Viareggio (IT), 26th March 2016. Tracksuits instead of racing
overalls: this week saw the eight BMW DTM drivers undergo an intensive
training schedule in Viareggio (IT), where they attended a four-day
fitness camp from Tuesday to Friday. Team doctor Riccardo Ceccarelli
(IT) and his Formula Medicine team had drawn up an extensive and
varied exercise schedule, in order to ensure the drivers are perfectly
prepared for the coming DTM season.
The focus was on both fitness and mental training in equal measures.
Among other things, newly-developed, computer-assisted exercises were
used to simulate the specific demands encountered over the course of a
race weekend – from the first practice to the end of the second race.
Mental strength, speed of reactions and concentration were put to the
test. Special circuit training and workouts on various pieces of
equipment helped the BMW drivers perfect their physical fitness.
Numerous outdoor activities, such as CrossFit, running on the beach,
cycling, beach soccer and martial arts training completed the programme.
The 2016 DTM season begins with the opening races on 7th and 8th May
at the Hockenheimring (DE). Before then, a four-day ITR test is
scheduled for 5th to 8th April in Hockenheim. It is here that the BMW
M4 DTM will undergo its final preparations for the opening round of
the season – just as the drivers completed theirs in Viareggio.
Quotes from the fitness camp in Viareggio.
Marco Wittmann:
“It is fun to go on such an intense fitness week with the
others. We had a full programme, with endurance, power and mental
training, which really put us through our paces. It was very
interesting to learn new training methods, such as boxercise. You can
easily incorporate that into your fitness routine at home. The
sessions with mental and reaction training are always good. As a
racing driver, you not only need stamina and power, but mental skills
are also essential. That can make all the difference out on the track.”
Timo Glock:
“We all stick to a comprehensive fitness routine at home, but
it is always a bit special to spend a few days training together. It
is interesting to learn new things, which you can then try out at home
and integrate in your everyday training. Above all, however, it was
fun to train so hard as a team – whether weight training, outdoor
activities or mental tests, which really put your reactions and
concentration to the test.”
Bruno Spengler:
“A training week together with the team is always important in
preparation for the new season. Dr. Ceccarelli and his team always
come up with something new. This year it was mental and reaction
exercises, in which we went head to head in teams of four. That was
great fun – as was the boxercise. I have never done anything like that
before. We were flat-out for an hour – and our muscles were still
aching the following day. All in all, it was great to spend a week
together before the start of the season. We don’t often have the
opportunity to train as a group, as we are all on the road a lot.
Because of this, it was very important for us as a team.”
Augusto Farfus:
“The fitness camp was excellent, as it gave us the opportunity
to train as a team. All eight of us were together, and without the
pressure we are under on a race weekend. Training is more fun
together, and we dined and relaxed together in the evenings. It goes
without saying that there was always a competitive edge: whether in
the mental test, playing table tennis, or any of the other activities,
you always want to be better than the others. But that is a good
attitude to have. As professional racing drivers, we are all very fit,
both physically and mentally. However, there is always room for
improvement, and that is what this fitness week was about. We all head
home even better prepared.”
Tom Blomqvist:
“Apart from on race weekends, the eight drivers do not often
have the opportunity to spend time together as a team. For this
reason, a camp like this is not only ideal for honing your fitness,
but also for having fun together and testing yourself. Personally, the
exercises I enjoyed most were those that pushed you to your limits and
really hurt. I trained hard over the winter, but was still able to
improve my fitness here.”
Maxime Martin:
“I think it is important to regularly look at what we do well,
what we are doing wrong, and what we can improve through training.
That makes a camp like this ideal for us drivers. The various mental
exercises were particularly interesting. They helped us to hone our
concentration, and thus to be even better out on the racetrack. The
boxercise was also great fun. That was very different to our everyday
training routine. However, it is just as important for us racing
drivers to spend time together away from the racetrack. It brings us
closer together as a family.”
António Félix da Costa:
“As a professional racing driver, it is important to be at the top of
our fitness in all situations. You have to be able to remain fully
focussed, even when your body is tired. We worked hard on that at the
fitness camp. We combined several exercises: for example, we got our
pulses racing, while at the same time having to concentrate hard. The
Formula Medicine team came up with some very good sessions and
exercises, which helped us to become better and more complete drivers.
It was quite simply a great week in Italy, and we had a lot of fun together.”
Martin Tomczyk:
“The fitness week was great fun again. As well as the actual
sport, I think that is one of the main priorities. It is important for
us drivers to spend time together away from the race weekends. Being
together as a team, training together and pushing each other really
does bring you closer. That was once again the case in Viareggio,
where the atmosphere was fantastic. It goes without saying that there
is always a degree of competition in the exercises. After all, we are
all racing drivers, and everyone wants to prove themselves in front of
the others. However, the fun we had together here is even more
important. I liked the fact that the training programme was once again
very varied. You want to perfect both your fitness on the one hand,
and your mental strength on the other. The Formula Medicine programme
achieved that very well this week.”