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NACAM Finds Safety in Numbers

The FIA Institute launched the first pan-regional safety training seminar for motor sport officials in Venezuela earlier this year. Its success could lead to the rollout of a global training curriculum that will enhance the expertise of motor sport safety officials worldwide.

	The recent FIA Institute training seminar in Venezuela, the first of its kind, could serve as a blueprint for the rest of the world. It is the first step towards the creation of a global training curriculum that will enhance the expertise of all motor sport safety officials. The seminar, which took place over three days at the Hilton hotel in Caracas, sought to bring together the national associations of NACAM - representing North America, Central America and Mexico – into one forum that would raise motor sport safety standards across the whole region. The idea was to improve safety in the participating countries to those levels practiced by the major motor sport markets. It would ultimately save lives. NACAM President, Dr Enzo Spano, has already hailed the seminar as a success. He says this was due to the “mass participation by the member countries of NACAM, to the teaching material used, and to the capacity and professionalism shown by the instructors”. The event was necessary because 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. That is all set to change. The NACAM forum is part of a new scheme, instigated and funded by the FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety, to ensure that every region meets the standard. The knock-on effect will raise general safety levels globally. The April seminar was the first event to tackle this issue. It was attended by senior motor sport officials across the fourteen countries of NACAM, the largest FIA zone after Europe. Spano, who is also a member of the FIA Institute Safety Training Working Group, welcomed to the conference around 70 delegates from countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Cuba. One of the major goals of the FIA Institute, since it launched in October 2004, has been to foster improvements in motor sport safety through maintaining the training of officials, circuit and race personnel in safety procedures, practice and use of equipment. The NACAM seminar was part of this objective and sought to fill gaps in the knowledge of officials so that they can undertake the proper supervision of motor sport in their region. The main objective of the programme was to download the motor sport safety knowledge and expertise of experienced motor racing officials to the participants. The delegates would take that knowledge back to their home countries and educate their own members. It would also provide an opportunity for national associations to share information and good practice. The forum was prepared and led by Spanish federation Real Federacion Espanola de Automovilisimo (RFEDA). RFEDA’s Javier Sanz Merinero ran the programme, assisted by colleagues Carlos Bertrand, Eduardo Alvarez and Juan Luis Ubina, who delivered lectures on Race Directors, Stewards, and Track, Route and Flag Marshals. Three representatives from each country were trained in each of the topics and were urged to pass on that training to motor sport officials in their own countries. This post-forum objective has been implemented in one region already. On 25th June, the Puerto Rico national sporting authority gave its first training seminar based on the material and experience gained at the Venezuela forum. Other nations are preparing to follow this example. Spano says: “This is proof that the main objectives of the seminar were fulfilled.” RFEDA was chosen to host the forum because of its experience of organising world class events. It has a rich heritage in motor sport and Spain is one of the few countries to host rounds of the Formula One world championship, the World Rally Championship, and world motorcycling championship MotoGP. Spano says: “It is fundamental that the knowledge and experience of countries that hold world-class events in the various specialities of motor sports such as Spain be transmitted. Spain has very high standards in all sports matters and this type of event is especially beneficial to countries with less experience.” The three-day course prepared by RFEDA was the result of a huge amount of preparation and advance research. The effort was not missed by the delegates, who were highly motivated, enthusiastic and active in the various work sessions. Many commented that the seminar even rekindled their motivation to work in motor sport. After intensive discussion and debate on all the topics covered, the delegates were provided with supporting documentation to take away and a certificates of attendance. Being the first of its kind and unique to the region, the seminar received attention and coverage from various media. It gained television coverage on local channels in Venezuela, in the printed press in Costa Rica, Panama and Venezuela, and on a number of internet sites. Spano now believes that the forum should be continued and repeated periodically so participants can continually update each other and share experiences that will benefit motor sport in the whole region. He already has plans to improve the next event. One notable ingredient missing from this seminar was a practical session, where the participants can practice what they have been taught. Spano suggests that future seminars might be based around a sporting event, where the attendees could act as assistant marshals in their respective specialities. Even without the practical element, the general consensus is that the first forum achieved its goals. The participants supplemented their knowledge with that of more experienced officials. Each took away with them the huge amount of literature that was provided and have the added bonus of being able to consult conference notes if problems arise at races in their region. The success of the seminar has paved the way for similar events in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Spano says: “My conclusion is that these seminars could be held anywhere in the world.” Such seminars could ultimately lead to the creation of centres of best practice for training marshals in each region. These centres would ensure that safety standards are at optimum levels in every country that hosts even the most minor motor racing event and not just those regions with a rich heritage in the sport. It will no doubt raise the bar for motor sport safety standards worldwide.

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