IT'S a long way from Daytona Beach, USA, to Shelsley Walsh, Worcestershire, but the obvious connection is fast cars.

For a personal fitness trainer who runs his business from a converted barn complex near the famous hill climb track, flew to America recently to help British drivers before, during and after the gruelling 24-hour endurance race around the 3.5 mile International Speedway.

Successfully too.

Richard Dilworth's ministrations helped British racing team Rollcentre finish third and fourth with its two cars.

"It was the first time the team had finished the race, which actually covers around 700 laps and 2,450 miles," he explained. "So to have both cars so high up their class was a fantastic result."

Twiddling drivers' aches and pains can be almost as useful as diving into engines with spanners and screwdrivers when it comes to consistent performance over a long period of time.

Yet so far, in the car racing world, the emphasis has been on the machine rather than the man behind the wheel.

This may all be about to change because of Richard's performance at Daytona.

He's been in the fitness world for the best part of 20 years - through running centres at home or abroad as a consultant, or as a personal fitness trainer. He became involved with the Rollcentre team because one of its drivers, John Burton, of Dunley, near Stourport-on-Severn, is one of his clients.

Through his work with John, Richard was asked to become the drivers' "body mechanic".

"Each car had four drivers, so that meant eight individuals to prepare," he said.

"In the days leading up to the race I took all eight of them training on Dayonta Beach, assessed their diets and body composition, massaged and stretched them in preparation for the race.

"During the race, each driver would be in the car for at least one hour at a time, so I ensured that before their stint they were warmed up, that they had their camel packs containing their energy and electrolyte drinks with them, and they were focussed on the strategy that had been planned for the race.

"After their drive I would weigh them to asses their fluid loss - the temperature in the car would be nearly 90 degrees during the heat of the day - stretch them, transport them to the motor home and then massage their necks, backs, shoulders and arms before getting the next driver ready for their drive.

"With eight drivers to manage it was hard going, and I didn't get any sleep myself for more than 24 hours, but as the race neared its climax adrenaline took over and it helped me get the two teams across the finishing line."

Two factors weighed heavily on the treatment Richard gave to the drivers.

The first was the extreme G-forces the men were subjected to, as their Mosler race cars, producing 345bhp from their V-8 Corvette engines, reached speeds of more than 200 mph and then braked for the corners.

The second was the wide variations in temperature, which at night dropped to near freezing.

"As well as physically, I had to get the drivers psychologically focussed," he added. "It it was a case of getting to know them and what made every individual tick. Also how to get them to the peak of readiness for when they started their drives."

It was obviously all worth it, because the drivers have asked for the same service at next year's Daytona, at Le Mans and other events in Australia and Japan.

Meanwhile, on a more local level, Richard conducts sessions for private clients and takes workshops at his studio near Shelsley Walsh, in the heart of the Worcestershire countryside.

"The buzz word at present is 'pilates'," he said. "It's a system of balancing the muscles and thereby improving your health."

The good news is you don't have to drive at more than 200 mph to benefit.