Will Power credits trainer for his success

Team Australia IndyCar driver Will Power and his personal trainer Troy Morgan in their hometown of Toowoomba

Team Australia IndyCar driver Will Power has revealed one of his secret weapons in his hometown of Toowoomba, Queensland today in the lead-up to next week’s Nikon Indy 300.

Despite racing in the United States since 2006, Power has maintained the same fitness trainer for the past three seasons while racing with Team Australia – Toowoomba sporting identity Troy Morgan.

“Each year I always look forward to getting back home to Toowoomba and one of the main reasons is training with Troy," said Power.

“He has helped me raise things to the next level in terms of my fitness and physical condition. Over the last few years I’ve taken that side of things very, very seriously and there is no one better than Troy as far as I’m concerned.

Troy Morgan pushes Will Power hard in the gym

“He is really, really tough on me – he really drives me into the ground. I keep in touch with Troy throughout the year and he gives me various programs and instructions, but every time I get back to Toowoomba and we work one-on-one, he takes it to the next level.

“It’s great to feel so fit and ready before my home event as obviously it’s a race where I have to have to be well prepared. It’s a tough track and a race I really want to win and I feel that being fit and strong is a big part of my preparation."

Power admits that two drivers had a significant influence on his love for fitness and the importance he now places on his physical condition – early mentor and Australian Formula 1 driver Mark Webber and former Team Australia Champ Car teammate Alex Tagliani.

“When I raced in Europe I stayed with Mark and he helped me out," said Power.

“Mark was really into cycling and was very knowledgeable on what kinds of fitness help you out as a racing driver.

“I took a lot of that on board, but when I got to Champ Car, those cars are so tough and fast and really tricky to muscle around the street circuits, I really had to go to the next level.

Will Power trains for the stresses of his #8 Aussie Vineyards – Team Australia IndyCar in Troy Morgan's gym in Toowoomba

“Tags (Tagliani) is ultra-fit and when he was my teammate, I saw him as my yardstick. I wanted to be as fit as him and I worked every single day to get there.

“To a lot of people driving these cars might look easy, but I can tell you, it’s just about the hardest thing you can do."

Morgan is a former Australian representative in touch rugby and the owner of the Willows Squash and Fitness Centre in Toowoomba.

Morgan sees Power as one of the fittest athletes he has worked with and definitely the most dedicated and determined.

“Will is the most focused person I’ve ever trained," said Morgan.

“He is just so focused on what his goals are and what he has to do to achieve them.

“It makes my job a lot easier working with someone like Will, because he is extremely dedicated to his fitness.

“It’s great to work with someone who wants to be pushed very hard. He never shies away from a big challenge or taking things up a step.

“Will is a very fit guy and you can see why he’s been so successful. He’s a very determined young lad and he is on top of his game."

Power now travels to the Gold Coast where he begins the next stage of his preparations for the Nikon Indy 300.