Night Stint

A night stint is a driver's assigned turn to race during the nighttime hours of an endurance race, when visibility is limited and drivers must rely on their headlights to navigate the track.

In endurance racing, races can last anywhere from 6 to 24 hours, which means they often continue well after the sun goes down. During these long races, multiple drivers share the same car, taking turns behind the wheel in what are called "stints." When a driver's turn happens to fall during the dark hours, that's their night stint.

Night stints are considered one of the most challenging aspects of endurance racing. Unlike daytime driving where you can see the entire track clearly, racing at night means you can only see what your headlights illuminate. This makes it much harder to spot the reference points drivers use to know when to brake or turn. Judging distances to other cars becomes more difficult, and the bright headlights from faster cars approaching from behind can temporarily blind you.

Teams put a lot of thought into who drives during the night. Some drivers are naturally better at racing in low-light conditions, staying calm and focused when visibility is poor. These drivers become valuable assets for their teams during the overnight hours. Other drivers might be faster during the day but struggle with the added stress of limited visibility.

To prepare for a night stint, drivers often practice during the day by memorizing important markers on the track. They'll note where specific signs, barriers, or trackside objects are located so they can use them as reference points when it's dark. Some drivers even practice their racing lines repeatedly so they can almost drive on instinct when visibility drops.

The most famous race featuring dramatic night stints is the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. This legendary race starts in the afternoon and runs through the entire night before finishing the next day. As darkness falls, the atmosphere changes completely. The roar of engines continues, but now punctuated by the glow of headlights sweeping around corners.

Interestingly, night stints aren't all bad. The cooler nighttime temperatures can actually help race cars perform better. Engines don't overheat as easily, and tires can maintain better grip on the cooler track surface. However, drivers must stay extremely focused because any mistake in the dark can be more dangerous than during daylight hours.

Managing traffic during a night stint adds another layer of complexity. In endurance racing, different classes of cars race together, meaning slower cars and faster cars share the same track. When you're in a slower car and a faster car approaches from behind with blazing headlights, it can be disorienting. Drivers must constantly check their mirrors and stay aware of their surroundings despite the limited visibility.