It’s easy to think of racing drivers as being less fit than other professional athletes. I mean, their job involves sitting down, along with some driving, which are both things most of us are already pretty good at without even trying all that hard.
But the opposite is actually true here. Driving in a long endurance race — like Bathurst, for example — is incredibly gruelling, with drivers facing extreme heat and mental and physical fatigue for hours on end.
Some drivers can lose up to three kilograms in a single race, such is the stress and strain on the body.
Imagine being strapped into a scorching hot oven that shakes like an earthquake and travels at 200km/h and you’re getting close to the experience.
The race car isn’t the only machine in the equation, of course, and while it’s got a team of engineers and mechanics making sure it’s in peak condition, the drivers have only themselves when it comes to keeping their own machines in their best shape.
Take 21-year-old Jake Kostecki, who takes the wheel for Matt Stone Racing in the Repco Supercars Championship. For most us, our early 20s were a blur of late nights and even later sleep-ins. But not for Jake.
“I don’t know if it’s a Gold Coast thing but everyone here goes out partying all the time and I am seeing people my age and older partying that much that they don’t even know what they are doing with their life and it sort of scares me a bit,” he says.
“It’s made me think a lot more about where I want to head and to try to make better decisions for my own mental and physical health.
“Having turned 21 this year, it was inevitable to experience the party scene, but I quickly realised what my goals were and what I need to do to achieve them. So for me, staying healthy, keeping my mind sharp and doing things that keep me focused are really important.”
He might be young, but Kostecki has already learned one of the most valuable lessons anyone of us can learn. And that is to strive for balance, whether that’s at work, at home, or with our health and fitness.
“Don’t get me wrong I love a good time out, eating junk food and lounging around but I set little goals for myself to achieve my ultimate goals,” Kostecki says.
“But I’m also finding a balance between training for fitness and enjoying what I do both physically and mentally.”
JAKE KOSTECKI ON…
Training
“I have started strength training with a personal trainer, but I still train with my friends too because I want to enjoy my training. I suppose it’s all about finding the balance because I am learning that the mental side of things is just as important. It’s finding that balance to train and enjoy it, and also train for the physical benefits and to succeed in my sport.”
Staying mindful
“Just recently a few friends and I have said we are all going to start meditating. I believe keeping the mind healthy is the biggest achievement in life itself. It’s so easy to get a cloudy mind without you even knowing it.”
Feeling good
“For me, I can see it in simple terms — doing regular exercise means your body will be looking better, feeling better and healthier, and endorphins will be pumping. That’ll only make you feel happier than no exercise, becoming unfit and having sore joints.”
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