Ten Guyanese to be a part of BMF Training

Ten Guyanese race officials will be a part of a Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) training program hosted by the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF).

The participants, selected by the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) and led by Cheryl Gonsalves, departed this morning to join what the BMF calls “a record number of more than 170 volunteer officials and marshals.”

The four days of training organised by BMF is Funded by a successful Cluster Grant Application, and this will be the biggest-ever exercise of its type in the region and include 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 motorsport across the region is getting back up to full strength after Covid.”

The event has been coordinated via the Haggatt Hall offices of Motorsport Services, where Office Manager Michelle King on 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, and 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 flags, communication, and track protocols and systems before moving outside for practical training in the afternoon.

On Sunday, July 24, when a BPCI Track Day is underway, all the groups will work together to review the previous day’s training sessions and 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 motorsport 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.”