Hundreds line up to marshal Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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• Aspirants told commitment to the task a top priority
   

The first phase of a programme to recruit and train marshals for the inaugural Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix got off to a flying start at Dubai Autodrome on Friday, with 300 volunteers registering to be part of what is expected to be the grand finale to the Formula One season in the UAE this November.
 
The day began early, with aspirants reconfirming details they had provided in pre-registration forms and collecting their kit. The Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), the local national sporting authority and official representative of the FIA in the Emirates, has been tasked, among other things, with recruiting and training the marshals for the November event.
 
ATCUAE Sports Project Director Ronan Morgan in his welcome address and subsequent presentation explained the extensive role of the Club in the country’s first-ever Formula 1 race.
 
“As the national sporting authority and official representative of the FIA we are delighted to have you here today,” Morgan said, pointing out that approximately 600 personnel including marshals, medics, extrication crew, runners, scrutineers, communicators, etc would be required on-track.
 
Additional human resources would be required to cover areas such as hospitality, guest relations and media. “These are by no means small tasks. Your involvement in the areas of your interest will go a long way to ensuring the success of this very prestigious event in which the leadership of Abu Dhabi has made a huge financial and human investment,” Morgan added.
 
Aspiring marshals were also briefed by Gary Dearn, Senior Track Manager, Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management, the promoters of the event, on the track specifications and other technical aspects of Formula 1 racing.
 
Volunteers were given an overview of the various facets of Formula 1 marshalling, including flagging, extrication, first aid and fire-fighting by personnel in their respective areas of expertise.
 
Above all, it was stressed that without firm commitment to the task ahead it would be pointless to go through what is expected a strenuous few weeks of intensive training scheduled for after the summer break.
 
ATCUAE President Mohammed Ben Sulayem had earlier this month appealed to young Emiratis to join him in making the inaugural Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix a success on unprecedented scales.
 
During separate presentations to the Abu Dhabi Men’s College and the Abu Dhabi Women’s College of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) on May 7, Sulayem, who is also FIA Vice President for Sport, had said: “This event is going to be the biggest that Abu Dhabi and our country has ever witnessed. It is a matter of national pride and I would like each and every one of you to come forward and be part of Formula One racing history in the UAE.
 
“You, as the future of this country, must be part of this historic event. Five years down the line I want to see 90 percent, if not more, of the manpower to comprise of Emiratis,” he added.
 
Following this appeal, a sizeable number of Emiratis signed up on Friday.
 
Volunteers who attended the introduction day have been asked to submit their feedback forms to the ATCUAE following which all will go through a further vetting process to select those who have made the grade to be marshals for the October 30-November 1 grand finale of the Formula 1 season.

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