TEN Guyanese race officals will join over 100 more over the next few days for a Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)/ Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF) course.

Specifically for race officials, the four-day course in Barbados is funded by a successful Cluster Grant Application by the BMF to the FIA.

This will be the biggest-ever exercise of its type in the region and includes participants from Antigua, Guyana and Jamaica.

Chairman of the BMF Training Committee, John Sealy said: “This weekend is the latest step in the BMF’s ongoing commitment to supporting our volunteers, who play such a vital role in what we do.

This will be the most extensive training programme in the island for a few years and it comes at a good time, now that motor sport across the region is getting back up to full strength after COVID.”

The event has been co-ordinated via the Haggatt Hall offices of Motorsport Services, where office manager, Michelle King, yesterday (Monday) reported total registrations of 175 volunteers, just over 60 officials and more than 110 marshals, with the largest contingent coming from the member clubs of the BMF.

‘McGyver’ Donelan is leading a group of six from Antigua; both these groups will attend for all four days, while the eight participants from Jamaica, led by Tiffany Bryan, will participate in the marshals’ training only.

A full day of classroom sessions for officials on Thursday will cover event and incident management, followed by practical work on Friday, to include live scenarios created at various locations on the circuit, along with demonstrations of medical extrication, the use of cutting equipment, fire extinguishers and recovery equipment.

On Saturday, marshals will spend the morning in classroom sessions on a wide range of flag, communication and track protocols and systems before moving outside for practical training in the afternoon.

On Sunday (July 24), when there will also be a BPCI Track Day, all the groups will work together for a comprehensive review of the previous days’ training sessions and to work through further scenarios to enhance their learning.

Sealy added: “We much appreciate that the FIA are funding this training which makes it possible to invite motor sport volunteers from around the region and to have three international trainers who will deliver the training.

“Thanks to Bushy Park for the use of the facility, which is ideal for combining classroom sessions with practical work on track and also means we have the space to include such a large number of volunteers.

“Thanks also to Jeanne Crawford and Michelle King, who have worked very hard in recent weeks on the logistics, liaising with the regional ASNs and registering the participants.”