A team sells you a seat. These questions turn that into terms you can compare. Put each answer in writing. Where a series publishes a rule that bears on the question, the rule is cited so you can read it yourself. The questions that cite no rule are plain questions that need no source. The cost guide covers the price side of a quote.
Seat time
- How many hours will I drive in practice, qualifying and the race?
- How is the race split between drivers, and who decides?
- What happens to my share if the car breaks before my stint?
Series set limits you should know. AER’s rulebook requires at least two drivers in every car, with no maximum. ChampCar’s 2026 rules set the minimum by race length. A race of 8 hours or less needs two drivers, 9 to 16 hours needs three, and 17 hours or more needs four. Ask how the team’s split fits the rule for your event.
Stint allocation
- Who sets the stint order, and when is it final?
- Can the plan change for weather, a caution or a mechanical problem?
ChampCar rule 7.1.1 limits a driver to 2 hours at a time, with at least 60 minutes of rest between stints. AER sets a minimum number of stops by race length, written as race length in minutes divided by 80, minus 1. Each mandatory stop lasts at least three minutes. Ask the team to show how its plan meets the stop rule for your event.
Tires
- How many sets does each weekend need, and how many does the quote include?
- Who buys the tires, and when must they be ordered?
- What does an extra set cost?
International GT’s 2026 rules require Pirelli tires, pre-ordered and bought through one named supplier, with orders three weeks before the event. ChampCar requires DOT-rated tires that meet a minimum treadwear rating or appear on its approved list. A tire rule decides what the team can buy and when.
Test days
- Is a test day included, and who attends it?
- Do you get track time in the car, and how much?
International GT’s rules say a test day carries a separate registration fee and that a driver must enter the event to join it. Ask whether the team has paid that fee for you or expects you to.
Data access
- Which data and video do I receive from my stints?
- In what format, and how soon after the session?
- Can I share it with my own coach?
David Hodge Jr’s post-race notes from a WRL race at Road Atlanta list VBOX data, onboard video and a plan to compare two start stints. Ask for the same material from your own stints.
Fuel and caution strategy
- Who calls fuel saving, and on what information?
- How does the team plan around a full-course caution?
Fueling rules shape the plan. AER’s rulebook allows fueling only in the hot pits, with gravity-fed hand-held jugs. International GT’s rules require the engine off and the driver out of the car before fueling. David’s post-race notes from that WRL race record fuel saving that added a lap to the pit cycle. Ask who in the team owns that call.
Driver changes
- Do we rehearse driver changes before the event?
- How long does a change take, and who helps with belts?
International GT’s enduro rule names the co-driver by 5 p.m. the day before. It also requires the primary driver to drive 30 minutes, plus the 5-minute mandatory stop, before the co-driver takes over. ChampCar starts a stint clock when the driver leaves the pit lane after a change. A team that has practiced the change will answer without guessing.
Radio
- What radio does the car carry, and who is on the other end?
- Who talks to the driver, and about what?
- What is the plan if the radio fails?
Damage liability
- What do I owe if I cause an incident?
- Is the amount capped, and who pays track or series charges?
Series rules differ. ChampCar’s rulebook holds the team liable for damage to the track and passes the cost to the team captain with a 4% service fee. AER’s rulebook puts financial liability on the person at fault, at AER’s discretion. Ask how the team passes those charges to its drivers.
Who coaches
- Who coaches the drivers, and is it included in the quote?
- Does the coach have the car’s data in the same session?
What to do next
Copy these questions into an email to the team. Send them before you discuss price. Compare the written answers with the quote line by line.
Sources checked October 31, 2026. Each rule shows the season it applies to.