DTM pit lane safety has been updated with an extended gap between pit stop stations at the Norisring, a move intended to eliminate unsafe releases and collision risks.
Extended Pit Space and Visual Controls
The new regulation forces teams to keep a larger distance between their pit boxes, reducing congestion in the pit lane. To complement the rule, teams have implemented luminous strip stickers on the pit wall, a visual cue that has been in use at the Lausitzring for some time. These markings are positioned precisely to indicate the start of an unsafe release corridor for each team sector.
The Lollipop System: Monitoring Safe Exits
In each pit box, a crew member—referred to as a “lollipop man” or traffic manager—lowers a light‑colored flag whenever a rival car breaches the pre‑defined unsafe corridor. The flag remains lifted only if the neighboring vehicle is too close to the exit line, alerting the driver that exiting would create a dangerous overlap. The driver, meanwhile, relies on peripheral contact with the pit crew and the car’s jack action to time the re‑entry, so the flag does not serve as a general start cue.
Calculating the Unsafe Corridor
Steve Buschmann explains that each team calculates the two points that define the corridor using the driver’s average reaction time and the car’s acceleration profile. Teams may adopt a tighter margin, keeping the flag up only at the exact moment the car crosses the line, or adopt a wider buffer for added safety. The system also prevents parallel pit lane driving by ensuring the pit exit waits until the risky zone clears.
Even with the lollipop in place, collisions can still occur if unexpected factors arise—such as a stalled drivetrain or delayed driver reaction—since the system relies on routine parameters rather than real‑time diagnostics.
By marrying stricter pit spacing with a real‑time visual warning, the DTM continues to push the envelope of on‑track safety while giving teams a clear, operational tool to avert the most hazardous exit scenarios.
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