Junior Marshals & Officials launched at Mayo Stages Rally

Junior Marshals & Officials pose at the ceremonial start of the Mayo Stages Rally. Picture by Kevin Shields.

On Saturday March 2nd 2024, Motorsport Ireland took another step in the  implementation of their 2024 – 2027 strategic plan. This was the launch of the Junior Marshal and Junior Official training programme in the Great National Hotel, Ballina, ahead of the Mayo Stages Rally, Round One of the 2024 Motorsport Ireland Triton Showers National Rally Championship.

Over 30 Junior Marshals and Officials were in attendance as Motorsport Ireland President Aiden Harper said "this is a great day for our sport where we have opened the doors to our Youth from all over the country. Youth are the future of our sport and by involving them with their parents and guardians from the age of 12 is a significant way forward in our sport. We will continue to roll out training in this area as events take place all around the country."
 
A Junior Marshal is someone aged between twelve and eighteen who will marshal alongside their parent or guardian. A Junior Marshal will not be eligible to marshal between start lines and finish lines, however they will be able to carry out the marshalling of service area, stage entries and exits and other areas of an event where cars are not in competition.

 
A Junior Official is someone aged between sixteen and eighteen who will act, alongside their parent or guardian as an apprentice official. This will help to attract more youth into the background team of motorsport events which is so vital for the safeguarding of our sport going forward.

With this new initiative having been successfully launched in Ballina, a second training course will be available for the Youth Marshals and Officials ahead of the West Cork Rally in the Clonakilty Park Hotel on Thursday March 14th @ 6:30PM. Those wishing to attend should register their interest, via email with [email protected].