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TKART magazine Champion Advice | Bruni: training using a kart to improve performance
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BRUNI: TRAINING
USING A KART TO
IMPROVE PERFORMANCE

Max Bernardi
18 July 2017
Gianmaria Bruni, a works driver for the Porsche Motorsport team and a career boasting important victories, tells us how crucial it is for a driver to train using a kart. Taking advantage of a day out on the track, assisted by the LenzoKart team, the Roman driver explains how to physically approach a day’s karting: exercises, nutrition and hydration
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THE RIGHT TRAINING

"Given its simplicity, we tend to forget that the kart is the vehicle that most resembles high performance cars such as those in F1 or GT. In particular, it is forgotten by certain amateur drivers who only go out on the track a few times on Sundays, without considering that what they have in their hands is capable of exceptional performance and, therefore, requires proper physical training.
I try to train using a kart as often as I can, because I think it is the best way to achieve the well-rounded fitness required for driving vehicles found in higher classes.
As a professional racing endurance driver, I can say that the physical exertion is different: there is no doubt that it is greater in a kart, although it is concentrated over a shorter amount of time, whereas in endurance it can last up to 4 consecutive hours. The effort required in a 24 h event is different to both of them, since the situation that produces the most physical and mental stress is the need to be ready to get into the car at any time. In any case, I'm convinced that the kart is the best training method, both for stressing the muscles that are also used when driving cars, as well as stimulating the psychological aspect and providing the experience needed to manage every stage of a race".
Bruni, during his day karting with Lenzokart.
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Bruni, during his day karting with Lenzokart.
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Bruni in action during some 2017 GT races in which he competes as a Porsche works driver.
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Bruni in action during some 2017 GT races in which he competes as a Porsche works driver.
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Bruni in action during some 2017 GT races in which he competes as a Porsche works driver.
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Bruni in action during some 2017 GT races in which he competes as a Porsche works driver.
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Bruni in action during some 2017 GT races in which he competes as a Porsche works driver.
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Bruni in action during some 2017 GT races in which he competes as a Porsche works driver.
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Bruni in action during some 2017 GT races in which he competes as a Porsche works driver.
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REFLEXES

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"Besides muscles, at high speeds it is mostly your reflexes are tested. To train for that you need to get used to facing unpredictable situations with a clear head and reduce your reaction times. In that respect, there is nothing better than burning plenty of fuel out on the track. Let’s not forget that, for drivers, the ability to maintain concentration is as decisive as the purely physical aspect:, for example, throttling off or entering a bend are all phases that always require the utmost care in order to feel even the slightest movement by the kart and act accordingly. It’s not easy to take correct action in a few fractions of the second based on the sensations that a vehicles conveys. The most complicated thing is to keep the vehicle under control at all times and, in this sense, karts certainly help a lot, especially the KZ class, in which you need to manage the gear changes while remaining focussed on driving”.
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