Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine 2014 | Page 10

DRIVER FITNESS:
the fast and the
furiously fit
Ultimate success has eluded you for months. Despite the countless hours behind the
wheel, the incremental gains and the “winning” strategies, you have been left wanting.
But, now, just beyond this last corner is a straightaway leading directly to victory.
Nothing is held back during these last crucial seconds; you pulverize the competition
by posting the best stage time of the rally event.
Rally drivers are athletes, even if they don’t throw a football and slam dunk a
basketball. Subaru’s dedication to supporting its many rally drivers and enthusiasts
reflects this understanding. It takes a great deal of physical training to compete in
highly competitive rally events in the best auto for them.
“All of our drivers are already very, very fit,” said John Mills, who was the Performance
Trainer and Sports Therapist for the Subaru World Rally Team for seven years. “They’re
at a higher level than is required from most drivers. So in our training, we worked on
specific outcomes—mental toughness and concentration. Advanced physical training
achieves these outcomes.”
A rally driver has the added
challenge of responding to
instructions from the
co-driver at speed, so
the ability to process
information in the heat
of battle is critical. Mills
designed a special
training regimen that
kept 2003 World
Champion Petter
Solberg in peak mental
form. Superior fitness
was necessary at the
time because the car being
piloted, a Subaru Impreza
WRC, boasted lightweight
construction, a ferocious
SUBARU BOXER engine with
Photos: Andrew Harvey Photography

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