Personal sauna paying off for Reynolds

A personal sauna is quickly paying off for David Reynolds, who is determined to combat struggles with the heat.

Penrite Racing Ford driver Reynolds installed a sauna at his Melbourne home between the Newcastle and Albert Park rounds.

The radical approach was in response to Reynolds’ ongoing battles with hot temperatures while racing.

Notably, Reynolds raced to the point of exhaustion at Surfers Paradise last October and in Newcastle in March.

On both occasions, Reynolds brought home a podium finish, but cut a tired figure afterwards.

In a matter of weeks, Reynolds has managed to improve his tolerance to the heat as he readies for warmer weather races down the line.

“I’m surprised how quickly your body adapts,” Reynolds told Supercars.com.

Reynolds required medical assistance in Surfers Paradise

“I’ve used it every second night and tried to cook myself.

“When I first got in there, I could probably spend 20 minutes at 85 degrees. Now I can spend 50 to 55 minutes in there.

"It gets to the 20-minute mark and I’m not looking for the exit, and I’m happily sitting there comfortably.

“It’s actually made a big difference.”

Soaring temperatures won’t be a major factor at the next two sprint rounds in Perth and Tasmania.

However, the heat will play a greater role in Darwin — where temperatures are consistently above 30 degrees — and Townsville, where the races are 250km long.

In between, Reynolds is determined to keep training himself to a point where his focus is on racing, rather than survival.

'I've always struggled with the heat'

“You can lose your heat adaption pretty quickly,” explained Reynolds, whose partner Tahan recently gave birth to the couple's second child.

“You can lose a lot in a week if you stop training. You can fall back to baseline in a month. You have to constantly use it — that’s my plan. I thoroughly enjoy it.

“I’ve always struggled with the heat. It's generally cold in Melbourne, and I can’t think when I’m running hot.

“Then you have to race at 70 degrees — when I get really hot, all my brain is telling me is, ‘Get out’.

“It’s been a weak point of mine in my career, and I’m getting over that mental hurdle.

“Hopefully it’s a big step in the right direction."

The 2017 Bathurst winner is eighth in the points heading to Perth, where drivers will compete in three 42-lap sprints.