all a good end to the summer wherever you are. Be safe. Be healthy.
Karim Ojjeh
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Facts
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is a motorsport race track built in 1924 near the town of Francorchamps within the Belgian Ardennes.
The circuit, which is nicknamed The Cathedral of Speed, is best known as the venue for the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix, which it first hosted in 1925.
The track is famous for its top-speed section called the F1-Beckers Curve and the downhill plunge to Stavelot named Eau Rouge. The circuit is located in the Ardennes Forest, east of Francorchamps town. The forest also lends the track its name as it is a shortened version of Circuit des 24 heures du Mans, due to the fact that it takes exactly 24 hours to complete the race distance of the endurance classic held here since 1923.
WE ARE INSPIRED BY SPA
In order to create a product that really works you must have experienced one that doesn't. After years of racing Karim Ojjeh decided to take matters into his own hands.
Following his maiden participation at the 2005 Le Mans 24 Hours, where he finished second in class, he looked forward to driving his Lamborghini back to home in Switzerland. After the podium ceremony he changed out of his racing gear and jumped into his sports car. Immediately he felt that the connection he had enjoyed with his racer was missing in his road car.
He stopped at the next gas station and put his racing boots back on, problem solved. It was at this point he decided to create a shoe that was to be both stylish and casual but had the performance of a traditional racing boot.
The KO-Racer driving shoes were born.
Read more
How much effort does it take to race?
How Much Effort Does It Take to Race?
PHYSICAL FITNESS
Racing is a physically exhausting sport. Imagine driving a car at speeds approaching 112 mph for around two hours, while at the same time having to negotiate twisting circuits and finding ways to overtake opponents. This is what a Formula 1 (F1) driver will experience when they race around the streets of Monaco. It might sound thrilling and exciting, but now imagine doing this with your heart beating close to its maximum for the whole race. Research shows that heart rates can average 182 beats per minute over the course of a race while experiencing cardiorespiratory responses and energy costs which are similar to that seen in elite marathon runners and soccer players.
In Formula 1 races, the vehicle can reach a maximum speed of 375 km/h. The highest speed limit of 375 km/h can only be done on the Monza Formula 1 track in Italy. With the renewed systems, the vehicle accelerates to an average of 200 km / h and if we consider that this is continuous, it is a really serious figure for the human body. Braking systems are developed enough to drop from top speed in 1.9 seconds. Falling from 200 km/h in 1.9 seconds also causes great pressure in the human body. This is why in today's Formula 1 races, the pilot loses 2 kilos and loses 1.5 liters of water in each race he participates in. This weight lost in just hours is a very serious figure due to the limit of the human body. If a careful nutrition program is not applied, a serious body trauma will await the person due to rapid weight loss. However, the effect of sports and planned living is also very important.
Quite simply this is not just about driving, this is one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports on the planet.
The intense physical toll racing places upon the body under such high duress makes it pretty difficult to perform at your peak performance long-term. But there are ways to also train the heart to be just as fatigued as racing so that athletes can push themselves to new limits.
How you can implement the same concepts used in elite endurance athletes to your fitness regime?
Similar to how you may exercise your heart during your workout, you can also train your heart to be just as fatigued during an intense sporting event.
Aside from the fact that we have sensory organs that can perceive the world using our eyes and ears, there’s another system in our body that is wired to get very tired — the Salivary Gland. This chain of glands manages the continual production of saliva. During your run, the Gland will start to sense the shortness of breath that is a by-product of your increased exertion. This is another reason that fatigue is actually a good thing for you. If your salivary glands start to get fatigued, they will start releasing more saliva which will have a positive effect on your running performance over time.
Experiment with having an extra drink or two during your workout if you find that you feel fatigued. This way your body’s primary stress response is designed to be used even when your energy stores are low.
If you want a strong immune system, strengthening your bones, lungs, brain, and muscles are all important as you embark on an endurance exercise journey.
We humans have an innate drive to perform at our best. It doesn’t matter if the goal is financial success, emotional fulfillment, or preserving our species. We strive to attain greater levels because of the satisfaction we derive from achieving them. The physical aspect of racing is just one more thing that contributes to increased stress and further injury. A study found that professional racers who decreased training intensity by 50 percent experienced the greatest reductions in VO2 max and protein balance while risking greater muscle damage, a factor commonly associated with an increased risk of injury. While moderate intensity training is crucial for optimal performance, racing at high speeds and in a pressure-packed environment constantly requires the body to adapt and work at its limits.
