Reflex tech, racing books and snacks: William Alatalo's race weekend essentials

Jenzer Motorsport's William Alatalo has his race weekend essentials with him at every round no matter what.

Here is what the Finn brings to each race of the Formula 3 season, from snacks to some pretty essential top tips.

BANANAS

"I normally have a few of them at least, I eat two everyday. Food is the most important part for the driver, I bring bananas every time.

"Diet and sleep are part of every driver’s training. I take it really seriously and take everything out of it. I eat quite precisely, especially when I’m at home. When I'm travelling it’s a bit harder, I think that’s the same problem for every driver. When I’m in Finland, I follow a basic diet and go with that every day.

"I train a lot so I have to eat a lot and eat carefully because the weight can’t be too much. I have to keep it down."

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DRIVING BOOK

"Ultimate Speed Secrets - it’s a really great book written by Ross Bentley. It’s everything about being a racing driver and being better on and off the track.

"It’s around 300 pages-long. I read it from time to time, when I get back to the hotel or even at the track before I go out, I read a few sentences and take a few stuff out and try to remember how to drive! I take some of those secrets from the book out on track.

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"I’ve not read it all. I’m almost at the end but I don’t read it page to page, I skip some parts and for some race weekends, I might go through the racecraft a bit more, other race weekends it’ll be car control and for testing it’s a bit different as well. I like to read it a lot."

CAP AND SUNGLASSES

“I have them with me every weekend as every race is usually pretty sunny. These are part of my style, blocks the sun so pretty important. I bought the sunglasses in Valencia when we were testing there. The cap looks cool."

BOUNCY BALL

"Hypercharged skyball. It’s just to warm up. I might juggle it, throw it in the air or at the wall and I have to catch it. It’s for reactions and control just to warm up before I hop in the car to get my mind and body ready.

"I also have a tennis ball just so I can juggle and keep it interesting. My warm up is really important, especially if it’s cold. When it’s cold I do a bit more but my warm up is a bit more mental than physical because I need to be sharp in the car. I try to keep my head with it, keep my balance which is the same in the race car."

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REACTION TEST

"Playspot, it has a bit of the same purpose. Four colours pop up and I have to hit the colour I selected quickly. It’s mostly just for reaction. You have to keep cool - if you make a mistake you have to get back into the rhythm, which is the same in racing. I try to use it always before I drive at the beginning of the day to sharpen my mind."