In the United States, we often refer to them as the Pace Car, but in most of the rest of the world they are referred to as the Safety Car. Same thing, different name, as they are the car that goes out during cautions to slow the field down and control the speed, or pace, that the cars are traveling at under caution laps. Teams strategize how to manage cautions so that they can try to stay ahead of the Safety Car in certain conditions and circumstances.
At races like this month’s Indy 500, the Pace Car has been driven by lots of different famous people over the years, but it’s not just a publicity opportunity. The Safety Car isn’t just there to look good leading the pack.
In the video below you’ll see what it is like to be the safety car driver and what a race weekend can throw at them. This is during the FIA World Endurance Championship race at SPA and is a 6 hour race. But there are practice and qualifying sessions as well, so the safety car is busier than you might think. Let’s see whether it seems like a fun job or a stressful one, or maybe both.
Video Description:
Join Pedro Couceiro, the FIA WEC Safety Car driver, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at his race weekend duties during the 2025 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps!
