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The BMMC South East region has achieved the Motorsport UK Club Sustainability Accreditation, recognising the region’s commitment to embedding environmental responsibility into its activities.

The accreditation follows an 18-month process led by Kevin Holcombe, the region’s Environmental Champion, with support from the South East committee and Motorsport UK.

The work included developing supporting documentation, creating environmental risk assessment templates, and considering the practical steps marshals and the club can take to reduce environmental impact at events to meet Motorsport UK’s sustainability accreditation. Kevin’s background in engineering, production, maintenance and health and safety helped shape the region’s approach throughout the process. 

Kevin is now developing the next stage of the region’s environmental work through a new “Leave No Trace” campaign. The campaign promotes simple, practical actions at race meetings, from reducing waste and using reusable items to encouraging cleaner, more responsible behaviour around circuits.

Kevin Holcombe, Environmental Champion for the South East Region, said:

“I’m delighted that our region has achieved Motorsport UK Sustainability Accreditation. This has been a detailed process, but it has also been a really positive opportunity to look at what we do as marshals and how we can make small, practical changes that support a more sustainable future for motorsport.

The accreditation is not the end of the work — it is the starting point. Through our Leave No Trace campaign, I want to encourage marshals to think about the impact we have at events and how we can all help leave the track better than we found it.”

The accreditation marks an important step for the region and provides a platform for continued improvement. The South East Region is also exploring opportunities to work with circuits and event partners to support shared environmental goals.

John Edwards, Chair of the BMMC, said:

“This is a fantastic achievement for Kevin and the entire South East Region. Marshals are at the heart of motorsport and are visible at every event, so we have an important role to play in supporting responsible and sustainable behaviour across the sport.

Kevin’s work shows what can be achieved through the commitment of our volunteers which stretches far beyond being trackside at events. I am proud to see the region leading the way and helping set a positive example for the wider club.”

More information about the Motorsport UK Sustainability Accreditation can be found on the MSUK website.

Meet your new Chair
Hello everyone,
I’m really pleased to introduce myself as your new Chair. Many of you will know me from circuits across the UK, but for those who don’t, here’s a little about me, my background, and why I’ve taken on this role.

A little about me
I live in Wrexham, North Wales, with my wife Natalie who some of you will know as a Grade 1 Pit Marshal, and our four children. Wrexham has become rather famous recently thanks to its football club and its well‑known owners… but that’s a conversation for another day!

Within marshalling, I’m a BMMC Marshal Assessor and a Grade 3 Post Chief/Incident Officer. I’m also training as a Clerk of the Course and currently serve as an Assistant Clerk with the BRSCC. Although I marshal mainly in the North-West, I regularly travel to circuits across the UK and overseas, both as a marshal and as a spectator. I also marshal part‑time during the week at Oulton Park.

My experience covers a wide range of disciplines and roles, from grassroots club racing to Formula 1 events in the UK and internationally. Being involved at so many levels has given me a real appreciation for the professionalism, resilience, and teamwork shown by marshals everywhere. I understand the long days, the challenging conditions, and how vital clear communication, strong leadership, and mutual support are to keeping everyone safe. I’m also passionate about training, mentoring, and creating accessible pathways that help attract and retain volunteers across all areas of motorsport.

Why I applied for this role
Motorsport is changing quickly, with growing expectations around safety, professionalism, diversity, and digital capability. I believe the BMMC needs to be ready for these challenges while staying true to its core purpose of supporting, developing, and championing the volunteer marshals who make motorsport possible.

I applied for this role because I care deeply about the sport and the people who give their time to it. I want every marshal to feel represented, supported, and heard. This role gives me the chance to bring together my marshalling experience, leadership background and passion for motorsport to help shape the future of the Club.

My priorities are:

• Strengthening member engagement, retention, and recognition
• Recruiting and developing new marshals
• Enhancing collaboration with Motorsport UK, sponsors, and partners
• Supporting regional ownership and empowering local activities

As I begin to deliver on those priorities I’m delighted that so many of you cast your vote for our new Vice Chair, this is a new role, and I’m delighted that Adrian Liddiment will be working with me and our brilliant committee. I’d also like to thank all of the candidates for putting themselves forward to serve the club.

One of our first priorities will be to launch a new membership system. It’ll be simpler to use, easy to access and modernise your experience with us. We’ll then be looking to relaunch the BMMC website so there is a lot to be excited for over the coming months.

As I take up the reins I’d like to say a big thank you to Chris Hobson for his service to our club. Chris has led us through a period of great change and his commitment to the club should be recognised by us all. Chris has written a letter to you all. You can read it here.

Your views matter to me. Please feel free to contact me at bmmc.chair@marshals.co.uk or 07949 599138. From September, we’ll also be launching a webinar where you can share your thoughts directly with me, more details on that next month!

John Edwards 

Follow BMMC on social media

Did you see our marshal Dan Chilvers featured by Motorsport UK? You can get involved too. Click on the links below to follow us on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook for the latest news, stories and updates from across the marshalling community. Tell us where you are each weekend – we want to see your photos and the great racing and rallying across the country.

At an event? Tag BMMC in your photos and videos so we can see, share and celebrate marshalling across the UK. Remember no phones on during a live circuit!

We’re on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook – so get social and get sharing. If you want some help with setting your accounts to follow us contact comms@marshals.co.uk and Kim Grogan will be happy to help. 

Prodrive sign a new 3 year partnership

We were delighted to announce our new three-year partnership with Prodrive which will support the work of the Club.

