Racing driver Hywel Lloyd has been feeling the heat as he gets ready for this weekend’s big race of the Formula Three season through the streets of Macau in China.
The 26-year-old will have to endure temperatures of over 30C and humidity of up to 90 per cent while wearing his helmet and fire-resistant racesuit, turning the cockpit of his F3 Dallara Mercedes into a sweatbox.
So he’s been getting used to the conditions at home in the Vale of Clwyd – at Springs Spa in Llanrhaeadr, near Denbigh, where he’s been working out in the spa’s temperature-controlled pool area.
Lloyd, from Gwyddelwern, near Corwen, said: “It’s absolutely ideal because the conditions can be very oppressive and if you go there straight from November in North Wales then it’s a bit of a shock to the system.
“Thankfully the people at Springs volunteered to help me and so I’ve been working out there.
“They set up an exercise bike in the spa and it pretty much replicated the heat and humidity I will face in Macau at the weekend.
“The facilities at Springs are great and it means I’ll be acclimatised when I climb into the car next week. I’m really grateful to them for letting me use them.”
Springs Gym Manager Richard Thomas said: “This is great preparation for what Hywel will face out there.
“He is very fit and trains hard and if he keeps up that intensity here on the bike it will give him the kind of workout he needs and we’re just glad to be able to help one of our top sportsmen prepare for a major event.”
Lloyd flies out on Sunday but his car and race equipment have already been flown out – they will be shipped back by sea after the race.
It’s the second time he has competed in the Macau Grand Prix, the world’s premier F3 event, an invitation-only race which attracts the best up and coming racing drivers.
It is held on the streets of Macau, the former Portuguese colony across the bay from Hong Kong, and previous winners have included two of the sport’s all-time greats, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, as well as David Coulthard, Riccardo Patrese and Ralf Schumacher.
Hundreds of thousands will line the route and Lloyd, driving for Chinese-backed Sino Vision Racing along with his team-mate, Adderley Fong, can expect vociferous home support.
He said: “The atmosphere will be incredible but it is a very difficult circuit and, like all street circuits, you have to stay on line because if you don’t or if you miss a braking point then you’re saying hello to a wall.
“It’s very dusty for the first two days which makes it really slippery. It’s like driving on ice and that’s because as soon as testing and practice are over they open the roads again and ten minutes later they’re full of cars, buses and lorries.
“I enjoyed it last year. It’s an amazing place, such a different culture and it was a totally new experience so I’m looking forward to it again.
“It’s a long circuit, it akes us about two minutes 12 seconds to get round but last year qualifying went well so I am hoping to put in a good performance.”
Lloyd’s driving there last year persuaded Sino Vision to sign him up for this season and he will be looking to impress again.
He should be one of the fittest drivers there after an arduous schedule. As well as his sessions at Springs he has also been mountain biking, swimming and working out.
He said: “You have to be fit, especially if it’s hot and humid because concentration is vital when you doing over 150mph with a wall alongside you.”
Lloyd will practice on Thursday morning with a qualifying session in the afternoon with further practice and qualifying on Friday with a 10-lap qualifying race on Saturday afternoon.
The15-lap Macau Grand Prix is held on Sunday afternoon as the climax to the weekend’s racing which will also include major races for motorbikes, GT and touring cars .
For more on Hywel Lloyd go to www.f3racing.co.uk
