Racing talents

Re-enacting heat races in full gear in the sauna

The young talents had to endure 15 minutes in the sauna at 80 degrees in full gear.(Bild: Reinhard Judt)

Italy 38 degrees, Abu Dhabi 42 degrees, sweltering heat, then freezing rain at the Nürburgring - all this awaits the elite of Burgenland's young racing drivers over the next few months.

Young racing drivers have to endure a rollercoaster of emotions during training. The Formula 1 Club Austria not only prepares its drivers for the race track with well thought-out coaching, but also pays great attention to important peripheral areas of motorsport. "This careful work is the basis of every success," says chairman Robert Wagner from Gattendorf. In order to prepare the young talents for the upcoming hardships of the season and to increase their fitness, even capricious weather conditions are staged.

15 minutes at 80 degrees
Most recently, a health marathon was held at the Viva regional sports center in Steinbrunn. The seven best racers in the junior program had to enter the "sauna chamber of horrors" in full gear, i.e. with overalls, fireproof underwear, gloves, helmet and shoes. They had to endure the oppressive heat of 80 degrees for 15 minutes. "In between, there was also the obligatory infusion to push the stars of tomorrow to their limits," says Wagner.

Prepared for tricky situations
Patrick Schober and Andreas Kuchelbacher, Austria's most successful NASCAR drivers, know what we are talking about. In very tricky races, they have gone black before their eyes and were on the verge of fainting, the two describe. Such situations are dangerous and can end fatally "if it happens to you at 240 km/h".

unerring talents
However, the top talents are not deterred from their path. Schober, the 19-year-old motorSPORTaktiv hopeful: "My goal is the European Championship title!" National karting champion Leon Schmied (15) remained focused in the sauna and even gave an interview under extreme pressure. Nico Deutsch (16) and Lena Pichler (12) from Hornstein were in no way inferior to him. They know the strains from the ROK Cup in Italy. Dominik Pester (13), the youngest winner of the ÖTSM karting championship, and newcomer Raphael Gehrer (12) worked up quite a sweat, but mastered the test with flying colors. Whether it's hot or icy cold - Julia Bohrer (14) from Neusiedl am See is in her element in the Sodi Kart World Championship.

Refreshment at the end
At the end there was a refreshing cold shower. "Including overalls, of course," they said. Parents and sponsors looked on with a grin.