Netherton Racer Josh Caygill says he’s better prepared than ever ahead of his maiden season of European racing in this year’s Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup, after recently returning from an “unforgettable” Volkswagen Motorsport Training Camp in the Bavarian mountains.

One of 20 competitors from the prestigious one-make championship taking part in the specially organised five-day training experience, the 24-year-old from Netherton had his physical endurance and core strength seriously put to the test with a wide variety of exercises.

The highlight for Caygill, who is passionate about attaining peak physical condition for the demands of his motor racing career, was a lengthy 4.5-kilometre run across the snow-covered mountains and cross-country skiing with sporting stars from the German national team – a far cry from his regular training programme in West Yorkshire!

“The Volkswagen Motorsport Fitness Camp was an experience I will never forget”, said the former motorcycle racer, “I am passionate about my training at home and have been for years, it was great to get the opportunity to have a go at things way outside of my usual reach. In particular, running up a mountain over snow and through the forest following rivers was mind blowing…not to mention the cross-country skiing with members of the German National squad.

“Volkswagen really did push the boat out and I loved every moment, thanks to everyone at VW for such an amazing opportunity. There were 20 drivers in the camp and it was a great way of bringing us all together to form a team. The motto ‘friends off the track and competitors on track’ was apparent through and through, in every aspect and challenge given to us.”

Beginning with the 4.5-kilometre snow shoe run in the Bavarian Alps last Wednesday, 12th March, the Scirocco R Cup racers embarked on cross-country skiing on the Thursday morning, before then taking part in a 6.5-kilometre snow show hike in the dark during the evening.

On Friday, 14th March, a mountain run taking in 500 metre elevation changes over a distance of six kilometres took place and Caygill was delighted to achieve a time of 54 minutes – only five minutes shy of the quickest time of all, and all while carrying a groin strain from earlier training. Following high intensity circuit training, a game of five-a-side football rounded off a unique day’s exertion.

Josh Caygill (far right) at VW training camp in Germnay
Josh Caygill (far right) at VW training camp in Germnay

More cross-country skiing took place on Saturday, over a distance of 10 kilometres, before a one hour Pilates class with weights followed immediately by a 60-minute spin class. Finally, on Sunday, three repetitions of high intensity circuits were scheduled which incorporated target shooting similar to the challenge of a winter sports biathlon.

Caygill’s next VW Scirocco R Cup commitment will come in three weeks when he gets behind the wheel of his 2.0-litre natural gas powered car during pre-season testing at Oschersleben in Germany. The opening round of the 2014 championship will then take place on 3rd/4th May at Hockenheim.

“I can’t wait to get started with the test at Oschersleben, training camp merely made it even more real and showed just what a great team of people are involved with the championship and what a fantastic series I will be part of this year”, he added, “Huge thanks to all my sponsors for making this possible.”

Click here to take you back to more Sports news.

Want to read, watch and hear more? You can download the FREE Examiner Apple App here, the FREE Examiner Android App here or you can view the paper as an e-edition on your Apple, Android or Kindle device by clicking here

To follow us on Twitter click here

Facebook Page plug in like bar