How do WEC pit stops work? Refuelling, tyres and driver changes explained

Meta description: WEC pit stops explained: learn how refuelling, tyre changes and driver swaps work under the 2026 rules, and why stop strategy matters.

A WEC pit stop can change far more than the tyres. Fuel, virtual energy, driver changes and repairs all influence how long a car remains stationary.

Under the 2026 WEC rules, the order of operations matters just as much as the crew's speed.

What happens when the car stops?

The car controller oversees the arrival, the safety of the stop and the eventual release. The driver must stop in the designated working area.

For refuelling, the car must rest on its wheels with its engine switched off and the required grounding and fire-safety arrangements in place.

Routine tyre changes do not take place while fuel is flowing. Refuelling and the intervention phase are distinct operations.

Can teams change drivers during refuelling?

Yes. A driver change may happen during the pit stop while the car is properly stopped with its engine off.

That overlap can make a well-rehearsed handover particularly valuable. The incoming driver needs to be correctly installed and secured before departure.

Teams do not have to replace the driver at every fuel stop. A driver may continue for another stint.

How many mechanics change the tyres?

The current intervention rules permit up to four people to work on the car, with a maximum of two pneumatic wheel guns for tyre changes.

Older descriptions referring to two tyre changers and one active gun should not be treated as the current WEC procedure.

The car controller remains responsible for supervising rather than performing another job.

Does refuelling reset the virtual energy tank?

The allowance replenishes at a regulated rate while the refuelling hose is connected, after any applicable additional docking time.

It is not an instantaneous reset. Teams can choose a shorter fill when the remaining distance does not require a full allocation.

Read our virtual energy tank guide for the distinction between permitted energy and physical fuel.

Why do some cars leave on old tyres?

Keeping suitable tyres saves the time needed to replace them, but may cost lap time later. Teams weigh that trade-off against track conditions and the distance remaining.

A stop should therefore be judged as part of the race plan. For more examples, explore our WEC coverage.