The partnership will help us to continue to recruit, train, equip and support marshals across all areas of UK motorsport. It will also give us new opportunities to raise the profile of marshalling and encourage more people to join our community. We’re grateful to Prodrive for their ongoing support and excited to continue working together.

The news was reported by Dailysportscar.com, Octane Magazine and in print by Autocar. We’re looking forward to sharing more about the partnership in the coming months.

Caterham Graduates Racing Club donation to the BMMC

The Caterham Graduates Racing Club presented the BMMC with a cheque for an amazing £2,437 at Anglesey, The club which has members from Caterham Motorsport, novice racers (including some ex karters), other types of racing and CGRC alumni is one of the largest single make UK Championships in club racing. 

Presented by Richard Groom, Chairman of the Club to the team during the Anglesey weekend, we’d like to say thanks again to the club for their generosity and of course fantastic racing!

News from across the regions

North-East
The North-East committee would like to thank Claire Morton for her hard work, commitment and time spent as the recruitment and regalia coordinator for the Northeast region, Claire has now stepped down from committee duties. 

If you’re interested in helping us run the region we’d love to hear from you. We’re looking for a
a volunteering coordinator, a recruitment coordinator and a regalia coordinator. These are great tools so, if you’re interested please contact ne.chair@marshals.co.uk.

The Ilkley Jubilee Historic Rally and Run takes plan on 24 and 25 October 2026 and it really needs our support. Find out more about the event and register to marshal on the event website.

North-West
The North-West continues to enjoy phenomenal racing courtesy of the Enduroka 24hr race at Anglesey, the MSVR Supercar Pageant and the Time Attack, Tunerfest North. August will continue to keep the regions marshals busy with the Gold Cup, and the US Autoshow still to come. 

South-Mids
The South Mids region are currently looking for a new recruitment coordinator, if you’d like to get involved with the committee please contact Ian Whiting.

Big thanks to everyone that attended the GP and got involved in handing out stickers and leaflets to spectators around the circuit. It was another brilliant event with a great atmosphere. 

The region enjoyed a successful visit to the RML Group in Wellingborough gaining a fascinating insight into the world of motorsport ranging from Le Mans to Touring Cars. The team also heard about future developments and technology. RML and Jason Plato who also took the time to join us provided a warm welcome and showed their genuine appreciation for everything we do. 

South-East
The South-East recently ran a mid-season marshal development day to support marshals who have joined the sport within the last 18-24 months and were unable to attend winter training. The day covered both the Trackside and Off-Track pathways. The sessions were aligned to the MSUK Pathway and topics included incident handling, flagging, communications, situational awareness and teamwork. 

The region are also busy preparing for a range of events, especially Formula E, where Anna Lambe, regional training coordinator is leading on our work with Girls on Track. The SE team will be joining the Girls on Track recruitment stand in the Formula E Fan Village on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August and would welcome additional volunteers to join on the day. If you’re confident in chatting to visitors about marshaling, sharing your experiences and inspiring more women and girls to get involved. This is a great opportunity for you. Please contact se.training@marshals.co.uk for more information.

Rally news

The BRMC are looking for an enthusiastic Training Coordinator to support the delivery of its training programme. This is a fantastic and rewarding opportunity to make a real difference by providing motorsport marshals access to training and development opportunities. If this is something you would be interested in, please get in touch with Tracey Smith (secretary@brmc.org.uk).

There are plenty of fantastic events across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland that you can support throughout August. The BRMC has a list of eventsand we’d really encourage you to take a look and sign up.  

August upgrades

Well done to all our marshals who have achieved an upgrade in the past month, if you’re inspired and thinking about upgrading take a look at our guide to upgrading.

Chair’s chat 

The racing season is in full swing and I hope you are all enjoying your active participation in our sport. We had a National Council meeting at the end of this month to continue the management of the club. We were pleased to welcome Kim Grogan to her first meeting as our new National Communications Coordinator together with Steve Wolfe who has assumed bookkeeping responsibilities for the club.

As always, the meeting had a very full agenda covering all the regions of the club together with the supporting activities required to ensure its continued growth and success. An awful lot of work goes on behind the scenes that members are usually unaware of. An important part of this is the need to maintain the systems that support everything we do. This has entailed moving our website providers and implementing the migration of our membership database and volunteering system to a new provider plus the transfer of our documents and records to a new system. All of these have been carried out successfully but the work continues. The next priority is the necessary upgrade of the membership system which will hopefully be implemented well before renewals start coming in at the end of the year.

As I write this, I know many of you will be preparing for the annual pilgrimage to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix. I marshalled and officiated at this event from way back in 1969 until 1996 when I decided that the enjoyment of the event for me was overshadowed by all the restrictions placed on volunteers. I can well understand why many people feel that this is the pinnacle of their year and enjoy the event but whilst doing whatever I can to ensure that marshals are treated correctly I will be engaged in other activities and will watch the Grand Prix on catch up on the dear old TV.

Hopefully the weather at the Grand Prix will be of a nature that allows everyone to enjoy the event without the dangers that we have experienced during the recent heatwave. As always, I hope everyone ensures that they have the correct clothing, food and drink to ensure they stay fit and healthy over the whole event.

On a personal note, I have enjoyed a relatively easy month of Motor Sport, acting as MSUK Steward at the British hill climb championship at Gurston Down and Shelsley Walsh together with a karting event with Camberley Kart Club. Although, both the hillclimbs were relatively relaxed events both showed that you can never fully relax whenever competitive vehicles are involved. Both events had major incidents requiring rescue unit intervention and hospitalisation of competitors. I was extremely pleased and proud to observe the actions of the marshals at these events as they calmly dealt with what could have been very serious incidents. Our members’ professionalism is outstanding.

