Keep cool, keep calm and drive faster..!

The Walero range of FIA approved underwear (or base layers as they prefer to call it) is quickly gaining recognition as THE upgrade to your motorsport attire that you really can't do without if you are interested in maintaining peak performance and ultimately, winning. Racecar Engineering find out why.

THE HOT SEAT

Using 2018 British GT4 Champion Jack Mitchell as a test subject, the comparison study involved driving a Ginetta G55 GT4 vehicle model around Donington Park’s Grand Prix configuration over a one-hour stint. On the first day Mitchell would wear standard Nomex race underwear, and then Walero underwear on the second. With the simulator room kept at a controlled 32degC, the upper limit for cockpit temperatures as defined by the FIA WEC technical regulations, Mitchell’s starting body temperature on both of the testdays was measured at 36.9degC.

On day one, wearing the standard Nomex underwear, Mitchell’s temperature rose to 37.6degC in just 10 minutes, with a continuous progression to a peak of 38.4degC at the end of the stint. On day two, now wearing Walero, Mitchell experienced a noticeably slower increase in body temperature. He remained at his starting temperate of 36.9degC for the first 10 minutes of the stint, before gradually rising to a peak of 37.5degC at the end.

Additionally, Mitchell’s average heart rate over the stint was reduced from 108bpm to 100bpm, and he lost 0.3kg in body weight when using Walero underwear compared to 0.5kg using the Nomex. Fouache found Mitchell sweated around 40 per cent less in the Walero underwear and his average heart rate was eight beats less over the course of the hour.

 

BEST OF THE VEST

Fouache says of the test: ‘We decided to measure three key metrics: the driver’s body temperature increase, weight loss and average heart rate. Walero’s impact on these metrics was extremely impressive. A 0.9 degree difference between the two studies is a huge amount in terms of thermal regulation. Jack’s body temperature elevated much more slowly when wearing the Walero base layer than he did in the Nomex, meaning his physiological and cognitive functions have the opportunity to perform optimally for a greater duration.

‘If a driver is making better decisions while driving, the likelihood of him making mistakes, missing braking points or the apex of a corner which can cost valuable lap time decreases,’

For more information on the Walero range and to buy online, simply head HERE

Excerpt taken from www.racecar-engineering.com (December 2019)