It’s an old cliché, but it’s true when racing drivers say that the ‘off-season’ is, in so many ways, the busiest time of the year.
There’s a lot to get through, whether that’s preparing the car in the simulator, preparing myself physically and mentally for competition in the gym, or making sure that I’m connected and working hard to maximise the return on investment for my network of 30+ different businesses that, ultimately, make it possible to go racing and live out my dream.
That all sounds wonderful, when you summarise it like that, but I thought I’d take the opportunity to actually walk you through what a typical day looks like actually putting that into practice.
I’m a big believer in consistency – winners aren’t always extraordinary, sometimes they just do the ordinary, extra! So, this is pretty similar, day-to-day.
4am – 4:30am: The dreaded alarm goes off… then breakfast!
Seriously, every day. I’ve always been an early riser, and like getting ahead on the day, so I’m usually up around dawn, even more so since Lauren and I had little Oaklie a couple of seasons ago.
I’ll take my breakfast about 04:30, with a focus on carbs to fuel me up. Most days, it’s a bowl of porridge and a coffee whilst I catch up on the NFL highlights. Deep down, I’m a Detroit Lions fan, but I’ve got a soft spot for Arizona Cardinals, too.
4:30am – 5:30am: Time to boot up the sim
Some drivers use simulators as tools to prepare more than others, but me it’s always been absolutely vital.
It’s not exactly the same as sitting in the real car, but the system I use is still accurate enough that I can work through different setups with the team, keep my eye in at each of the eight circuits we race on in the BTCC, and generally keep my reflexes and ‘racing brain’ sharp.
5:45am – 6:15am: Jog on!
Cardio has always been a big part of my training regime, particularly with the strain and stresses that go through the body during a BTCC race.
Having that physical fitness makes a real difference, especially in the summer months when the cockpit temperatures are the equivalent of a heatwave, and I’m wearing about three layers plus a crash helmet.
Suddenly, the running doesn’t seem quite so painful…
6:15 – 8:00am: Back on the sim
Running can also be a great time for me to organise some of the many random thoughts knocking around in my head, and more than a few times, it’s thrown up a few ideas for setup tweaks, or something in my driving I can adapt, so I always like to go back and do a second sim session after sweating for a bit!
8am – 11am: Time to fire up the laptop!
It’s around this time the emails start to come in, so once I’ve logged off the sim, I’ll log straight on to my laptop and start connecting with all my fantastic partners for the day.
Lauren and I work with around 35 businesses now, ranging from small family start-ups to major nationwide service providers, so no two conversations are ever the same and it really keeps the day varied working on how best to activate their motorsport partnership with me, and deliver that return on investment.
11am – 1:30pm: Gym, then lunch!
With the cardio out the way, my next stop is always the gym for strength and conditioning. I’m probably about three coffees deep at this point, too!
Lunch is pretty protein-focused to help with recovery. I’d like to say I’m a chef in the kitchen, but it’s pretty much steak, chicken or fish on rotation – even the recipes have a routine of their own!
3:00pm onwards: A different kind of Zoom!
Emails are great, but I’ve always been really proud that I try to provide a personal touch to each and every one of my partners, so I always carve out a few hours every afternoon to be available for calls and meetings, to make sure we’re all connected between races and in-person visits.
So, this time is always ring-fenced pretty religiously so that, whatever comes in, I’m available and ready to log on and chat through. Sometimes it’s nice just to catch up!
7:00pm - 8:00pm: Bed time!
After dinner, we usually put Oaklie to bed around 7pm, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t far behind!
Getting a proper eight hours of sleep is crucial for recovery, so I’ll normally be out like a light by 8pm, ready to do it all again the next day!
Comments