The Safety Training Working Group co-ordinates and supports safety training for motor sport officials. In collaboration with the FIA Safety Commission, the working group takes on a number of tasks in this field.

It monitors developments in motor sport safety training. For instance, it ensures that the right education material and learning facilities are available for all motor sport officials. It reviews the activities of national and international sporting authorities, with particular scrutiny of standards and good practice in safety training.

It provides advice and encourages the development of educational and learning resources on projects concerning safety training undertaken by the FIA. It provides a forum for discussion of safety training and the establishment of international standards by member clubs of the FIA.

It also makes use of existing and developing technology to facilitate accessibility to approved safety training resources.

Progress

The Safety Training Working Group was launched in July 2003 as a subsidiary of the FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety. During the first twelve months of its operation it has focussed on improving safety training standards for motor racing events worldwide.

Training for motor sport marshals and safety officials is usually undertaken by local national sporting authorities. As such training methods vary widely from country to country. Some are of the highest quality whilst others do not meet optimum safety levels, especially in regions that have relatively little experience hosting motor racing events.

Whilst sending out a clear message that no one country should be regarded as being any better than another, the Group recognised that there was an opportunity for all to be stronger by learning from each other.

As such, it has encouraged and supported experienced National Sporting Authorities (ASN’s) to deliver the appropriate level of training to other ASN’s. For instance, Australia’s CAMS assisted with preparations for Bahrain’s first ever Formula One Grand Prix. The UK’s MSA assisted the Chinese authorities with general marshalling across a range of events.

This strategy was further developed at the first FIA Institute training seminar, held in Venezuela, for the national associations of North America, Central America and Mexico, which was led by Spanish federation RFEDA. The seminar was hailed as a resounding success by the attendees. Similar seminars in other regions are planned.

The Group has also developed and actioned a number of other projects. It is producing a growing library of resources, in a range of languages, for the use of motor sport officials (in liaison with the Motorsport Safety Fund). Titles currently include Motorsport Marshalling, which covers all basic marshalling, and Medical Support for Motorsport, to be used as an information and recruitment tool to encourage doctors and medical support personnel into motor sport.

A study has been made of proposals to establish an international training standard. Along with the FIA Institute seminars, it is a step towards the creation of a global training curriculum that will enhance the expertise of all motor sport safety officials. So far, the group has examined training initiatives in all ASN’s, the results of which are currently being analysed.

During the next period, the group will further develop the library of resources in at least the three core languages of English, French and Spanish. These will be made available to download from the newly revamped FIA Institute website.

There are also plans to look at specialist training needs in the area of rally safety, including the production of a Rally Safety video, providing guidance and information relevant to the activities of competitors, officials, spectators and media personnel.