The change that's yielding 'massive' rewards for Seton
Aaron Seton says a change to his exercise regime has been key to his preparation and dedication ahead of his first Bathurst 1000.
The Dunlop Super2 Series talent will make his Great Race debut with Matt Stone Racing in October, aboard the #34 Truck Assist Commodore with Jack Le Brocq.
The 24-year-old Victorian has progressed through karts and Production Cars on his way to winning the TA2 Muscle Car Series title in 2019.
He is currently contesting his second Super2 season with MSR.
Away from the race track, Seton has always been an active person, enjoying cycling, mountain biking, and wakeboarding, along with regular gym sessions.
However, this year the Gold Coast-based driver has made a change that is yielding “massive” results.
“I decided to change up my training programme a little bit at the start of the year,” he told Supercars.com.
“I use to more of a strength-based programme where I did more gym sessions during the week, but this year I've actually gone to more of a cardio-based programme.
“I’ve joined a running group near where I live on the Gold Coast, run by trainer and former professional triathlete [Adam] 'Adsy' Gordon.
“Now I run a couple of times a week completing his program, we do an interval session once a week and then a long run once a week.
“[The results] have been massive, not just in my fitness but also learning from Adzy.
“He was a professional athlete, so he knows how to train.
“His insights into different ways to improve base and peak level fitness have been really interesting to learn and see how he goes about it.”
Joining the running group six months ago, Seton has been training regularly with Supercars championship drivers Tim Slade, and brothers Will and Alex Davison.
Supercars pitlane reporter Riana Crehan is also a member of the popular running group.
“Instead of running by myself, it's been really good for me to train with others,” Seton continued.
“You can push yourself along that bit further than you can running alone.
“It’s been awesome to go along to the group and have everyone there.
“Tim Slade does it as well as Will and Alex, so there are quite a few drivers that get out there and have a go.
“It's such a good group of people to train with.”
This October Aaron will be the third Seton, after father Glenn and grandfather Barry, to race in Bathurst.
Barry ‘Bo’ Seton won the 1965 Armstrong 500, having made his debut in 1963.
Glenn scored four Bathurst podiums, three times finishing second.
Aaron has three Bathurst 12 hour starts, highlighted by a GT4 class win in 2018.
His most recent Super2 start at Mount Panorama last December resulted in third place, so far, his best Super2 result.
One he hopes to better this year.
In a bid to achieve that goal, Seton believes his new training regimen is helping to sharpen his tools.
“Anytime that you can train, and you have to focus on something for a long period of time, it is helping my driving,” he said.
“I’m doing four cardio sessions and two gym sessions a week.
“I’ve just found I feel better and fitter, as a person doing it that way.
“I think that's the type of training that just suits me and my body.”
Seton drove the MSR #30 Sherrins Rental Commodore in the development series at Sandown last weekend.
He moved up to seventh in the standings after recording his sixth top 10 finish of the season.
The event also featured the only Additional Driver session of the year.
It was the only at-event co-driver session prior to Bathurst.
Seton recorded the 15th fastest time ahead of Tim Blanchard.
It came after he tested Le Brocq’s ZB Commodore at Queensland Raceway.
The young gun still has one more test day ahead of the Great Race, should the team choose to use it.
For Seton, his preparation is about doing “the small things right”.
“Just keep my training programme fairly simple and just do the small things right,” Seton said.
“It's everything that goes into it, the diet, the sleep, the hydration, and fitness.
“Knowing that you've done all the work that you can to prepare for an event is the biggest helper you can have.”
The 2022 Repco Bathurst 1000 will be held on October 9. Purchase tickets now.
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