Secretary’s noggin

Already the end of June, half way through the year and the 2026 race season. The weather over the last couple of weeks has not been very nice for marshalling, the heat and humidity has been unbearable at times. I hope everyone is taking on plenty of fluids, plenty of sunscreen, wearing hats and getting in the shade whenever possible. I shall be returning to Le Mans a the end of June, this time for the Le Mans Classic, our Vice President Mike Newton shall be racing there in his MG-Lola, EX257. This is the car he won the LMP2 Class at the 2005 Le Mans before finishing 2^nd in the Le Mans Series the same year. Forecast is for temperatures between 28 and 31C for the event. 

For those marshals lucky enough to be selected for the F1 at Silverstone from the 3^rd to 5^th July, I hope you are happy with the posts you have been allocated. Enjoy the experience, as we do say, we do have the best seats in the house when racing is on.  Stay cool and hydrated and enjoy the spectacle. 

The answer to the June Trivia Question, what is the name of the circuit shown below and when did it close?

The answer is Blandford Circuit, based at the home of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Blandford, Dorset. The very 1^st post World War II car road race in England was held at Blandford on Saturday 27th August 1949 and consisted of 3 sports car races, one for F3 cars, 2 heats and a final and the same for F2 cars competing for the Blandford Cup. Although deemed a success the organisers, the West Hants and Dorset Car lost money on the event. The track was 3miles long but only 20ft wide with army buildings very close to the circuit in places. There were a number of crashes with the most spectacular being P.K. Braid driving a F3 car demolished a bus stop before launching himself off a pine sapling before landing on the Battalion Headquarters. Unfortunately, Gordon Woods crashed his Frazer Nash BMW in the same location but received fatal head injuries. 

A 2^nd race was held on Whit Monday 29^th May 1950, following the similar programme as the 1^st event. It was at this post war race in England that the 1^st rolling start for F3 cars behind an “official” car which pulled off just before the Union Flag was dropped. This event was covered by the BBC on the Light Programme (Radio 2 now). Racing ceased at the end of 1950 due to the withdrawal of authorisation to race by the authorities due mainly to the number of fatalities at the circuit. 

Where was July’s long-lost circuit located?

Major or Traumatic Incident.

Major or traumatic incidents whilst we are out on the bank, are thankfully very rare. However, they do happen and if you are involved or witness such an event and subsequently find yourself replaying the incident, struggling to sleep, feeling anxious, or wanting to withdraw. Please know these are completely normal psychological responses and you do not have to carry it alone.

Talking it through with your team on post, fellow marshals and senior officials is often the best 1^st step. However, the BMMC does provide a completely free, completely confidential 24/7 helpline for all registered marshals and their immediate families. Call 0117 934 0105 quoting policy no 100580442CCI. This is completely confidential and the BMMC is never notified if you call. Your privacy is guaranteed. 

Remember, you are not alone, help is always available.

National Volunteer

Krazy Races are still needing more volunteer marshals for the following events 

1. Telford 12 July – could do with more for this as they have a bigger entry list!
2. 26 July Newbury – no volunteers yet
3. 9 August Stockport – three volunteers already

Contact Nadine Lewis on nat.volunteering@marshals.co.uk

Draw Winners

Membership 

The current BMMC membership stands at 3066 as of 19.06.2026. Of the 588 non-renewals by the end of April, 15 have renewed  

New Members 

A very warm welcome to the following new marshals. I hope you have a long and enjoyable marshalling experience and remember everyone is willing to help you along the way.

Total of members per region 

Marshal Upgrades

The following Marshal upgrades the month of June 2026 are: – 

Upcoming Events 

Rally

Volunteers Wanted 

Race

1. The Mid Cheshire Motor Racing Club urgently need marshals for their event to be held at Scammonden on Sunday 26^th July 2026. If you are available and can help then please email helpus@mcmrc.co.uk for details 

Rally

1. Advance notice for the weekend of 19^th and 20^th March 2027. The North West Rally Stages will be back with long time sponsor Legend Fires returning as headline sponsor for 2027. Based as usual out of the Myerscough College and utilising the exciting and challenging Lancashire roads. The traditional ceremonial start being in Garstang. 
2. This year’s Greystoke Stages are still looking for in-stage marshals along with flying finish crew. The event is scheduled for Sunday 5^th July 2026 with the forest being open between 06.30 and 07.30 for marshal sign on. If you are interested in marshalling this event, please contact Joe Walker, Chief Marshal on 07827960560 for details. 
3. The BRMC have been asked to run the Dalbeattie Stage at this year’s 80^th Scottish Rally to be held on Saturday 18^th July 2026. To register please go to 

Marshals – http://form.jotform.com/220912691161047

Radio Marshals – http://form.jotform.com/240644932355054

Chair’s chat 
As I write this, we’re in the middle of one of the warmest heatwaves this country has experienced in recent times. Recently I was the MSUK Steward at Gurston Down and understood just how hot it must have been for all of you in your orange Probans. Luckily no one needed the attention of the medics for heat stroke, but it must have been a near case for some.

Gurston Down was very quiet until a call was raised for the rescue crew and ambulance to a major incident at the finish line. As we arrived at the scene a single seater rcar was upside down across the track with bits of body work and wheels scattered over a 200-yard stretch. The marshals and rescue team worked brilliantly helping the driver out of the car, amazingly with no broken limbs or visible injuries. The driver was taken to hospital for a check-up but I’m glad to say they were released straight away. This incident shows you can never fully relax when marshalling, no matter the event. With cars travelling at over 140mph in close proximity to the sleeper wall you really do need to be ready to intervene at a moment’s notice.

