This week is National Volunteers’ Week and with around 11,000 volunteers helping to power British motorsport every year, we are celebrating our sport’s heroes from marshals, officials, rescue crews and club organisers. Through this shared passion many forge friendships that can last a lifetime, while others form stronger bonds with their families and with volunteering opportunities for children as young as 11, many learn valuable life skills from an early age.
There are six core roles in motorsport volunteering; each offers the opportunity to learn new skills that also benefit you in your life and career, while also opening the door to a close community:
Marshal
This gets you close to the action and helps you to build practical skills, with clear progression through the ranks. Situated trackside or stage side, marshals signal danger to drivers using flags or lights, control communications and also clear debris and assist drivers.
Club Volunteer
Getting involved in club organisation and administration can be rewarding, sociable and educational. You can develop expertise in a range of roles including Treasurer, Competition Secretary, Membership Secretary, Press Officer and Safeguarding Officer.
Scrutineer
This is for those who like the technical side the sport as it involves checking cars to ensure fairness, safety and regulatory compliance. It also involves working with competitors, so it requires meticulous attention to detail and strong people skills.
Timekeeper
Timekeepers are responsible for recording the fine margins often so critical in competition. The role involves dealing with new tech and systems and requires attention to detail, organisation and social skills to liaise with competitors on the course.
Rescue & Recovery
This is not for the feint hearted and requires a blend of teamwork, physical effort and expert knowledge. It involves providing medical assistance, extracting drivers and removing stranded vehicles, so its high speed, high pressure, but also highly rewarding.
Clerk of the Course
The coordinating authority of an event, this is an experienced level role that involves managing officials, running schedules, making decisions, overseeing safety and ensuring all permits are in place. It requires strong leadership, decision-making and responsibility.
Volunteering plays an important role within British motorsport; it helps people feel part of something bigger than themselves and can significantly boost mental health by reducing stress and anxiety, increasing social connections, and boosting confidence. It’s also a reminder that while motors power the cars, motorsport is powered by people.
Read more about volunteering in this month’s Revolution magazine here and for more information on roles and how to get started, click here.