Local motorsport marshals drilled

The Botswana Motorsports (BMS) benefitted from the Federation Internationale del Automobile (FIA) accredited marshalling   course over the weekend.

The course, which was facilitated by former South African rally and off road driver, Richard Leeke, attracted close to 20 participants from the Sports Volunteer Movement, business   and media.  The three day FIA sponsored course, which is expected to assist the BMS to hold a national rally in the future included both theoretical and practical classes.

Leeke who was accompanied by four other course instructors from the FIA, took participants through their paces on intense and   in depth lessons   on   how to organise special stages   of a rally. The course included the drawing up of a rally special stage which included where   to putting up caution signs on where rally competitors are expected to race or slow their pace down depending on obstacles and spectators along the rally stage.

Moreover, the course which was held at the Boetelo Valley near Mokolodi game reserve, included practical   lessons   in which participants’ experience what both a driver and   co driver are expected to do during a special rally stage. In addition to theory and simulation, the course included lessons of using the complex timing systems that are used in international rallies like the Sasol national rally in South Africa and the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).

Speaking after the course on Sunday, BMS president Simon Modisaeman said he expected a national rally to be organised in the country following the training. Modisaeman explained   that there will be opportunities for more training in the marshalling of rally special stages. The BMS president said he expected the group that underwent the training to remain as an organised unit that will be instrumental when future rally stages are held in the country.