No matter what venue you’re at, or the job that you’re doing, as marshals we’re out in all weathers. Being dressed appropriately and taking the necessary precautions is essential in extreme conditions. Please remember to take plenty of water and food to your post and if you’re short of water, don’t hesitate to ask for some to be sent out to you. All venues have a duty of care to their volunteers. Getting into shade wherever possible is also important. Obviously when vehicles are on the track you need to be in the correct position but during pauses, please seek shade. 

On a personal note, I’ve been stewarding this month starting with a Kart meeting at Wilton Mill which had a record entry of over 320 Karts. It was a busy weekend with over 150 Judicials over the two days!

From the events I’ve attended this month I’ve been very impressed with the way marshals and officials conduct their duties. When I compare how our members work at all levels of meetings in this country to what we see in some of the other FIA member countries I can’t help but be proud of the training we provide and the expertise with which you carry out your duties.

Secretary’s noggin
Where has this year gone? It’s now June and yet it seems like yesterday we were all eagerly awaiting a new season and attending regional training days. Recently, I was Post Chief, on Druids at Oulton Park for the British GT Championships. two days of exciting and close racing from the whole field, Formula Fords, Ginetta Juniors, Ginetta GTs GB4, CSCC New Millennium as well as the awesome sounding GT3’s and nimble GT4’s. 
It was a busy post, on the Saturday, we had a spectacular incident involving a flying Formula Ford. It was a shock for a first day flagger to see the underside of a car passing in front of her eyes, but I’m pleased to say, she’ll be back. Thankfully the driver was a bit bruised but not hurt. On Sunday, a GT4 McClaren hit the barrier after being tagged, this time sending a cup of tea and a timing clock flying but thankfully, no injuries to the driver. Quite how two incident marshals and the Post Chief, managed to free the McClaren from the gravel trap, I do not know. 

In June, I’m off to Le Mans for the 24hr race at the beginning of the month for 2 weeks, then home for 2 weeks before returning to Le Mans for the Classic. This year the Classic is for Post 1973 cars, next year will be for pre-1973 cars. 

May Trivia Question

The circuit is or was Catterick in the North East of England. The only circuit in England to be located on a site once occupied by Roman Soldiers over 200 years ago. Catterick was the Roam Garrison town called Cataractonium on the important highway from York to Hadrian’s Wall. Racing began there in 1955 with an initial hill climb organised by the Darlington and District Motor Club using Catterick Hill within the Catterick Garrison. Motor racing took place between 1958 to 1963 on a 1.6mile circuit. A total of 8 motor Race Meetings were held and each time permission from the Air Ministry was required. Racing was stopped following an incident in September 1963, when a Lotus Seven spun at a corner adjacent to the Main A1, crashed through a hedge and ended up on the southbound carriageway.

From June, we’ll be sharing the forgotten circuit trivia via the BMMC Facebook Group – make sure you’ve joined to get involved! 

Next of Kin and In Case of Emergency information
Are your emergency contact details up to date? Please take a moment to check your personal information and update any missing or outdated Next of Kin or In Case of Emergency details. While providing this information is voluntary, it can be extremely important should an incident occur while you are volunteering.
All information is treated confidentially and would only be accessed in an emergency.

National Team news
Colin Barnes, has stood down as the Club’s longstanding National Bookkeeper with Stephen Woolfe taking over the reins following a graduated handover. A heartfelt thanks goes to Colin from everyone on the National Committee for the largely unsung work over the last few years. Enjoy your newly found freedom and time. 
Stephen’s contact details are nat.bookkeeper@marshals.co.uk

David Smithson has also stood down as the National Branding and Communications Coordinator, again after many years helping promote the Club on social media and editing and issuing this monthly newsletter. Many thanks for all your help, advice and assistance. Enjoy your retirement. As you’ll have seen, Kim Grogan, the present NW Media Coordinator has taken over from David. Kim has many new and exciting ideas on helping promote and project the Club on social media in the months to come.
Kim’s contact details are: comms@marshals.co.uk

Training 
The BRMC has added an extra module to their online marshals training programme. Supporting Your Peers (GE02A) is aimed at all marshal disciplines seeking to upgrade from Grade 1 to Grade 2 and will run on Monday 6 July from 19:30. Please register using this link or via our website. The next BRMC online event will be the Advanced Radio module on Tuesday 23 June. If you haven’t already done so, please register online at brmc.org.uk/training.
Thanks to everyone who has requested further details about the dates still to be announced. The BRMC Training Administrator, Tracey Smith will share more information as soon as it becomes available.

The club is looking for an enthusiastic Training Coordinator (see May’s Newsletter for a job description) to support the delivery of our future training programme. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference by providing motorsport marshals access to training and development opportunities. If this is something you’d be interested in, please get in touch with Tracey on training.admin@brmc.otg.uk.

Our month in numbers
Our membership stands at 3000 as of 23 May. We’d like to welcome our 63 new members and congratulate 2 people who have upgraded.

New members

Marshal upgrades

Regional Reports

North West 
May has been a busy month most recently with the British GT’s and the Touring Car Rewind hitting Oulton Park. We also had a top team of marshals supporting the Crewe Krazy Race which is part of the UK’s largest touring soapbox derby event. 
The NW recruitment tent was open for business during the GT weekend. We had 51 people signing up for more information and an invite to join us for a taster day. 
June promises to be an exciting month with the BTCC heading North. The Supercar Pageant will bring The Porsche Cup Championship and Porsche Club Boxster Cup, so plenty to look forward to across the region.

