For a rally driver like Oliver Solberg, the Corona crisis is no excuse to become a couch potato. The 18 years old is currently at home with his family in Torsby in Sweden. But even there he is constantly working on his mental and physical fitness. To keep mind and body focussed, he can not only rely on the always helpful coaching advice from his father Petter, who was World Rally Champion back in 2003. Solberg Junior also turns to a variety of indoor activities. To hone his reflexes, he started #TheSolbergRACE on the internet. Eventually 4,420 competitors from all over the world took on the talented young driver in a virtual rally competition.
But the ŠKODA supported privateer also works permanently on his physical fitness. For example, table tennis can be played indoors; a gym allows the strengthening of muscles. Outside the family home, running through the country side can be easily done. Jan Kopecký plays a major role in the test and improvement program of the ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo for ŠKODA Motorsport. He will compete for ŠKODA in the Czech Rally Championship and is during the competition break as well focussed on his mental and physical fitness.
Physical fitness essential in the world of motorsports
But why do rally drivers have to be physically fit at all? To an outsider it may look like driver and co-driver are “just sitting in the car”. To be able to drive fast during long rally days, a driver first of all needs to be totally concentrated. Physical strength therefore is an important element in order to keep that concentration, on tarmac with high cornering speed and on gravel with all the bumps, dust and heat as well.
To manage high cornering speeds with a helmet on, having strong neck muscles is quite helpful, special if driver and co-driver want to keep doing that for three or more days in a row. Doing related exercises in the gym is never wrong – just ask Oliver Solberg or Jan Kopecký.
Probably the most important factor is endurance when professional drivers are thinking about their exercise regimen. That’s why a good training should consist of cycling, long-distance runs, rowing or low-resistance, high-repetition drills as well as exercises that enhance stability and agility, which is important to keep proper control and reflexes at the wheel of a rally car.
Important factor: the right nutrition
Concerning nutrition, it’s never wrong for both driver and co-driver to take care about their body mass. As weight always is a factor in motorsports, the crew should be as light as possible. Gaining too much muscle would go against that. So, drivers tend to focus on endurance training and building strength only on body parts where really needed. The specific training regimen and a special nutrition vary individually from driver to driver, though.
While the ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo are ready to race, waiting in ŠKODA Motorsport’s workshop in Mladá Boleslav for the action to resume when circumstances allow, Oliver Solberg, Aaron Johnston and Jan Kopecký keep themselves in perfect shape as well.
The calendar of the 2020 FIA World Rally Championship
Event/Date
Monte-Carlo 23/01/–26/01/2020
Sweden 13/02/–16/02/2020
Mexico 12/03/–15/03/2020
(Argentina 23/04/–26/04/2020*)
(Portugal 21/05/–24/05/2020*)
(Italy 04/06/–07/06/2020*)
Kenya 16/07/–19/07/2020
Finland 06/08/–09/08/2020
New Zealand 03/09/–06/09/2020
Turkey 24/09/–27/09/2020
Germany 15/10/–18/10/2020
Great Britain 29/10/–01/11/2020
Japan 19/11/–22/11/2020
*Events postponed due to the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus
