Bathurst preparation ramps up for Renee Gracie

Renee Gracie knows she has a "massive opportunity" at Bathurst next month so she is leaving nothing to chance in her preparation for the famous race.

The glamour girl of Australian motorsport has embarked on a strict diet and training regimen in the lead-up to the 1000km classic at Mount Panorama.

Gracie, who currently races in the V8 Supercars' development series, will team up with Swiss driver Simona De Silvestro in the first all-female Bathurst combination since 1998 after being granted a wildcard entry.

To ensure she is in peak fitness to attack the gruelling race, Gracie, 20, has enlisted the help of an exercise scientist and private dietitian to prepare her for her debut in the "main game".

"We realise that this is a massive opportunity, so we've decided that we're really going to attack this in the month leading up to Bathurst," said Gracie, who will race a Ford Falcon FGX.

"We're kind of going flat-out because, the way we see it, we don't want to get there and have any stone left unturned, we want to make sure that we turn every single one over.

Since the start of September, the former Porsche Carrera Cup driver has been training twice a day, five days a week

"So the fitness has really had to increase purely for the fact that I don't want to get there on the Sunday and use that as an excuse."

Since the start of September, the former Porsche Carrera Cup driver has been training twice a day, five days a week in a Melbourne gym to build her endurance for the 161-lap race.

Gracie and her performance trainer, Josh Webb, have also been working on heat acclimatisation and concentration to prepare for long stints and high cabin temperatures in the car. On top of her gym training, Gracie also does two endurance bike rides each week, one of up to 100km.

"My trainers have no problem with my strength, it's more just (building my) endurance and making sure that I've got the muscular endurance to sit in the car for two to three hours and have the concentration," Gracie said.

"All my training has actually evolved around concentration and long intervals... so it's really upping the ante and making sure that concentration and fitness is at a premium."

Gracie, from Brisbane, has also been following a strict low-carb, high-protein and fat diet to fuel her training load.

"Some people might think it's a bit of an overkill ... but we don't want to not do this and for me to turn around and say, 'Gee, I wish I'd prepared more'.

"I'm extremely excited and I know it's going to be a massive challenge but it's what I've always wanted so I definitely won't be complaining.'