“Racing is not something to take your joy in — it’s a job. You do it for the passion.” — Sebastian Vettel, 2009
So, how do you prepare for and perform at high-level motorsport events?
One of the best ways to prepare for races is to create a baseline fitness test. The baseline is where you perform two different tasks on your physiotherapy treadmill, both for the purpose of completing them under realistic conditions.
The tasks measure your range of motion in your shoulder girdle as well as improve mobility and stability in your hips and upper back. Multiple professionals will give you an overall fitness score based on these two comparisons. Scores from around 70–80 are ideal for an F1 car but may be lowered during the event due to specific driver performance.
Please join our driver's community so we can enjoy our passion as a group. You can always find great exercising tips for racing in our blogs.
Read more
How Much Effort Does It Take to Race?
PHYSICAL FITNESS
Racing is a physically exhausting sport. Imagine driving a car at speeds approaching 112 mph for around two hours, while at the same time having to negotiate twisting circuits and finding ways to overtake opponents. This is what a Formula 1 (F1) driver will experience when they race around the streets of Monaco. It might sound thrilling and exciting, but now imagine doing this with your heart beating close to its maximum for the whole race. Research shows that heart rates can average 182 beats per minute over the course of a race while experiencing cardiorespiratory responses and energy costs which are similar to that seen in elite marathon runners and soccer players.
In Formula 1 races, the vehicle can reach a maximum speed of 375 km/h. The highest speed limit of 375 km/h can only be done on the Monza Formula 1 track in Italy. With the renewed systems, the vehicle accelerates to an average of 200 km / h and if we consider that this is continuous, it is a really serious figure for the human body. Braking systems are developed enough to drop from top speed in 1.9 seconds. Falling from 200 km/h in 1.9 seconds also causes great pressure in the human body. This is why in today's Formula 1 races, the pilot loses 2 kilos and loses 1.5 liters of water in each race he participates in. This weight lost in just hours is a very serious figure due to the limit of the human body. If a careful nutrition program is not applied, a serious body trauma will await the person due to rapid weight loss. However, the effect of sports and planned living is also very important.
Quite simply this is not just about driving, this is one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports on the planet.
The intense physical toll racing places upon the body under such high duress makes it pretty difficult to perform at your peak performance long-term. But there are ways to also train the heart to be just as fatigued as racing so that athletes can push themselves to new limits.
How you can implement the same concepts used in elite endurance athletes to your fitness regime?
Similar to how you may exercise your heart during your workout, you can also train your heart to be just as fatigued during an intense sporting event.
Aside from the fact that we have sensory organs that can perceive the world using our eyes and ears, there’s another system in our body that is wired to get very tired — the Salivary Gland. This chain of glands manages the continual production of saliva. During your run, the Gland will start to sense the shortness of breath that is a by-product of your increased exertion. This is another reason that fatigue is actually a good thing for you. If your salivary glands start to get fatigued, they will start releasing more saliva which will have a positive effect on your running performance over time.
Experiment with having an extra drink or two during your workout if you find that you feel fatigued. This way your body’s primary stress response is designed to be used even when your energy stores are low.
If you want a strong immune system, strengthening your bones, lungs, brain, and muscles are all important as you embark on an endurance exercise journey.
We humans have an innate drive to perform at our best. It doesn’t matter if the goal is financial success, emotional fulfillment, or preserving our species. We strive to attain greater levels because of the satisfaction we derive from achieving them. The physical aspect of racing is just one more thing that contributes to increased stress and further injury. A study found that professional racers who decreased training intensity by 50 percent experienced the greatest reductions in VO2 max and protein balance while risking greater muscle damage, a factor commonly associated with an increased risk of injury. While moderate intensity training is crucial for optimal performance, racing at high speeds and in a pressure-packed environment constantly requires the body to adapt and work at its limits.
“Racing is not something to take your joy in — it’s a job. You do it for the passion.” — Sebastian Vettel, 2009
So, how do you prepare for and perform at high-level motorsport events?
One of the best ways to prepare for races is to create a baseline fitness test. The baseline is where you perform two different tasks on your physiotherapy treadmill, both for the purpose of completing them under realistic conditions.
