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The softening kinetics following hot deformation of austenite have been characterised using the stress relaxation technique. Samples were deformed in compression for a variety of temperatures, strains and strain rates. At low strains where recovery was the only softening mechanism, the stress relaxation kinetics have been analysed using a recovery model previously proposed in the literature, the main parameters being activation energy and activation volume. The activation energy for recovery was found to be 314 kJ/mol, whilst the activation volume was inversely proportional to the internal stress. At higher strains where austenite recrystallization occurred as well, the stress relaxation kinetics were modelled using the recovery model combined with a single grain model for recrystallization. Reasonable agreement was obtained between model and experiment for a variety of deformation conditions. Analysis of the model parameters and experimental data indicated that the nucleation density for recrystallization depended only on the applied strain for the range of deformation conditions imposed. In addition the mobility of recrystallizing boundaries was best explained by solute drag due to manganese atoms.