DEFINITION
The hot pit is the working pit area for cars actively in the session. Engines may run, crew may make minor adjustments (tyre pressures, brake bleeds) and the driver stays buckled in.
Re-fueling is not permitted in hot pit — that has its own designated cold zone. Hot pit speed limits are typically 40 km/h.
HISTORY & ORIGIN
Hot pit procedure mirrors F1 and rally pit-lane practice. Standard FIA terminology.
TECHNIQUE BREAKDOWN
Driver enters at speed limit, parks at the team's bay, crew completes the planned adjustment, and driver exits when the lights go green.
PRO TIPS & COMMON MISTAKES
• Plan the pit stop. Improvising 'should we change tyres' in the hot pit costs tracktime.
• Common mistake: speeding in pit lane. Most series automatically penalise it.
The crew did a tyre swap in hot pit between the qualifying runs.