Watch: McIlroy Faces Intense Thrill in High-Speed Ride
Rory McIlroy partnered with former pro racing driver Francesca Pardini for a heart-pounding experience in Abu Dhabi. While preparing for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the DP World Tour, McIlroy sat in the passenger seat of a Ferrari speeding around Yas Marina Circuit.
“I’m Rory McIlroy and today I’m going to have the living daylights scared out of me.”
Monitored by his WHOOP device, McIlroy’s usual heart rate of about 50 bpm quickly surged. After a warm-up lap, Pardini pushed the Ferrari to speeds up to 245 km/h, causing his heart rate to spike to 103 bpm. His stress levels peaked at 2.6 and averaged 2.2 on a scale of 3.
“You would like to think your heart rate is not going to get too high as a professional athlete. I got out of the car and I was buzzing.”
Experience Highlights
- Location: Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi
- Activity: Passenger in a high-speed Ferrari ride
- Speed reached: Up to 245 km/h
- Heart rate increase: From 50 to 103 bpm
- Stress level peak: 2.6 out of 3
Such an adrenaline rush offered McIlroy not only excitement but also a physical challenge outside his athletic routine.
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