Push-to-pass is a mechanism on a

race car Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. Auto racing has existed since the invention of the automobile. Races of various sorts were organis ...

which provides the driver with the ability to increase the car's power for short periods, usually via a button on the steering wheel. The system is designed to make overtaking easier, and hence make the sport more exciting to watch. The increased power can stem from various mechanisms, for example by changing engine modes or utilizing energy stored in an extra battery. Presently, all racing associations except drag racing ban

nitrous oxide Nitrous oxide (dinitrogen oxide or dinitrogen monoxide), commonly known as laughing gas, nitrous, or nos, is a chemical compound, an oxide of nitrogen with the formula . At room temperature, it is a colourless non-flammable gas, and has ...

for use in boosting of internal combustion engines.

Use

Several racing series have implemented push-to-pass systems, including the former

Champ Car Champ Car World Series (CCWS) was the series sanctioned by Open-Wheel Racing Series Inc., or Champ Car, a sanctioning body for American open-wheel car racing that operated from 2004 to 2008. It was the successor to Championship Auto Racing Team ...

series, the

A1GP A1 Grand Prix (A1GP) was a "single-make" open-wheel auto racing series that ran from 2005 until 2009. It was unique in its field in that competitors solely represented their nation as opposed to themselves or a team, the usual format in most for ...

series (who refer to their system as

PowerBoost Spectrum is a trade name of Charter Communications, used to market consumer and commercial cable television, internet, telephone, and wireless services provided by the company. The brand was first introduced in 2014; prior to that, these serv ...

Audi Sport TT Cup The Audi Sport TT Cup was a one-make super car racing series by Audi based in Germany first held in 2015. Audi Sport TT Cup cars based on the Audi TT. It was a support series for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, replacing the Volkswagen Scirocco ...

(since 2015),

DTM DTM may refer to: Sport * Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, a motor-racing series staged annually in Germany since 2000 * Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft, a motor-racing championship staged in Germany from 1984 to 1995 Computing * Deterministic ...

(since 2019),

Indy Lights Indy NXT, previously Indy Lights, is an American developmental automobile racing series sanctioned by IndyCar, currently known as Firestone Indy NXT Series for sponsorship reasons. Indy Lights is the highest step on the Road to Indy, a progr ...

(since 2015) and the

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(who refer to the system as an overtake button).

Formula E

Formula E Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, is a single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars. The series was conceived in 2011 in Paris by FIA president Jean Todt and Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag, w ...

features the

Fanboost Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, is a single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars. The series was conceived in 2011 in Paris by FIA president Jean Todt and Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag, who is ...

, where fans can vote for their favourite driver via various social media channels to give them an extra power boost at each race. For the 2018–19 season, an

Attack Mode Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, is a single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars. The series was conceived in 2011 in Paris by FIA president Jean Todt and Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag, who is ...

was also introduced, where drivers receive a boost by driving through a designated area of the circuit off the racing line. They can then press the attack mode button in a designated attack mode zone to activate the engine boost.

Formula 1

Formula One Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship ...

, the kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) functions in a similar manner; however, it relies on regenerative braking to store energy for later use, rather than simply increasing the engine's power, as is the case in some other systems. The

drag reduction system In motor racing, the drag reduction system (DRS) is a form of driver-adjustable bodywork aimed at reducing aerodynamic drag in order to increase top speed and promote overtaking. It is an adjustable rear wing of the car, which moves in respons ...

(DRS), by contrast, increases acceleration and top speed by moving an element of the rear wing to reduce drag rather than by boosting power; its use in races is more restricted.

Use other than for overtaking

No requirement limits the system’s use only when attempting to overtake another car. For example, a driver may choose to operate the system to defend a position, or to improve lap time during qualifying or during a race while performing an undercut or overcut. The amount of extra power, the amount of boost time and the number of boost activations available during the race vary from series to series. Caterham steering wheel at Goodwood 2012.jpg, White KERS button on the left side of a 2012 Formula 1 steering wheel from Caterham Toyota steering wheel 1.jpg, Yellow button marked "over" on the top left side of a 2008 Formula 1 steering wheel Toyota

References

{{reflist Auto racing equipment