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Auto Racing Driver Katherine Legge Shares Her Fitness Secrets

Katherine Legge
In 2019, Katherine, left, is the lead driver for the Heinricher Racing with Meyer Shank Racing Acura in IMSA endurance sports car racing. Her co-drivers (depending on the event) include Danish racer Christina Nielsen, center, and Bia Figueiredo from Brazil.

Katherine Legge is a British professional auto racing driver. She is also featured in Richard Hammond’s Crash Course.

Prior to joining the Toyota Atlantic series, Guildford-born Legge raced in several developmental open-wheel series in Britain, including Formula Three, Formula Renault and Formula Ford. In 2000, she was the first woman to achieve a pole in a Zetec race. In 2001, she beat Kimi Räikkönen’s lap record and achieved a pole, and she was the first woman to receive the BRDC’s “Rising Star” accolade.

Women Fitness joins the fast racer for a thrilling conversation!

In addition to IMSA endurance racing, Katherine drove for the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team in the Jaguar iPace racing series, winning earlier this year in Mexico City, and shown here celebrating on the top step of the Victory Podium.
Namita Nayyar:

Prior to joining the Toyota Atlantic series, you raced in several developmental open-wheel series in Britain, including Formula Three, Formula Renault and Formula Ford. In 2000, you were the first woman to achieve a pole in a Zetec race.  What attracted you towards auto racing as a career, if you were to sum up in a few words?

Katherine Legge:

I started karting when I was 9 years old… ever since then I love the adrenaline rush, the competition with others, the speed, the focus it gave me, the need to be smart about engineering the car to be fast, and the competition with myself to continue to grow and get better. It’s pretty much my identity at this point.

Full interview is continued on next page

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All Written Content Copyright © 2019 Women Fitness

#57 Heinricher Racing w/Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3, GTD: Katherine Legge, Bia Figueiredo, #86 Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian Acura NSX GT3, GTD: Mario Farnbacher, Trent Hindman
Namita Nayyar:

From karting to champ car, DTM to IndyCar, Sports Cars to formula E, you’ve had an incredible career. Were your eyes always set on this goal? If not racing where can we find you?

KATHERINE LEGGE:

At home working on racing related things!!  I’m either training, running, riding my bike or in the gym, doing racing-related business activities or in the yard or playing golf! In my heart, I have always been focused on racing – making the most out of the opportunities I have had, and fighting for new opportunities. Like all professional sports, it is difficult to succeed in racing.  I wasn’t always sure at the beginning of my career if I would make it to the top levels of the sport, but I always was single minded and focused on doing so.

Namita Nayyar:

How do you like to kick start your day. What does your first meal of the day comprise of?

KATHERINE LEGGE:

First, I need coffee! I’m not sure if it is a physical need, more of a mental one that starts my day! My first meal is a protein smoothie after a workout, or avocado toast.

Katherine Legge in the #57 racing earlier this year at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Namita Nayyar:

Before kicking off professional auto racing, what are the key points a beginner needs to keep in mind? 5 key essentials.

KATHERINE LEGGE:

Never give up. Stay focused. Stay humble. Take advice. Continue to improve.

When not racing, Katherine can often be found training, running and biking are two of her favorite activities.
Namita Nayyar:

Three components that are a must in your fitness regime? 5 exercises to build full body strength and can be followed even while travelling? 2 Focus-building exercise?

KATHERINE LEGGE:

Running!… You can do that anywhere and I need to do cardio for racing. Racing is an endurance-based sport.  You are in a hot cockpit for hours at a time, dealing with high-g loads under braking, acceleration and cornering; very heavy steering and even greater braking forces, so it’s important to do plenty of hot sweaty running outside in the heat to adapt!

Stairs. You can find them anywhere too!

There are also a lot of stretches and core exercises you can do on the road too. I need to do more stretching!

Namita Nayyar:

As a sportswoman, what skincare and hair care routine do you follow to combat the stress of the sport?

KATHERINE LEGGE:

I wear a sweaty helmet every time I’m in the car, so it’s not easy! I swear by effaclar to keep my skin clear.  It used to be very bad, and it took me years to find something to clear it up!  My hair breaks easily in my helmet, I was using argan oil but I found its healthier without it. I always use sunscreen, and I travel a lot so I use belief cream to moisturize.

In 2016, Katherine took part in her first Ironman 70.3 in Augusta, Georgia, beating her target time of six hours on a hot and humid day.
Namita Nayyar:

You suffered a violent accident at the 2006 Grand Prix of Road America when the rear wing of your car broke; but were able to walk away from the car unharmed. How do these incidents help you become a better racer?

KATHERINE LEGGE:

I’m not sure they help you to become better, but they do give you a healthy respect for the sport, and the danger of it. I think they help you compartmentalise the different components of racing so you can focus on doing better.

In 2018, Katherine won two IMSA races and finished second in the season-long championship in a field including some of the top sports car racers in the world. Here she is celebrating her pole (quickest) qualifying run at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in California.
Namita Nayyar:

Tell us about your resolutions or goals for the upcoming races?

KATHERINE LEGGE:

To win this season with the new all-female team [Heinricher Racing with Meyer Shank Racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship]. Then to develop this program into something strong that will be a legacy.

Namita Nayyar:

In 2015, working with the support of the FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission, the all-female team set out to promote technology and engineering as a career for young women. How do you wish to empower young women through these endeavors?

KATHERINE LEGGE:

I think if they know anything is possible if they work hard, and its within their grasp it will act as a carrot to lead them in the direction of their goals. Its basically leading by example and being a role model and support system.

Katherine Legge and co-driver Alvaro Parente from Portugal celebrate their victory in the three-hour IMSA race at Laguna Seca in 2018.
Namita Nayyar:

One women who inspires you as a symbol of strength?

KATHERINE LEGGE:

My mother! She’s the strongest lady I know!

You can follow Katherine on:

All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http:// www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.

All Written Content Copyright © 2019 Women Fitness

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