FEATURE different terms used, and the differences in communicating – but the biggest and best aspect for me is the friendships and bonding and over the years, I have met and made friends with so many kind and generous people.”
USA 2018 – Janette watches over the teams as they prepare the cars for the start
all sorts of things, including oil spills, car numbers, what side of the track the car is on, and lots more.
“ Their marshalling points are not necessarily in the same places as we would put them because they tend to deal with a lot of their instances using intervention vehicles, so their posts can be more spread out, depending on what circuit you are at. As a result of that, they do tend to make more use of hand signals to signal between other marshals when there has been an incident.”
Outstanding Opportunities
One of the recurring themes when it comes to discussing international marshalling is the camaraderie that is involved and the joy of meeting different like-minded people. All around the world, trackside marshals share the same passion for motorsport and the same desire to be involved in the action – and that makes for an unforgettable atmosphere and memorable experiences, wherever you go.
“ For me, it is all about meeting people and sharing experiences,” says Bennie.“ Working alongside other volunteers in the same role makes for interesting experiences and it is good to see how other countries operate – the
Pearce concurs, adding:“ It is very interesting to see how other bodies organise events and marshalling practices, and to learn from each other. However, the biggest advantage is the wonderful network of international friends I have made, and the experiences I’ ve enjoyed with them – like sitting in a bar in our hotel in Montreal with Formula One driver Nico Hülkenberg at the next table!”
The teams that manage the Officials at major events often try to bring them together during the race weekend, helping people to get to know each other better. Greenwood has attended many memorable Marshals dinners in the USA, and he explains:“ There is quite a lot of marshals, so these events give people the opportunity to meet people they might not have otherwise met on their specific post.
“ In the United States, people can travel quite a long way, so you get to meet people from all over the place – and that can often lead to other opportunities. That happened to me at Sebring once. I met some people from California and one of them asked me if I would like to go to volunteer at a race in Laguna Seca. That ended up with being driven around the track in a fire truck – which was a very interesting experience!”
Given the UK’ s global reputation for exceptional volunteer marshals, the door to overseas volunteering is wide open. With the right level of Motorsport UK qualifications, a bit
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Revolution- August 2025