Research Begins on Biosensor Technology to Alleviate Chronic Dehydration Among Motorsports Athletes

BOSTON, MASS. — AUGUST 19, 2022/ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Heat exhaustion and dehydration are widespread and well-known problems in motorsports. NASCAR driver A.J. Allmendinger almost collapsed due to heat exhaustion at the 2022 NASCAR Cup; F1 driver Lewis Hamilton loses up to 10 pounds through sweat during a one-hour 45-minute race, and chronic dehydration played a major role in NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne’s decision to retire in 2018.

With cockpit temperatures that can reach 122°F, heat-trapping protective gear layers and unreliable methods of measuring hydration levels, it’s no surprise that F1 drivers’ body temperatures can rise to 104°F – dangerously higher than the normal core body temperature of 98.6°F.

That’s why Nix, the biosensor company delivering health and wellness data to consumers, is beginning an effort today to scale its technology into motorsports and bring better hydration monitoring to the professional drivers who need it most.

On August 19, 2022, Nix will begin its first-ever motorsports research pilot, outfitting more than 20 professional drivers with its hydration biosensor at the 6th Annual Bommarito Automotive Group 500 IndyCar Series in St. Louis, Missouri. During the two-day event, Nix’s biosensor will analyze each driver’s sweat in real-time, collecting data on cumulative electrolyte loss, cumulative fluid losses, rate of electrolyte and fluid loss, as well as skin temperature.

The goal of the research is to quantify, for the first time, each professional driver’s unique fluid and electrolyte needs, as well as begin designing the optimal integration of Nix hydration data into motorsports training and racing. Nix is launching its first commercial product this fall in endurance sports — running, cycling, and triathlon. The Bommarito Group 500 IndyCar Series in St. Louis is one of dozens of research pilots Nix is already conducting in new segments with critical unmet needs in hydration management, including team sports, military, laborer segments, and more.

“Motorsport athletes have the same needs as any other athlete, including managing their hydration to optimize safety and performance,” said Meridith Cass, Founder and CEO of Nix. “However, motorsport athletes have the added factor of practicing their sport in extreme conditions, compounded by severe consequences of dehydration, while driving well over 200 mph. There aren’t many other settings where the physical and cognitive effects of dehydration can pose a major risk to health and safety and can be onset in as little as 30 minutes.”

Nix is launching in endurance sports in Q3 2022. Nix plans to launch additional biosensors, designed specifically for team sports, military, and labor applications, in 2023.

About Nix

Nix is redefining how we manage health by developing biosensors that empower consumers to access, understand, and act on their personal biology at home. Nix’s first consumer product is a sweat patch that provides athletes, soldiers, and laborers with hydration data in real-time, helping them optimize safety and performance. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Nix is led by Founder and CEO Meridith Cass, a graduate of Harvard Business School, former VC, and 9-time marathoner. Advisors include Tom Fowler, Former President of Polar; Dr. Bob Murray, Founder and former Director of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, and Tatyana McFadden, the 5x Olympian and 17x Medalist. Learn more at nixbiosensors.com.

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Michael Finn

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