The tasks measure your range of motion in your shoulder girdle as well as improve mobility and stability in your hips and upper back. Multiple professionals will give you an overall fitness score based on these two comparisons. Scores from around 70–80 are ideal for an F1 car but may be lowered during the event due to specific driver performance.
Please join our driver's community so we can enjoy our passion as a group. You can always find great exercising tips for racing in our blogs.
Read more
NEWS: Spa Test Result
Posted by Karim Ojjeh
SPA Test with
11+ Red Flags!
22.06-23.06 Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Facts
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is a motorsport race track built in 1924 near the town of Francorchamps within the Belgian Ardennes.
The circuit, which is nicknamed The Cathedral of Speed, is best known as the venue for the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix, which it first hosted in 1925.
The track is famous for its top-speed section called the F1-Beckers Curve and the downhill plunge to Stavelot named Eau Rouge. The circuit is located in the Ardennes Forest, east of Francorchamps town. The forest also lends the track its name as it is a shortened version of Circuit des 24 heures du Mans, due to the fact that it takes exactly 24 hours to complete the race distance of the endurance classic held here since 1923.
NEWS:
Spa test - 11+ Red flags!
We just completed our 2 days of official testing. Tuesday was chaotic, rain, rain, rain … but more importantly it was the number of red flags that was surprising ! A usual number would have been four. However by the end of Tuesday, when the clock struck 17:00, we ended up with 11 red flags, none by us! Wednesday was much better, with a dry day. However, it did not end the red flags that total another 9! As to our team, all four drivers did their job. We tested a couple setups and found one that was a best fit. Times were good, consistent. We have a good package for the 24 hours. Meet you in 4 weeks time.
WE ARE INSPIRED BY SPA
In order to create a product that really works you must have experienced one that doesn't. After years of racing Karim Ojjeh decided to take matters into his own hands.
Following his maiden participation at the 2005 Le Mans 24 Hours, where he finished second in class, he looked forward to driving his Lamborghini back to home in Switzerland. After the podium ceremony he changed out of his racing gear and jumped into his sports car. Immediately he felt that the connection he had enjoyed with his racer was missing in his road car.
He stopped at the next gas station and put his racing boots back on, problem solved. It was at this point he decided to create a shoe that was to be both stylish and casual but had the performance of a traditional racing boot.
The KO-Racer driving shoes were born.
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SPA Test with
11+ Red Flags!
22.06-23.06 Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Facts
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is a motorsport race track built in 1924 near the town of Francorchamps within the Belgian Ardennes.
The circuit, which is nicknamed The Cathedral of Speed, is best known as the venue for the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix, which it first hosted in 1925.
The track is famous for its top-speed section called the F1-Beckers Curve and the downhill plunge to Stavelot named Eau Rouge. The circuit is located in the Ardennes Forest, east of Francorchamps town. The forest also lends the track its name as it is a shortened version of Circuit des 24 heures du Mans, due to the fact that it takes exactly 24 hours to complete the race distance of the endurance classic held here since 1923.
NEWS:
Spa test - 11+ Red flags!
We just completed our 2 days of official testing. Tuesday was chaotic, rain, rain, rain … but more importantly it was the number of red flags that was surprising ! A usual number would have been four. However by the end of Tuesday, when the clock struck 17:00, we ended up with 11 red flags, none by us! Wednesday was much better, with a dry day. However, it did not end the red flags that total another 9! As to our team, all four drivers did their job. We tested a couple setups and found one that was a best fit. Times were good, consistent. We have a good package for the 24 hours. Meet you in 4 weeks time.
WE ARE INSPIRED BY SPA
In order to create a product that really works you must have experienced one that doesn't. After years of racing Karim Ojjeh decided to take matters into his own hands.
Following his maiden participation at the 2005 Le Mans 24 Hours, where he finished second in class, he looked forward to driving his Lamborghini back to home in Switzerland. After the podium ceremony he changed out of his racing gear and jumped into his sports car. Immediately he felt that the connection he had enjoyed with his racer was missing in his road car.
He stopped at the next gas station and put his racing boots back on, problem solved. It was at this point he decided to create a shoe that was to be both stylish and casual but had the performance of a traditional racing boot.
The KO-Racer driving shoes were born.