82 AUTOSPORT.COM 22 AUGUST 2019CLUB AUTOSPORT NATIONAL FOCUS
arshals were fi rmly in the spotlight at the British
Automobile Racing Club meeting at Donington
Park on 1 June. Or rather, a shortage of them was.
Insuffi cient numbers had signed up to volunteer
at the event to allow the Britcar Endurance races to
take place on the Grand Prix layout of the Leicestershire venue.
Instead, the shorter National confi guration had to be used.
That incident raises the very valid question: do we have enough
marshals for the amount of British motorsport there is? British
Motorsports Marshals Club chair Nadine Lewis – a marshal for
22 years – reports that the club has a stable number of members,
while Brands Hatch fl ag marshal Bob McEwan says numbers
are rising “fairly steadily” in the south east. Rather than an
overall lack of marshals, both instead believe individual
marshals are attending fewer events.
“I think marshals are being more choosy about which events
they go to,” says Lewis. “There’s probably the same number of
marshals out there and they just aren’t necessarily doing as
many meetings. About 20 or 30 years ago marshals did every
meeting possible, while now some do eight or nine a year.M
“I think the events that seem to be well attended are ones where
there’s decent grid numbers, a number of diff erent championships
at the same event and the marshals are recognised.”
Considering that marshals are having to give up their free time to
help at events and work in all weathers, it’s perfectly understandable
that they’re being selective. McEwan says the diff erence in numbers
between meetings can be vast.
“Some meetings are more popular – there are normally seven,
eight or nine marshals on a post at touring cars, but you may
only have three at Brands Hatch for a club meeting and you
have to muck in more and do extra jobs,” he says.
The issue of marshal numbers is also very much related to the
amount of club motorsport. On the same weekend as the Britcar
meeting, there were also events at Silverstone, Thruxton, Snetterton,
Croft, Oulton Park and Brands Hatch – plus Coventry MotoFest.
BMMC vice-president George Copeland says this is a problem.
“When there are two or three meetings at adjacent circuits on
the same weekend, it’s the same people – there’s only half
the available marshals,” he says. “Silverstone, Donington Park
and even Snetterton comes into this central area, but theTHE ORANGE ARMY’S
ONGOING BATTLE
Without marshals, there would be no motorsport.
But are there enough and do they get proper recognition?
STEPHEN LICKORISHSkilled,
experienced
marshals are an
important factor in
the smooth running
of events