Method E’s 2023 world champion Jake Dennis has been chasing a second title with Workforce Andretti, racing on tracks throughout the globe in places resembling Jeddah, Miami, and Monaco. Now readying for motion in Jakarta, the 6’ 2” driver managed to remain nonetheless lengthy sufficient with a view to discuss coaching with M&F, revealing a number of the challenges that taller racers face.
“Yeah, I’m in all probability a bit too tall to be sincere,” 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 largest one is becoming within the automotive,” he explains. “Typically, for many of my profession, it’s been fairly tight. To be truthful, 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 kind of bent loopy quantities or my elbows.”
Having competed in Method 3, Jake Dennis has additionally served as a improvement driver, testing Method 1 automobiles, so he has examined all kinds of racing automobiles. The most recent Method E automobile is the GEN3 EVO, and whereas it is likely to be a little bit roomier than its conventional counterparts, this automotive can critically transfer. Actually, with its functionality of 0-60mph in 1.82 seconds, the GEN 3 EVO accelerates 30% sooner than a present F1 automotive.
Nonetheless, house isn’t the one concern that taller drivers like Dennis should navigate. “The opposite facet is my weight,” he tells M&F. “Attempting to maintain your weight down as a tour driver is at all times a little bit bit difficult. They at all times 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) with a view to keep inside the guidelines, so being tall can positively have its drawbacks.
Method E
How Jake Dennis Trains for Method E
With no energy steering in Method E automobiles, Jake Dennis explains that his wrists and arms take probably the most punishment throughout a race. “The burden 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 varieties of automobiles. “I simply usually attempt to at all times give attention to energy,” he tells M&F. “Power coaching for me is a giant factor.” Nonetheless, Dennis must preserve 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 might take me means over the burden restrict,” he notes.
Dennis splits his higher physique classes into chest/higher again and biceps/triceps days. To duplicate the changes required in a shifting automotive, he focuses on free weights fairly than the mounted route of machines. To construct his shoulders, Dennis performs pullups and bent over rows to organize for the trials of the street. The driving force does like to make use of cables, nevertheless, and performs workouts 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 residing in Monaco, Dennis reveals that the tradition of strolling has seen his step depend enhance from 10K within the UK to 18K in current occasions. “It’s a lot nicer to only be outdoors. The climate’s nice!” he beams. Burning these additional energy has been an enormous enhance for the racer, however he additionally must preserve a good watch of his diet to remain inside these Method E weight limits. Dennis explains that his calorie consumption throughout 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, a little bit 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 so much.”
Whereas Dennis does have management over his train regime, and his technique round diet, one side of racing that he does get a say in is the warmth of the race. “It is rather sizzling in within the race automotive,” he shares. “Not simply inside a Method E automotive, however different sports activities automobiles too.” To organize, Dennis exposes himself to excessive temperatures through warmth chamber classes or the sauna. “Simply to attempt to get your physique acclimatized as greatest you may,” he explains. “However to be sincere, 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.
