Publications
Partners
"If you haven't baked banana bread or completed a home workout, were you even under lockdown?"
These types of questions float about on social media and perhaps make us question if we're missing out on something by not baking or sweating on a yoga mat in our lounge.
For a professional athlete, it's mandatory to maintain a level of fitness during this period, and teams are using video conferencing to conduct training sessions with athletes.
Dr Riccardo Ceccarelli. Image: BMW Motorsport
First SA-driver to compete in DTM
BMW's works drivers have the opportunity to fine-tune their fitness together - online. Three times a week, the drivers take part in a group training session with Dr Riccardo Ceccarelli and his team at Formula Medicine, according to BMW.
One driver South African motorsport fans are familiar with is 20-year-old Sheldon van der Linde, currently signed to BMW Motorsport and competing in the German Touring Car Masters Championship (DTM).
The Johannesburg-born star impressed during an invitation from BMW Motorsport to attend the DTM Young Driver Test, catapulting his rise to a DTM seat in 2019 and becoming the first South African driver in the coveted series.
During the lockdown, you can follow Sheldon's sim-racing exploits via his Twitch account here.
The younger Van der Linde brother also competed in endurance racing and took part in the Kyalami 9 Hour in 2019 racing the M6 GT3 in the Intercontinental GT Challenge.
Image: BMW Motorsport
'One-hour session, three times a week'
Each hour session focuses on bodyweight exercises, with no need of a lot of equipment, all that's needed is a mat, says BMW. The Formula Medicine team develop training regimes that focus on strength and endurance and include mental training.
'You push yourself harder'
"It’s a really cool thing that Formula Medicine is offering us. What I found really cool about that is that when you are on video and training with your other team-mates, you always push yourself harder. That is one of the reasons why I love to do this," Van der Linde says.
"The other reason is that we have our awesome trainers on board and I’ve been working with them in the offseason in January for a few weeks when I was there. I really enjoy working with them, we have a really good relationship and it’s great to meet them online for training now," says the 20-year-old who resides in Kempten, Germany.
"It’s important for us to be ready when the season starts and I think with Formula Medicine on board we drivers have nothing to worry about. With them, we are well on track to be as fit as possible for the season start."
Image: BMW Motorsport