South East 
We’re absolutely thrilled to share a massive milestone for our club and the South East (SE) region. After 18 months of intense work, Kevin Holcombe, our Environmental Champion has achieved environmental sustainability recognition for the region. Kevin spent more than a year driving this initiative behind the scenes. He’s navigated extensive audits, drafted robust environmental policies and met the strict MSUK standards. His tireless hard work, passion and support from the SE committee and MSUK made this breakthrough possible.
Our region has officially gained a Sustainability Accreditation from MSUK! This means:

• Official validation: Proven commitment to reducing our carbon footprint for the SE.
• Future-proofing: Ensures our region complies with upcoming green regulations.
• Enhanced reputation: Attracts forward-thinking eco-conscious sponsors.
• Community pride: Sets a benchmark for marshals, other motorsport clubs and other BMMC regions.
• Waste management: Improved our thinking around recycling at circuits and implemented changes.
• Resource efficiency: Drastically reduced paper through digital signing-on.
• Carbon offsetting: Launched local carbon-offset initiatives for race days.
• Supplier audits: Partnered exclusively with eco-certified vendors.

What happens next?
The work doesn’t stop here. This accreditation is a baseline for continuous improvement across all regions and marshals and officials have an important part to play.
Kevin will soon share ideas in our SE newsletter and on our socials for how all marshals, officials and race teams can help to leave the track as they found it or better. Please take on the challenge and do your bit to be sustainable going forward. This could be car sharing, camping over for big meetings or just taking your rubbish home. Every action, however small, contributes to a more sustainable future.
Leave No Trace is the first campaign of many for our Three-Year Green Roadmap Plan.

Thank you all in advance for your support in this new venture. We’re proving that the future of motorsports is bright, fast, and sustainable!

South Midlands 
The South Midlands Region is looking for assistance with the recruitment role, if this is something you’d like to get involved in contact Ian Whiting on sm.chair@marshals.co.uk.

April saw a very successful ‘Noggin and Natter’ with Stuart Pringle OBE, CEO of Silverstone Circuit. This was held at the White Horse Pub in Silverstone village and gave great insight into the running of the circuit.
Members of the regional also enjoyed a fascinating visit to Woolmer Classic Engineering. We saw some truly wonderful classic sports cars and discovered the amount of work required to maintain these vehicles at peak racing performance. 

Woolmer have kindly offered another tour later in the year, so if you missed out or would like to go again, let us know and we can let you know when this is arranged.

We’ve arranged a tour on Wednesday 22 July at RML Group Limited, Wellingborough, from 10am to 12pm. RML Group specialise in delivering Touring Car, GT, Sports Prototype and Rally programs in major motorsports series for global automotive brands. Details will be on our Facebook page, so please book your slot and enjoy a great visit.

Volunteers needed
Krazy races still need volunteers for events across the country, they’re brilliant events with fun for all the family.

1. Sheffield – 21 June 2026
2. Telford – 12 July 2026
3. Newbury – 26 July 2026
4. Stockport – 9 August 2026

if you can help please contact Nat.volunteering@marshals.co.uk.    

Rallying opportunities
The Spadeadam Motor Club is looking for marshals for their ‘Blue Streak Targa Rally’ on 28 June. A mix of precision driving on fast-paced and challenging tests located on car parks to countryside lanes. Contact Chief Marshal, David Garstang on 07824 352172 or email david.garstang@outlook.com for more information.

The Wallasey Motor Club is asking for Start, Finish and Stage marshals for their Rali Anglesey at Trac Mon on 21 June. A marshals’ draw will feature a first prize of £100, second prize £100, third prize £100, plus further prizes of £50 each. Visit their website to register as a volunteer on Rally Stage Team.

The JDS Machinery Ceredigion Rally needs a small army of marshals to assist in the safe and smooth running of this event on 4 to 6 September 2026. The marshal registration is now open with positions both on and off stages across the entire rally weekend. Please register on the Stagemode website. To secure your place, create an account and select the stages or positions you’re available for and the team will be in contact closer to the event. For further information, please contact the Chief Marshal, Wenna Roberts on marshals@raliceredigion.co.uk

Dates for the diary July and August

Saturday 4 July

Loughall Stages Rally
North Armagh Motor Club
📍 Northern Ireland

Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 July

JD Competition Tyres Bob Shaw Memorial Stages 2026
Pembrokeshire Motor Club
📍 Brawdy Airfield, Pembrokeshire

Interested in marshalling? Register via Rally Stage Team.

Sunday 5 July

Greystoke Stages Rally
West Cumbria Motorsport Club
📍 Penrith, Lake District

To volunteer, contact Joe Walker at greystokestagesmarshal@gmail.com

Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 July

Mach1 Stages
Dunfermline Car Club
📍 RAF Machrihanish, Campbeltown, Argyll & Bute

Saturday 11 July

Nicky Grist Stages
Quinton Motor Club
📍 Builth Wells, Mid Wales

Interested in marshalling? Register via Rally Stage Team.

Saturday 18 July

RSAC Scottish Rally
RSAC
📍 Dumfries & Galloway

BRMC member Jon Cordery is running the Dalbeattie stage. To volunteer, contact Jon at joncordery@hotmail.com

Sunday 19 July

Fairfield Merlin Stages
Carmarthen Motor Club
📍 Pembrey Racing Circuit

Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 July

Ynyscynon MOT Centre Tour of Epynt
Port Talbot Motor Club
📍 Epynt Ranges

Interested in marshalling? Register via Rally Stage Team.

