DE
Guide

Open pit lane:
track day formats compared

Open pit lane, fixed group sessions, guided convoy driving: the terms show up in every track day listing, and hardly anyone explains what they actually mean. This page fills that gap, honest about the upsides and downsides of each format, and shows you how we run open pit ourselves. Written by the people who run these events.

The short answer

Open pit lane means the pit lane is open all day. There are no groups and no fixed time slots, you decide for yourself when and how much you drive. The only limit is how many cars may be on the circuit at the same time.

Open pit lanethe pit lane is open all day, no fixed time slot.
Also called open pitthe same thing, just the short form.
What is limitedthe number of cars at once, not your track time.

The three formats compared

Almost every track day runs on one of three formats, or a mix of them. What sets them apart is mainly how much freedom you get and how much guidance:

Open pit lane

The pit lane is open all day, you go out and come back in whenever you want. It suits anyone who wants to drive at their own pace and stay out until a corner really clicks. The downside: the field is mixed, you need awareness, have to let faster cars past and set your own breaks. For complete beginners that can feel like a lot at first.

Fixed group sessions

Participants are split into groups by pace or experience, and each group gets a fixed slot, for example 20 minutes per hour. That gives beginners in particular structure and a similar pace in the field, you always know exactly when your turn comes. The downside: you drive when your group is up, not when you are ready or warmed up, and you spend most of the day parked.

Guided driving

You drive in a line behind an instructor, at their pace, with no overtaking. It is about the gentlest way in there is, you never have to decide your own speed. The downside: you do not set the pace yourself, and there is little room to drive independently.

All three have their place, there is no objectively best format here, only the question of what suits you and your day.

How open pit works with us

We run open pit at all our dates, with a few fixed parameters that apply to every date:

50 starting placessold in total, never an overcrowded field.
Max. 30 cars at oncecontrolled by a traffic light, almost always green in practice.
Instructors all dayride-alongs and coaching at no extra charge.
1 passenger includedalready part of the driver ticket.

The honest part: What can make open pit hard for beginners is the self-responsibility: judging for yourself when to take a break, watching the traffic yourself. That is exactly why we combine open pit with instructors who are there all day. Self-responsibility should never mean being left on your own with us.

What that means for your track time

With fixed sessions you know your track time in advance, but it is capped: if the day runs on fixed 20-minute windows, you know exactly how many minutes you get, and it will not be more than that. With open pit no minute count is guaranteed, but in practice actual track time tends to be a lot higher, because the field is capped and never all cars are out at once.

How to properly compare offers on that basis, price per hour of track time rather than just the ticket price, is explained in more detail in the guide What does a track day cost.

And if you are right at the start: Your first track day answers the basics before you book, Track day preparation is the checklist for the day itself.

Frequently asked questions

What does open pit lane mean?
Open pit lane means the pit lane is open all day. There are no groups and no fixed time slots, you go out whenever you want and come back in whenever you want. The only limit is how many cars may be on track at the same time.
Is open pit the same as open pit lane?
Yes. Open pit is the short form we use day to day, open pit lane the full term. Both mean exactly the same format, there is no difference in substance.
Is open pit suitable for beginners?
Yes, with one caveat: it takes more self-responsibility than fixed groups, because the field is mixed and you decide for yourself when to take a break. That is exactly why we combine open pit with instructors who are there all day, so self-responsibility never means being left on your own.
How much track time do I get with open pit?
Not guaranteed in minutes, that is the difference to fixed sessions. In practice your track time with open pit tends to be a lot higher, because the field is capped and never all cars are out at the same time.
What is a group track day?
Participants are split into groups by pace or experience, and each group gets a fixed slot, for example 20 minutes per hour. You drive with people at a similar level, but only when your group is up, not when you are ready.
What is guided driving or a convoy?
You drive in a line behind an instructor, at their pace, with no overtaking. It is about the gentlest way in there is, you never have to decide your own speed. In return you do not set the pace yourself.
Which format suits a first track day?
It depends on the type of driver: a convoy gives you the most guidance, fixed groups give you structure and a similar pace in the field, open pit gives you the most track time but takes more self-responsibility. We solve that by combining open pit with instructors who are there all day and will sit in with you on request, so you get the track time of open pit and still have guidance when you want it.
Is there a limit on cars with open pit?
Yes. We sell 50 starting places in total, and a maximum of 30 cars may be on track at the same time, controlled by a traffic light. In practice the light is almost always green, because not everyone is out at once.

Now you know the difference

Next date is Sat 12 Sep 2026 at the Bilster Berg. With us that means: open pit all day, instructors included.

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