Photo : CHRISTOPHE JOUNIAUX / VISION SPO

 

"The recruitment of the track marshals is uniquely based on volunteering," explains Michel Dumiot, in charge of sports assignments for the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO). "To be a marshal, it first takes passion for automotive sports. They are the players as well as the drivers. For a race to take place, there must first be marshals. If there is an insufficient number of them, the start cannot be given. The drivers greatly respect the marshals as they are their only link to the outside. The only thing they see moving is a marshal's flag. They are now dressed in an orange protective suit. Before, they wore white suits but the drivers didn't know if it was a marshal or a white flag that was moving. As there is no orange flag, it is clearly a marshal in action. In terms of conditions, they must volunteer and be at least 16 years old. For the most diligent ACO marshals, we give them a license for the following year but there is a minimum quota of six auto races and/or four moto races to do during the year."

Track marshal training is at the heart of the ACO system. "When they start, the marshal is an intern for nearly a year as support for the posts where he/she is trained, and does not intervene except for pretty basic things. We train them at other events and when they arrive at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, they have been tried and have experience. Remember that the first to intervene when there is an accident is the marshal. A car's race or even the life of a driver can depend on them. Once a marshal, they go through Automobile Federation training but nothing replaces experience in the field! It is for this reason that Le Mans marshals are so strong, they officiate all season long on all the circuits! Plus, the Federation organizes seminars for certain classes of marshals. We also organize fire training, for example. They have to move to save, and every year they do training conducted by professionals who enflame car carcasses for the marshals to utilize an extinguisher properly."

The plan is based on the post chief. "There are 50 post chiefs and, every time, there is a post chief and a deputy chief. They have to operate during the entire race, that is why there are three teams in shifts. So there are three post chiefs and as many deputies. Each team manages itself: there is a team rollout every three or four hours at the edge of the track. A marshal's work is tiring because it can be hot, cold or raining. The marshals are exposed at the edge of the track and must always be focused on what is happening on the track."

The 24 Hours of Le Mans marshals are at this point considered the best to such a degree that they are requested at other circuits. "Every year at the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco, there is a quota of marshals that come from Le Mans. At Monaco, they take the cream of the crop of marshals. Afterwards, in exchange, the marshals who request to come here can. We welcome marshals from the world over. This year, we have 1,731 marshals of which 276 are pit marshals. The aura of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is such that we have 1,369 French and 362 foreign representing 15 countries, some come even from Australia (one), Canada (one) and even the United States (six). People go around the world to be able to officiate at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The standard of safety, of the suit, of the behaviour is very elevated here. At the same time, we "spoil" them with a camp that is provided because they remain on-site for a week with their families!"

You can follow the 24 Hours of Le Mans track marshals' latest news on their Facebook page.

David Bristol / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, WEDNESDAY JUNE 11 2014, FREE PRACTICE. The green flag indicates the end of the slow zone.