Saturday 25 July

BADMC Summer Tarmac Rally
Ballynahinch & District Motor Club
📍 Northern Ireland

August

Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 August

Eco Rally Scotland
Scottish Motor Racing Club
📍 Dundee, Scotland

Sunday 2 August

Pendragon Stages
Kirby Lonsdale Motor Club
📍 Warcop Ranges, Cumbria

Sunday 2 August

Heroes Stages
Pendle District Motor Club
📍 Weeton Barracks, near Preston

Sunday 2 August

The Dennis Turner Memorial Stages
Worksop Motor Club
📍 Fulbeck Airfield, south-east of Newark

Friday 7 – Sunday 9 August

Ulster International Rally
Northern Ireland Motor Club
📍 Northern Ireland

Interested in marshalling? Register via the Ulster Rally marshals page.

Friday 7 & Saturday 8 August

Voyonic Grampian Forest Stages
Stonehaven & District Motor Club
📍 Banchory, Aberdeenshire
 

Sunday 9 August

Gareth Hall Memorial Stages
Bala & District Motor Club
📍 Trawsfynydd Ranges, near Blaenau Ffestiniog

Saturday 22 August

Down Rally
Rathfriland Motor Club
📍 Northern Ireland

Friday 28 & Saturday 29 August

MADMC Summer Targa Rally
Magherafelt & District Motor Club
📍 Northern Ireland

Sunday 30 August

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Epynt Motor Club
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BRMC member Jon Cordery has been asked to run a set of stages. Interested in marshalling? Register via Rally Stage Team page



If you’re in the South Mids and surrounding areas please keep September 12 and 13 free for one of the best motorsport events in the calendar. Kop Hillclimb will welcome over 400 cars and motorcycles to this historic venue, with many more on static show. The organising team would welcome more volunteers for this year’s event to join our great team on the hill and in the paddock.
We’ll be on the hill from Princes Risborough. The hill is located just 15 minutes from the M40 Junctions 4 or 6, off the A4010 mid-way between High Wycombe and Aylesbury. Volunteer with your grade and preferred duty using the BMMC Volunteer Website or drop an e-mail to Chris.hobson@kophilclimb.org.uk

Car Shows
The Bloomsbury Classic Car Show is looking for marshals for Sunday 19 July 2026 at Bedford Square, London (by The British Museum) from 7:30am to 5:00pm. A lunch will be provided to all marshals. If you’re interested, please contact Darren Sullivan at darren@waterlooclassics.com  

Chair’s Chat 
I hope all our circuit-based marshals are now enjoying the 2026 season. Like many animals coming out of hibernation it takes time to get back up to full speed with the brain fully engaged. Checking your kit before the first event is always entertaining especially if that pesky vapour that seems to inhabit so many wardrobes has had its shrinking effect on your overalls! Re-waterproofing the boots, checking the wet weather gear, ensuring hot and cold drinks flasks are clean and bug free, finding that hat that disappeared a few months ago together with the gloves and sundry other activities, all need completing before that first early morning alarm call wakes you ready for the journey to the meeting.
My season started at the beginning of March with a kart meeting at Forest Edge for which I was the MSUK steward.  As is typical for a kart meeting it was a non-stop day with quick fire practise and qualifying rounds before the finals. Unlike at circuit race meetings the competitors are not allowed to appeal the Clerk of the Course decisions except in the finals, which means that I have a much more relaxed day and can enjoy watching the racing. It is good to see more of our members marshalling at kart meetings, bringing their expertise to what can be an extremely active day. With many of the competitors eager to show that they could be the next Lewis Hamilton incidents are frequent and the number of reports to the clerk of the course far more than at a car race meeting.
One interesting aspect of karting is the introduction of light panels to a replace the flag signals used previously. An aspect of these boards and their operation that I really liked was the fact that the control panels are small pads that that communicate wirelessly with the panels and can be hung round the marshals’ neck, meaning that the marshal can move at the same time as operating the lights.
March saw the first National Council meeting of the Year via Zoom where all the regional chairs, national offices and coordinators meet to discuss all the matters required to manage the club. I think few of our members understand and appreciate just how much work goes on behind the scenes to manage this club. Our seven regions and BRMC all have their own hard-working committees managing all aspects of the local areas. The chairs of each of these committees are then tasked with ensuring that anything that affects the club nationally is discussed and agreed at Council. Working alongside these committees are the national coordinators looking after training membership, grading, regalia, volunteering, and the IT that is required to keep the club running. All of them give their time and effort freely and we should be grateful to them for the amount that this encroaches on their private lives.
If you have anything that you want clarified, or anything that you would like explained or raised at a national level then please talk to any of your regional committee members or our national officers so that we can work on your behalf. Summaries of the council meetings can be viewed in the members area of our website.
This month saw us hold the EGM required to accept the changes to the Articles of Association for the club. As explained in the email sent to all members before the EGM the rules have already been changed and agreed by the directors but the approval of the BMMC membership of the Articles was required before the advertising and subsequent appoint a new Chair and Vice Chair to the club. This is essential for the future of our club and I am glad to report that a Quorum was achieved for the EGM and you voted to support the proposed changes. We will run the national election for these posts and will be communicating with you all. I hope you will all review the volunteers whose names come forward and cast your vote for the person you feel most fits the requirements.
Easter saw the real start of the season for most disciplines of the sport and I am sure many of you will be enjoying your involvement in whatever aspect of marshalling you volunteer.  The May Bank Holiday weekend sees a plethora of events around the country – I will be at Brands Hatch for the GT World Challenge event as national races MSUK Steward.  Hopefully it will be a quieter weekend than last, where I was at Whilton Mill for a round of their championship – 327 entries and I ran some 150 judicials over the two days!
One of the main reasons I have been a member of the club for so many years is the way in which marshalling brings such a diverse set of people together in a common hobby. I hope that this season you will have fun, entertainment and enjoyment with your fellow marshals. Stay safe, work together as a team and please remember that all your regional and national offices are here to help and serve you.
Secretary’s Noggin
Just back from 2 extremely long but highly exciting days at the 83^rd Goodwood Members Meeting, the weather was glorious. Thank you to everyone on Post 12, St Mary’s for a great weekend and to the drivers who decided to visit our Post over the 2 days. 3 Bugattis, Alfa Romeo, AC Cobra, Allard and a Suzuki. Saturday was an extremely busy day with non-stop action, so much so, I did not take on board sufficient fluids and food that midway through the afternoon became more than a little dizzy, seeing black spots and not cars. 25 minutes downtime, taking on fluids and eating and I was back in action again. Dehydration does creep up on you and by the time you realise, it is too late. So please, especially when it is hot and sunny look after yourself and your partner. My thanks to Pam and Steve Green, Timothy Kempster, Simon Chalk, John Gunner, Keith Wright, Peter Broclebank and Paul Kingston for all your help concern and then banter. 
The answer to the April Trivia Question, what is the name of the circuit shown below and when did it close?

