How drivers and teams prepare for an endurance race
Numerous 24-hour endurance races take place in the IMSA and WEC series. The recently concluded Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona had the Porsche Penske team take home the trophy and, of course, their very own Rolex watches! But how do drivers and their teams make it through a nonstop race that lasts a full 24 hours?
We spoke with drivers and team principals to better understand how endurance racing works. It turns out that it's more like several sprints packed into a marathon.IMSA and WEC have several endurance races, but there's no definition of "endurance" in racing. Some labeled endurance races are 24 hours long, while others last four, six, or 12 hours. Some even have more laps and no set duration.
The three most notable endurance races make up the "triple crown" of motorsports: the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Teams and drivers treat endurance racing much like a series of short races.
The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is a 100-minute race in Long Beach, California, and is one of several sub-two-hour races on the IMSA schedule. In a race like this, each car has two drivers, with each taking 45-50-minute shifts.
Drivers often pull double shifts in endurance races. Bobby Rahal, Team Principal for BMW M Racing, says fewer driver changes result in fewer problems when entering or exiting the cars. Overnight, Rahal tells us drivers may be behind the wheel for three or four hours in one stretch, which helps other drivers get rest, particularly as the race comes to a conclusion and competition increases."It's all about rest [for drivers]. A lot of these guys are coming from Europe, so it's all about getting here early enough that you can acclimate to the time zone difference and be prepared," Rahal said. "You think you're getting good sleep during the race, but you're not. Once you get out of the car, it's hard to turn it all off."
Some teams have large RVs on-site where drivers can retreat for rest or a meal.
Rahal says teams arrive in Daytona about two weeks in advance for practice and qualifying and set up a pit in a few days.
Teams like BSI racing competing in shorter races like those from the MX-5 Cup also take advantage of those pit setups.
"We don't have a ton of time. Fortunately for us, the bigger teams with all the fancy gear have everything set up, and they let us utilize their space for our race. We have about 10 minutes from the time we leave pre-grid to the time when everything needs to be unloaded," said Shea Holbrook, Principal at BSI Racing. "Then, right before the race is over, we quickly pack up whatever we removed from the tugger and head back. If we're doing our jobs, that part takes less than five minutes, and that's being generous."
When it's over, teams pack up in about a day and head to the next race.
Drivers arrive at least a week before the race for various obligations and practice laps but never lose discipline or focus.
MX-5 Cup driver Sally Mott is an excellent example of how good drivers prepare to perform. The MX-5 Cup has some of the shortest races on the IMSA schedule, with the two MX-5 Cup Daytona races lasting 45 minutes each or about as long as a typical "shift" in an endurance race."Mental preparation starts weeks before we're on track. I drive the track on the simulator and visualize every corner and every shift [of the car's transmission]. I study onboard footage to memorize specific car placement, throttle application, downshifts, and braking zones," Mott said.
"I watch races from previous years to analyze high-percentage passing opportunities, preparing myself for any racing scenarios that may occur. I also play high-intensity ping pong for 45 minutes (the length of a race) daily with my dad to train focus and mental agility."
Rahal reminds us that drivers are athletes, musing, "They have maybe eight percent body fat. They're always training; they're always in great shape." He also adds that some teams have chefs and trainers on-site to ensure that drivers and crew are well-fed and cared for.
Several teams also have facilities with simulators where drivers can virtually test any track ahead of time. Drivers may only have a few laps on a course before the race, and simulation is nearly as practical as behind-the-wheel time for learning a new track.
During an endurance race, pit crews don't always get to sneak away for a long nap. "We could go down there right now, and I bet a few guys are asleep," Rahal quips.
He reminds us that those crews must be up and ready for pit stops every 40 minutes. Teams must use the same vehicle for the entire race; those cars burn fuel and tires steadily, regardless of who is behind the wheel. Crews must be ready for routine pit stops, and governing bodies like IMSA have rules that pit crews must follow, which also don't take a break overnight.Regardless of team size or how well-resourced the team ownership is, the burden on crews is significant. Rahal's teams work on pit stops at the training facility and have workouts geared toward their role on the pit crew. Teams are rebuilding cars all the time, too.
Like drivers, the work pit crews put in off-track makes the difference when it's showtime.
As the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona accelerated into the night, people began filing out of the stands and observation decks. Teams switched to soft-compound tires to stay competitive through colder temperatures overnight, and people in attendance watched a fireworks display. For many fans, the fireworks are the last thing they want to see before getting a good night's sleep.
Sleep and rest are luxuries in endurance racing. Drivers and crew prepare their bodies and minds to excel at these events, and even a last-place finish is a testament to the team's willpower and perseverance.
And they'll pack up and do it again at another track very soon - because they love the grind. Sometimes, it's just hard not to be romantic about endurance racing.
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