Method E’s 2023 world champion Jake Dennis has been chasing a second title with Workforce Andretti, racing on tracks throughout the globe in areas reminiscent of Jeddah, Miami, and Monaco. Now readying for motion in Jakarta, the 6’ 2” driver managed to remain nonetheless lengthy sufficient so as to discuss coaching with M&F, revealing among the challenges that taller racers face.
“Yeah, I’m in all probability a bit too tall to be trustworthy,” jokes Dennis, the British driver who first started racing with karts aged 8 and by no means seemed again. “It positively has its limitations. Clearly, the most important one is becoming within the automotive,” he explains. “Typically, for many of my profession, it’s been fairly tight. To be honest, Method E have really made fairly a giant automotive, so this one is a little bit of a luxurious for me proper now, not having my knees form of bent loopy quantities or my elbows.”
Having competed in Method 3, Jake Dennis has additionally served as a growth driver, testing Method 1 vehicles, so he has examined all kinds of racing vehicles. The most recent Method E car is the GEN3 EVO, and whereas it is likely to be somewhat roomier than its conventional counterparts, this automotive can severely transfer. In truth, with its functionality of 0-60mph in 1.82 seconds, the GEN 3 EVO accelerates 30% quicker than a present F1 automotive.
Nonetheless, house shouldn’t be the one subject that taller drivers like Dennis should navigate. “The opposite facet is my weight,” he tells M&F. “Making an attempt to maintain your weight down as a tour driver is all the time somewhat bit difficult. They all the time set these weight limits based mostly across the common racing driver, which might be 5’ 8” to five’ 10”, so it’s been difficult.” The general weight for each driver and automotive presently sits at 856 kilograms (1,887 kilos). Typically, a person might want to weigh round 80 kilograms (176 kilos) so as to keep inside the guidelines, so being tall can positively have its drawbacks.
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How Jake Dennis Trains for Method E
With no energy steering in Method E vehicles, Jake Dennis explains that his wrists and arms take essentially the most punishment throughout a race. “The load of steering is fairly extreme, particularly on the road circuits,” he explains, noting that muscle fatigue within the shoulders and forearms comes because of holding onto the wheel so intensely.
Whereas Dennis does prepare his core, he explains that the GEN3 EVO automotive seats match across the physique snugly, so the core is much extra supported than in different sorts of vehicles. “I simply typically attempt to all the time give attention to power,” he tells M&F. “Energy coaching for me is a giant factor.” Nonetheless, Dennis must hold his physique mass in-check, so he doesn’t go too heavy on leg day. “I can’t afford to have large muscular legs, as a result of it could take me approach over the burden restrict,” he notes.
Dennis splits his higher physique periods into chest/higher again and biceps/triceps days. To duplicate the changes required in a transferring automotive, he focuses on free weights reasonably than the mounted path of machines. To construct his shouldersDennis performs pullups and bent over rows to organize for the pains of the street. The driving force does like to make use of cables, nevertheless, and performs workout routines like pec flies. “I discover the cables tremendous helpful for concentrating on particular areas,” he explains. Regardless of the transfer, Dennis says that he likes to coach near failure with out pushing himself to the restrict and risking damage.
How Jake Dennis Approaches Vitamin for Method E
Now dwelling in Monaco, Dennis reveals that the tradition of strolling has seen his step rely enhance from 10K within the UK to 18K in current occasions. “It’s a lot nicer to only be exterior. The climate’s nice!” he beams. Burning these further energy has been an enormous enhance for the racer, however he additionally must hold a decent watch of his diet to remain inside these Method E weight limits. Dennis explains that his calorie consumption in the course of the race season sits at round 1,800 energy, whereas ensuring to his 180 grams of protein.
“I attempt to keep away from carbs,” he provides. “My physique now’s so used to not having them, I don’t actually crave them.” This technique retains Dennis’ weight slightly below the 80-kilogram allocation for drivers. “I’m centered on my protein, somewhat little bit of wholesome fat, after which I in all probability hit like possibly 30 to 50 grams of carbs a day, however actually not quite a bit.”
Whereas Dennis does have management over his train regime, and his technique round diet, one facet of racing that he does get a say in is the warmth of the race. “It is rather scorching in inside the race automotive,” he shares. “Not simply inside a Method E automotive, however different sports activities vehicles too.” To organize, Dennis exposes himself to excessive temperatures by way of warmth chamber periods or the sauna. “Simply to attempt to get your physique acclimatized as finest you’ll be able to,” he explains. “However to be trustworthy, nothing actually prepares you for it.”
Dennis will subsequent race Method E for Workforce Andretti on June 21, 2025, in Jakarta, the place the common temperature for this time of 79.4 °F, 26.3 °C with a humidity issue of greater than 80%. Now that’s a tall order.