The circuit was Boreham in Essex. Boreham was developed as a USAF airfield in 1943, but had a very short operational life as it was closed in 1945. Motor Racing arrived in 1949 with a driving test stage of the Chelmsford Rally. Motorcycle racing commenced in 1950, with the 1^st car meeting held in April 1951 followed by another 3 that year. The circuit was very active in 1952 with Mike Hawthorn, Stirling Moss, Reg Parnell, Tony Rolt and someone called Bernie Ecclestone racing there.  The last meeting was held at Boreham on 20^th February 1953 with the circuit closing due to huge financial losses by the organising club, The West Essex Car Club. The site was acquired by the Ford Motor Company in 1955 with Ford Motorsport moving there in 1963.  The circuit was ripped up for the sale of the aggregate. However, in early 1997 the sound of a Formula 1 Engine once again rang out across the Essex countryside when Ruben Barrichello gave the new Stewart Grand Prix car its initial shakedown. 
In it short racing career the Boreham Circuit became known as “Britains Fastest Circuit” 
This month’s teaser, name this circuit? 

EGM 
Many thanks to the BMMC members who attended via ZOOM or submitted Proxy voting forms for the EGM held on Tuesday 21^st April 2026 to vote on the acceptance to changes to the BMMC Articles of Association. The main change was for the election of a Vice Chair work to alongside the Chair.  The vote was of the members was 92% favour of acceptance with 2 members abstaining. The acceptance of the changes to the Articles of Association now allows for the opening of applications from interested parties for the positions of BMMC Chair and Vice Chair.  
Job descriptions and how to apply shall be issued under a separate communication to all BMMC members 
Training 
Volunteer Opportunity – BRMC Training Coordinator – Help Shape the Future of Motorsport Marshals
Recogonised as one of the leading rally marshal training providers, the BRMC is seeking an enthusiastic Training Coordinator to support the delivery of our highly regarded training programme. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference within the club by coordinating training activities and giving motorsport marshals access to development opportunities.
What You’ll Be Doing

1. Organising and promoting training opportunities for marshals
2. Liaising with trainers and instructors
3.  Identifying future training needs and development opportunities
4. Helping marshals build confidence, skills and experience

 If you have strong organisational and communication skills, previous training experience and an enthusiasm for learning and development, please get in touch.
Why Volunteer With BRMC?

1. Join a respected organisation with an excellent reputation
2. Help maintain and grow a leading training programme
3. Gain valuable coordination and leadership experience
4. Support the development of motorsport marshals

 If you’d like to use your skills to support one of the best marshal training organisations in motorsport, please contact Tracey Smith, British Rally Marshals Club Secretary on secretary@brmc.org.uk by the 31^st May 2026 
National Volunteer
Krazy races are back with some new venues in 2026, anyone wishing to volunteer please contact Nat.volunteering@marshals.co.uk.  More info here https://www.krazyraces.co.uk/
Dates are 

1. Crewe – 24 May 2026
2. Sheffield – 21 June 2026
3. Telford – 12 July 2026
4. Newbury – 26 July 2026
5. Stockport – 9 August 2026

Draw Winners

Membership The current BMMC membership stands at 2915 as of 29.04.2026. This means there has been 590 non-renewals of membership for 2026. BMMC Membership is from 1^st January to the 31^st March each year with no renewals deactivated from the membership database on the 31^st March.    

New Members 
A very warm welcome to the following new marshals. I hope you have a long and enjoyable marshalling experience and remember everyone is willing to help you along the way.

