Training with the world champion maker -
Benjamin Mazatis: Fit for the Red Bull Ring
The right training is essential. That's why Benjamin Mazatis leaves nothing to chance. He prepares himself with fitness guru Erwin Göllner.
Benjamin Mazatis is competing in the newly created ADAC Formula 4 this year. After the season opener four weeks ago in Oschersleben, the second race weekend in Austria is coming up next weekend. The 17-year-old wants to build on the experience he has gained at the Red Bull Ring. In order to be as fit as possible for the season's 24 races in Germany and Europe, the talented formula driver from Bruckmühl in Bavaria has been training with renowned fitness coach Erwin Göllner since last year. The Austrian can look back on a long career in Formula 1 and has trained the two Formula 1 world champions Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve as well as the reigning F1 vice-champion Nico Rosberg, among others.
When Mazatis is not preparing with his personal coach in his own small gym at home, he works with Göllner to further improve his fitness. The special trick of the experienced physiotherapist, also known in the media as the ‚world champion maker‘: The training here is sport-specific. A well-trained neck to cope with the extreme centrifugal forces in the cockpit during races is just as much a focus as training concentration. „A marathon runner wouldn't last a full race distance in a Formula 1 car,“ says Göllner.
Full programme for budding professionals
Over the years, Göllner has perfected his training methods and constantly adapted to the changing challenges of motorsport. From juggling on a medicine ball to push-ups on slacklines stretched across the small basement room - Mazatis gets the full programme for budding motorsport professionals here. „It doesn't always have to be incredibly expensive high-tech equipment,“ says Göllner, explaining his motto. The young Mazatis trains his stamina, concentration and physique in an almost playful manner throughout the day. „Erwin challenges me in every area,“ says the budding high school graduate.
The training is exhausting. But in the end, it's fun when you can conquer yourself and your own body.
The showpiece in Göllner's cellar is in the far corner. At first glance, the structure looks like a 4×2 metre high-tech construct with a racing seat, steering wheel and monitor inside. It is the almost legendary centrifugal force simulator that Göllner has spent years developing. The machine is able to realistically simulate the exact centrifugal forces and climatic conditions of any racetrack in the world that affect a racing driver. A construction, fed with sensitive telemetry data directly from Formula 1 engineers, which is unique in this form worldwide.
Mazatis has also been reeling off a special programme here for months. The training in the centrifugal force simulator is tough - it's not called the ‚torture machine‘ for nothing. In an 80-minute session, Mazatis‘ head under the helmet is subjected to the highest loads using wire ropes, with the ropes weighing more than 20 kilograms pulling on his neck for several minutes. Mazatis also has to repeatedly step on a brake pedal with the equivalent of 80 kilograms of force and turn the built-in steering wheel with his arms.
130 tonnes of weight in 90 minutes
In just under an hour and a half in the simulator, Mazatis moves a load totalling 130 tonnes with his head, arms and legs. „Training in the simulator is tough, but it's also fun,“ says Mazatis. „The great thing is that I can also train the muscles that are used less in everyday life perfectly here. I'm sure that the training will give me an advantage over my competitors. I hope that I can constantly deliver my best possible performance over the course of a full race weekend, while other riders are slowly losing their strength.“
Göllner's training specifically addresses Mazatis‘ needs and challenges the talented youngster with a constant stream of new exercises. „Benjamin is highly motivated and knows exactly what he wants. He realises that he has to give his all in training in order to be really ready for a career in motorsport. It's not always fun, but in the end it all comes down to success. If he continues like this, a professional career is absolutely realistic,“ says the coach about his young protégé. Göllner is travelling to the race weekends with Mazatis this season to support him in his preparations for the races.