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McAdam focused on fitness ahead of 2021 TCR Australia Series
Liam McAdam is ready to rip into the 2021 TCR Australia Series and has used the coronavirus-enforced break to get every aspect of his game in check – on and off track.
The Queensland-based privateer has not only prepared his Audi RS 3 LMS for the season, but has employed a new fitness regime that he hopes can add an extra layer to his skill set.
He says that he switched his focus from strength training to endurance training with an eye on the expected longer race format at the Bathurst International a key motivator.
“When I realised that we wouldn’t be doing any racing this year, I started doing my kilometres on my bike, as well as more running and continuing gym work,” he said.
“I’ve had more time on my hands since working from home, avoiding the commute to work each day has given me a chance to fit in big rides in the morning.
“I’ve mostly shifted from strength work in the gym into a lot more endurance based fitness – lots of cycling including four or five hour rides for over 100km at a time. This was to keep up my fitness, but also putting more emphasis on cardio and endurance.
“The strength aspect is less important when driving a TCR car. They aren’t a car that you need to be man handled. Driven right, they are very smooth and forgiving.
“We expect that the Bathurst International TCR race later in 2021 will have a longer race format. Most of the racing I have done in a TCR car has been sprint formats, so I’m focused on being physically prepared for a longer race.”
Aside from his boosted training, McAdam and his father David have been getting the Audi and team ready for the restart of TCR racing, and says that all the small details have been carefully prepared for the new season.
“All of the things you plan to do in the off-season but never get a chance to do have been looked after. The workshop has had an overhaul and all the little things have been tidied up and are now more user-friendly.
“It’s all the small details like having a good data box set-up, all the tools lined up and everything is perfectly in place. We were well prepared before, but now we feel we have left no stone unturned. We are almost over-prepared to get on-track!” he joked.
While his Audi is ready to roll, McAdam says that his family-run team is still searching for budget to ensure that they can compete in every round of the six-round season.
“The current situation is that we are definitely gunning to be at the opening round in Tasmania, but we when push comes to shove, it will depend on the finances and sponsorship,” he said.
“Everything is ready. We could race tomorrow, but we just need to make sure we have the right level of sponsorship to do it properly.
“We are pretty active in the sponsorship market right now. We are kicking down a few doors, and we have some marketing people engaged to assist, which has been a big help.
“That market was hard before, but now with COVID it’s even harder. We are fighting though, we aren’t rolling over and definitely still think we are going to be in it.”
The opening round of the TCR Australia Series will be held at Symmons Plains Raceway in Tasmania on January 24-26. All TCR Australia races will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network.
CLICK HERE for ticketing details for Symmons Plains, which is the opening event of the inaugural Race Tasmania festival in January.