How Supercars drivers prepare for hottest races

Supercars drivers are pushed to physical and mental limits. Conditions in the car can get very, very tough.

However, events such as Darwin and Townsville, the next two rounds on the 2026 calendar, have built a reputation as the most punishing tests in Supercars.

Heat has already reared its head in 2026. Three drivers — Broc Feeney, Will Brown and David Reynolds — were treated for heat exhaustion on a stifling 35 degree day in Sydney.

Darwin, Townsville, Gold Coast and Adelaide, notably, could offer similar, if not significantly worse conditions than Sydney did. Each lap is like a sauna session, and through that stress, you’re trying to race and beat other drivers.

Performing in high cockpit temperatures while wearing heavy, sweat-drenched clothing isn’t for the faint-hearted, nor the underprepared. Reynolds said it best after Sydney: when the going gets really tough, you start to play tricks on yourself.

So, how do these drivers do it, and what does it take to perform under duress? Supercars.com breaks it down.

Why is it so challenging?

Racing in a hot environment is stressful on the body and the mind. As a driver, you’re facing heat under serious operational load.

Imagine trying to nail every apex and race someone, while fighting the heat. It’s tough, and you need physical and mental resilience to finish the job, let alone get a result.

Events like Darwin or Townsville are uniquely tough. While in the middle of winter, it’s hot and humid. Cockpit temperatures exceed 60 degrees, and the races are nearly two hours long at very physical circuits.

Changing gears, big brake pedal applications, steering inputs. It’s hard work, and you need to be up to the task when the pressure is on.

Just think — you’re wearing helmets, fire retardant underwear and fire suits, racing at over 250km/h, all in the conditions of a sauna. It’s relentless, and that’s not even factoring in the idiosyncrasies of certain circuits, such as the punishing kerbs of Townsville.

There’s little chance to rest, and there’s a lot of pressure on the body. That extends to braking and turning G-forces, which put strain on everything. Longer races also mean concentration and peak heart rate is sustained for longer.

Add heat into the equation, and you can start to understand just what these drivers are up against.

The work done before the race

Preparation for races like Darwin or Townsville begins long before the season even commences.

Drivers build a base of fitness through endurance work, alongside strength and conditioning. You'll have noticed that some drivers have personal trainers or performance coaches.

However, event-specific preparation is done as the events approach. Drivers can acclimatise to the discomfort of heat by exercising in similar conditions. Structured heat acclimation — such as spending extended periods in saunas to simulate the tough conditions they'll face in the cockpit — help set a baseline.

The goal is to the track having rehearsed what they'll go through when they race. Simply, those who prepare best for the heat will have a greater chance of performing best.

Hydration is key

It goes without saying, but hydration is absolutely critical. However, it’s more than just keeping the fluids up.

Generic hydration targets won’t cut it: specific hydration targets tailored the individual will produce a better result. Some drivers are much taller or bigger than others, so they must have targets designed to scale.

In the weeks leading up to events, drivers can pre-hydrate, and replace electrolytes matched to the measured loss of sweat during races. Drivers can lose around three kilograms through sweat during each race!

The goal is to start race week at peak hydration, knowing that drivers will lose kilograms of body weight throughout the weekend through sweat alone.

Drivers do have drink bottles in the car, but while they can take in fluids during the race, the work done before and after is where drivers extract performance.

Staying cool

Even walking around the paddock in Darwin, you feel the sting of the heat. So, imagine trying to stay out of the elements while preparing for races. It’s stressful, and every minute counts.

At the event, it’s all about keeping core temperatures under control. Recovery between sessions is crucial.

Every driver and team is different. Some teams have ice baths, while some have small tents with air conditioning. From ice towels to cold drinks, there are ways to find quick relief, but the goal is to stay healthy throughout the weekend. Some also use unconventional means, from hand-held fans to air conditioning vents.

Supercars has already responded with new mandatory dual-system cooling regulations for Darwin onwards. The cool suit and helmet fan must be operational is the heat policy is in place. However, drivers still need to prepare accordingly.

The cool suit is the most important tool at a driver's disposal. The suit itself sees chilled fluid sent through tubes along a fireproof vest. A cool vest can also be worn pre-race. Both keep core body temperature lower for longer.

If a cool suit fails, and when cockpit temperatures climb, drivers can fall into trouble quickly. Feeney, Brown and Reynolds were exposed in Sydney, with malfunctioning suits leaving them hot and bothered.

The verdict

“The heat's definitely a big thing,” Feeney said.

"I mean, we're going from 10 degrees in Tassie to about 30, 35 degrees in Darwin. So it's always a little bit of a shock to the body this time of the year.

“If you're out front in Darwin, it's actually quite pleasurable. So, that's certainly the plan, to have a fast race car, get out front in clean air and, and look after yourself.

“A lot of tyre deg that comes from the temperature, and for sure with three races over the weekend, especially two long ones, it's not easy on the body, that's for sure.

“Training-wise, you start to do a little bit of heat work just to try and acclimatise yourself for it. I do lots of sauna. Don't know how much that actually helps, but I like to tell myself that it does.

“We try and do as much as we can from the car side to keep it as cool as possible and make sure that we're nice and comfortable in the car."