To make matters worse, drivers compete in what’s essentially a moving oven.īeyond the heat, other aspects of racing also put demands on the heart.įirst, there is speed. The gear includes long fireproof undershirt and underpants, full-body fire suit, socks and driving shoes, gloves, a fireproof balaclava, and a full-face helmet with closed eye shield.Formula One driver Nigel Mansell faints at the 1984 Dallas Grand Prix, which was held on a day where temperatures exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius).
Driver body heat is trapped by the safety gear worn during competition to protect against fire in case of a crash. In most sports, athletes wear lightweight clothes that promote cooling by convection and sweat evaporation. Like any exercise, the work of driving a race car causes the body to generate metabolic heat. Heat is also a major challenge for driver athletes. For these reasons, drivers undergo rigorous training to strengthen key muscle groups in the neck, upper body and legs while working to improve their cardiovascular fitness.
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