At some point during your marshalling journey, you will start thinking about what lies beyond your local circuit. At first, visiting different tracks in your country will scratch that itch, allowing you to meet new people, try different venues, and see the different ways of marshalling there.
This feeling will only last for a short time, and soon you will be looking beyond the borders of your own country and thinking, “What if?” What if I could marshal at a different circuit around the world? Would it be possible? Is it possible?
Daytona, Le Mans, Spa-Francorchamps, Bathurst, Nürburgring, Hungaroring, Monza – these aren’t just dreams, they are firmly within your grasp.
Well, I am here to tell you that marshalling abroad is completely possible and easier than you may think.
Let’s look into marshalling abroad and what you need to know to get started.
MARSHALLING ABROAD
There are a few moving parts when it comes to marshalling abroad, hopefully you will use this as a handy guide to navigate you through the process.
Contacts
Knowing who to talk to at a circuit, in particular who organises the marshals, is your tricky first step, but once you have it cracked, you’re sorted.
Gone are the days of meeting the right person on the right day, the planets being aligned, and the sun being in a particular quadrant of the sky, just so you can find the right contact. There are multiple Facebook groups where you can ask the question, and someone will know the answer.
If they don’t know, they will find out for you. I would give it no more than 24-hours before they find it. Such is the ease of data sharing and the willingness to help.
At some point, we will compile a directory of contacts you need for each circuit to make it even easier for you, but until then, Facebook serves a great purpose.
Some countries have their own volunteering websites you can use. This is very handy, providing you know the address.
Top tip: Start on Facebook in Flag Marshals of the World or Motorsport Marshals Worldwide. Someone may have already asked the same question.
Forms & Letters
As mentioned above, some countries do have a volunteering website; however, you will still likely need to submit your information, like name, address, country, date of birth, Autorité Sportive Nationale, National Sporting Authority, (ASN) number – Motorsport UK number for those in the UK, other registered club information and sometimes what events you have marshalled at before.
If you plan to apply to multiple overseas events, we recommend compiling this information in one place so you can copy and paste it repeatedly.
For those of us in the UK looking to marshal abroad, you will also need a letter from Motorsport UK. This is a fairly simple process to obtain one, and we would recommend you keep it with you, not just in the application process, but even when you have travelled.
You will need to obtain a new Marshalling Abroad Letter each year.
Top tip: Once you’ve started logging your information, it’s much easier to keep on top of it.
Insurance, Insurance, Insurance
Insurance goes without saying. Check with your ASN to see what insurance cover you do have when you are travelling abroad. They may only cover you whilst you are working at the track, or you may be lucky, and they cover the whole holiday.
If you are unsure, you may want to take the belt-and-braces approach and get standard travel insurance to cover you when you are not at the circuit.
On top of that, for that extra peace of mind, and because you should always expect the unexpected, it may be wise to pick up some ‘Repatriation Insurance’ for the length of your trip. This is peace of mind all round for both you and your family.
And finally, because we haven’t talked about insurance enough, if you plan to drive to these venues from outside your country, just double-check that your car insurance covers driving abroad.
Travel & Accommodation
When you are accepted to marshal abroad, there are two details you may want to consider.
- How am I getting there?
- Where am I staying?
Some events may recommend the best hotel and the best flights to you. Others may leave it to you to sort.
It can be a minefield. Again, we recommend asking the groups above for their suggestions or talking to your contact overseas to see what they suggest.
Some events will offer a nearby campsite that you may want to use if you have a caravan, motorhome, or tent. If this is the case, it’s always best to check what facilities they have.
Itinerary
This is probably less of a necessity than the others, but it is most likely to give you the best peace of mind.
More than once, I have been saved by printing my entire itinerary and key contacts for my trip and compiling them. Having my train, flight, hotel, and chief marshal details all saved in one easy-to-grab location has allowed me to navigate most situations when marshalling abroad.
Taking your itinerary and not using it is far better than not taking one and realising that you need it.
A great example of this was when I marshalled the Sebring 12 hours in 2019. I turned up with all my equipment, but couldn’t find the campsite or sign-on location. As I had a copy of the email from the chief marshal with me, I was able to show this to the man on the gate, who told me exactly where to go. Having to explain all that to somebody without this email would have been a lot trickier.
IN SUMMARY
It all starts with a conversation and use the power of social media to guide you to your answers, ask questions wherever you need to.
Remember: it’s always better to be overprepared than underprepared.
Most importantly, if you have the desire to marshal abroad, then do it!
If you have any questions or need any further help, we are more than happy to talk you through the process and guide you to the right location, simply head to our contact us page.
