The Motor Sports Association, governing body of UK motor sport, is launching its ‘Year of the Volunteer’ at this week’s Autosport International show (NEC, Birmingham from 10-13 January 2013) as well as giving show-goers an exciting opportunity to participate in a live motor sport event.
Celebrating the invaluable work carried out by volunteers and encouraging others to get involved, the MSA’s ‘Go Motorsport’ display stand highlights the many opportunities open to volunteers ranging from trackside marshalling and timekeeping to technical scrutineers and event officials.
“It is often said that without volunteers there would be no motor sport and that truly is the reality,” commented Colin Hilton, Chief Executive of the MSA. “From the British Grand Prix and Wales Rally GB, to the many thousands of local events organised by enthusiastic motor clubs throughout the land, none of them would happen without the expertise and generosity of these volunteers. Motor sport, though, is a fantastically exciting attraction, not only for those behind the wheel; many others find a variety of ways to get really involved in the action by becoming an integral part of the event in these vital roles.”
To assist interested newcomers to understand the many exciting opportunities available, the Go Motorsport exhibit at Autosport International features a special ‘help desk’ manned by experienced volunteers. The stand also includes a fully equipped rescue vehicle plus a replica of a trackside marshals’ post while for the more technically minded, a team of engineers from the University of West Scotland is busy building a Formula 1000 entry-level rally car. Of further interest to budding scrutineers is a pair of vehicles each with five built-in faults. Visitors are invited to spot these defects for a chance to win tickets to July’s British Formula 1 Grand Prix at Silverstone and Wales Rally GB, Britain’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship.
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