A faster car comes up behind you in a multiclass race. The best help is a short call that tells you how close it is and which side it wants.
What the note says
David Hodge Jr kept spotter notes at Petit Le Mans in 2024. Under a GTD heading he wrote these points.
- Count down the faster cars as they approach, at “15/10/5”, then “right side” and “door”.
- “let class cars battle”. Leave cars of one class to settle their own fight.
- “give space for pitbox to give comms to driver”. Give the pit box room to speak to the driver.
- “cadence between spotters”. Think about hand off spots and “what helps the next spotter”.
- Keep a “group text w/spotters”.
The note gives the counts and does not give a unit. A team should set its own meaning for those numbers, and then use it the same way every time.
David also listed his spotter gear. It includes a personal radio and headset, extra batteries, light long sleeves to keep the sun off, a folding chair and a laptop with timing.
Why it matters in a shared car
In a multiclass race, the closing speed between classes is large and the call comes late. A driver who hears a countdown can pick a place and a side before the faster car arrives. A driver who hears nothing may react in the wrong spot.
In a shared car, the spotter also serves the next driver. A spotter who shares the same words and hand off points with every driver makes the whole stint easier to follow. That is why David wrote about the cadence between spotters.
The driver has a job too. A countdown does not tell you to move. It tells you to plan. Hold your line, stay predictable and let the faster car choose its pass.
One drill
This drill works in a simulator with a friend on voice chat, or in a practice session with your spotter.
- Agree on the words. Choose a count, a side call and a word that means “clear”.
- The spotter calls the count as a faster car approaches. The driver answers with one word, such as “yes”.
- The driver decides where the car will be passed and says that spot aloud.
- After the pass, the spotter says “clear”.
- Review the video. Look for the point where you decided and the point where you moved.
Run it for twenty minutes. Change the spotter halfway through, so the driver hears the same words from a new voice. This tests the hand off between spotters.
Where this fits
Multiclass traffic is part of long team races, including WRL. Use the simulator to rehearse the call before you meet it at speed.