Passing etiquette: how point-bys actually work at HPDE

I see a lot of confusion from newer drivers about how passing works at HPDE events, especially at tracks like Laguna Seca where the narrow sections make positioning critical. Here is a clear explanation of how point-bys work in most NASA and SCCA HPDE programs. The slower car always initiates the pass. If you see someone in your mirrors who is clearly faster, you give them a point-by — a clear hand signal out the window indicating which side they should pass on. You point to the side you want them to go. If you point right, you move left and they pass on the right. Where to give point-bys: only on straights. Never in a braking zone, never mid-corner. At Laguna Seca, the main passing zone is the front straight and the back straight between Turns 5 and 6. The Corkscrew area and Turns 8-9 are absolutely not passing zones in HPDE. When to give the point-by: as early as possible on the straight so the passing car has maximum time. Do not wait until they are right on your bumper. What the faster driver should do: complete the pass before the next braking zone. If you cannot finish the pass safely before the corner, abort and wait for the next straight. There is no award for aggressive passing at HPDE. What the slower driver should do: maintain your line and speed. Do not brake suddenly or change your line when giving a point-by. Predictability is safety. Lifting slightly off the throttle is fine to create a gap, but no sudden changes. In Group 1-2 events, passing is instructor-controlled — your instructor will direct passing. In Group 3+, open passing rules typically apply but the point-by system remains in effect. The golden rule: if there is any doubt, do not pass. There will always be another straight. What passing protocols does your region use? I know some PCA events and other orgs have slightly different rules.

2 Replies

CChris Tanferno · May 6, 2026New

Excellent overview. One nuance worth adding for Laguna Seca specifically: the front straight is shorter than most tracks, so the passing window is compressed. If you are giving a point-by, do it as early as possible — ideally as you are exiting Turn 11. Waiting until you are halfway down the straight does not leave enough room for the faster car to complete the pass cleanly before the Turn 1 braking zone. I have seen situations where a late point-by creates an awkward side-by-side situation into Turn 1, which is exactly what we want to avoid in HPDE. Early communication is everything.

CChris Tanferno · May 6, 2026New

PCA HPDE rules differ slightly — in most PCA regions, the slower car must give the point-by and maintain the racing line, but in Green and Blue run groups, all passing is instructor-directed with only driver's-right passing allowed on designated straights. It is less flexible than NASA or SCCA but the rationale is that newer PCA drivers are often in very powerful cars (911 Turbos, GT3s) and the speed differentials can be huge. Knowing your specific organization's rules before the event is critical. I always read the supplemental regulations front to back, even if I have driven with the org before — rules can change between seasons.