Racing may be a sport where the drivers are sitting while performing, but to be competitive their conditioning has to be as intense as any professional athlete. And hitting the gym is not always enough. Drivers need to be mentally tough as well physically fit, so many look to other sports to train their bodies and toughen their minds.
Oliver Gavin is a four-time GT class champion at the 24-hour of LeMans. To stay in shape he runs marathons. Johnny O'Connell is the record holder for most Top-5 finishes on the American LeMans Series, he trains in Karate to give him an edge the racetrack. Martial Arts, like Motor Racing, is a very discipline sport and you have to be calculating, intelligent and quick. Being physically fit helps drivers be more competitive on the track.
