Welcome to Part 2 of our Fitness feature. Jim and Iain have been following the professional advice of Liz Linford of Body Technology, to help prepare them for the 2009 racing season.

Liz is a qualified chiropractor, therapeutic masseuse, osteopath and reflexologist. Liz also has a Bachelor of Science and a Diploma in Management of Sports Injuries and is able to give advice on exercise and diet.

As well as an impressive collection of qualifications, Liz has participated in rally driving and rally cross; has undertaken the Peruvian and Himalayan Mountain Treks in 2002 and 2003 and the London Marathon in 2004. All this, and a passion for all forms of motorsport herself, means Liz is better able to understand the needs of her patients who enter our beloved sport.

Liz has spent the last five years as the official physiotherapist for the Porsche Cup Championship and before that fulfilled the same role for TOCA looking after BTCC drivers. Liz has also helped some of motorsport’s top names including Richard Burns, Nigel Mansell, Rubens Barichello, Alistair McRae and Arron Slight. And now us!

For this month, Liz asked us to think about the liquids we consume.

“Just as an engine can’t run without oil, our engines can’t run without water; it’s needed for all bodily functions, especially elimination and to regulate body temperature.

Think back .. are you often thirsty? Feel tired? Have difficulty concentrating? Are you overheating? Have joint problems or dry lips or mouth? And next time you pop to the loo, is your urine dark yellow?! Any combination of these things could be your body crying out for water. We should all aim to drink 1.5 to 2 litres of water a day, and of course drink more if you exercise.

Next time you are reaching for a drink consider that most soft drinks are high in calories and those energy drinks that so many people consume contain caffeine, which will dilute the blood vessels, giving an instant spurt of energy but then you are tricking the body with chemicals. Fizzy drinks have had the caffeine removed allowing them to be marketed as caffeine free but this has simply been replaced with other chemicals so they have just the same effect as energy drinks. Diet or low calorie drinks provide little or no energy. Tea, coffee and alcohol all act as diuretics, causing your body to lose water as well as robbing it of natural minerals.

So remember, water is always best. If dehydration is a problem, choose an isotonic drink for energy or a hypotonic drink for rapid fluid replacement.”

Thanks Liz!

Check back in with us next month for Liz’s next Top Tip for Drivers.

If you like what you’ve read and would like more personal advice from Liz you can contact her at liz@body-technology.com(remember to tell her you met her through Tester Engineering).

No matter what your reason for getting behind the wheel at the racetrack, there’s no disputing that the fitter and healthier the driver the better they will perform. If you can hold your concentration for longer and have the stamina to work those muscles to get you round the bends lap after lap, chances are your lap times will improve (and you could even have the energy to leap up onto the winner’s podium after!).

Preparing yourself for competing doesn’t have to mean expensive gym memberships and rigorous diet plans. Some simple life choices could help.

Jim and Iain are already training for the 2009 season with the help of health professional and motorsport physio guru Liz Linford of Body Technology. You can follow the guys and their progress in our Fitness feature – look out for Liz’s Top Tips for Drivers each month.

Sign up to our free newsletter to get these tips delivered by email and chart the guys progress.