Marshal Upgrades
The following Marshal upgrades the month of April 2026 are: – 

Regional Reports
North West 
The season in the NW region has now begun. Our first meeting, the BRSCC NW Season Opener had a whopping 216 volunteer marshals and officials and welcomed 18 new marshals for their first day on the bank. On April 18th Dave Fitzsimon and Nadine Lewis ran the first of our six taster days for this season. With another to follow in early May we’re hoping lots of people will catch the marshalling bug this year.
 We have some great racing to look forward to in the next few weeks including Touring Car Rewind: North and the British GT & GB4 Championships. A number of NW marshals will also be volunteering at a new event called ShedFest. Shedfest has been running since 2023 and is heading to Bolesworth Castle in Cheshire, for its first trip to the North. The event on 2nd May promises a celebration of project cars, classic cars, retro icons and race cars, the show will also include a sprint course for the first time, so we’re looking forward to supporting this new event in our region.
South East 
It was a sunny Sunday morning (you can tell the shorts and sunnies are on!!!) that as SE Chair, I ventured to Brands Hatch to present our final trophy the Hastings 1066 trainee trophy to our deserving marshal Matilda Moody. A small gathering of marshals and taster day people were on hand to witness Matilda receive her trophy.
Of all the nominees for this year Matilda has demonstrated a keen eye for working in the pit lane and is often praised by her colleagues for the work she does. 
On behalf of the committee and marshals well done to all our deserving winners this year.

The South East Region (BMMC SE) is launching a new volunteer engagement initiative in response to the rapid growth in female interest and viewership across motorsport.On Sunday 7 June 2026, BMMC SE will deliver a Celebration of Female Volunteers event, featuring an all‑female Marshal Taster Day, at Brands Hatch alongside the high‑profile American SpeedFest weekend.The rapidly evolving motorsport fanbaseFemale motorsport audiences have increased significantly in recent seasons, with more women attending events, following championships, and engaging with the sport socially and digitally. Latest figures indicate that 42% of F1 viewership is female, compare that to our club demographic and there is a clear disparity currently.The South East Region sees this as a timely opportunity to ensure the volunteer community better reflects the modern motorsport audience.The initiative focuses on converting interest into involvement, targeting women who already enjoy motorsport and offering a welcoming and supportive first step into volunteering.Taster DayThe Marshal Taster Day is all‑female by design, providing a supportive and confidence‑building environment for women considering volunteering for the first time.Running alongside American SpeedFest allows participants to experience the atmosphere of a major race weekend while discovering how they can become part of the sport. As part of the day, there will also be an information hub and recruitment stand, manned by marshals and representatives from a range of motorsport organisations. This space is designed to stimulate conversation, answer questions, and provide insight into both volunteering pathways and wider motorsport career opportunities, helping attendees explore where their interest in motorsport could lead.The event will emphasise:

• Visibility of female role models within volunteering and motorsport
• Clear entry and progression routes
• How involvement can fit alongside work, study, and family life
• The community, networking, and social benefits of getting involved

• C1 24 Hour Race – 15th, 16th & 17th May
• Ferrari Challenge – 23rd & 24th May
• BARC – 3rd & 4th October
• Equipe – 3rd October
• BRSCC / HSCC – 10th & 11th October

1. The Association of Eastern Motor Clubs (AEMC) have organised a number of local events and need marshals:

1. The JDS Machinery Ceredigion Rally needs a small army of marshals to assist in the safe and smooth running of this event on 4^th to 6^th September 2026. The marshal registration is now open with positions both on and off stages across the entire rally weekend. To register go to https://app.stagemode.io/stagemodeapp.eb?ebd=0&ebz=1_177729436786

Secretary’s Noggin
All BMMC members should now have received an invitation to attend an EGM on Tuesday 21^st April 2026 at 19.00. This meeting has been arranged for members to ratify the proposed changes to the BMMC Articles of Association covering the introduction of a Vice Chair to assist the Chair. Please, review the documents sent and either attend in person, via ZOOM or nominate a Proxy on your behalf. It is important that as many members attend to enable the Club to move forward and provide the members with a strong Council. 

On Tuesday 16^th March 1926, Sir Henry O’Neal de Hane Segrave driving a Sunbeam Tiger broke the world land speed record driving at 152 mph on Ainsdale Beach, Southport.  The Tiger was the last conventional circuit racing car rather than a vehicle specifically designed and built to become the fastest in the world.  Fast forward to Monday 16th March 2026 and the same Sunbeam Tiger ran again on Ainsdale Beach in celebration. Not at 152mph but a more sedate 50mph driven by its owner, Vijay Mallaya and Wing Commander Andy Green OBE (world land speed record holder at 763.035mph.

Congratulations to the Aintree Circuit Club for organising such a special event and to Cataclean for sponsors. A small number of NW region Marshals (including myself) along with volunteers from the Aintree Circuit Club attended and enjoyed a great morning of watching classic cars once again running on such a famous stretch of beach. 

My 1^st circuit event of the 2026 season was at Donington Park for the BARC event. However, the 1^st day’sracing was not the best. The opening Britcar 1.5 race had 3 safety car periods, the 1^st at the end of the 1^st lap, less than 2 minutes racing followed by 20 minutes under the safety car. The following races also had safety car periods. The last race of the day was the Junior Saloons and they showed the way to all the other competitors with a clean race. One race was postponed to the Sunday. 

This weekend the CSCC are at Donington Park with over 400 entries. Looking forward to some good, clean and close racing. 

The answer to the March Trivia Question, what is the name of the circuit shown below and when did it close.

Well done to anyone that knew it is the Crystal Palace Circuit. Opened in 1927, with the 1^st race being for motorcycles on 21^st May 1927. The circuit was 1.6 miles long and ran along existing paths, the corners were tarmac whilst the straights were hard packed gravel. The circuit was extended in 1936 and on 17^th July 1937, the inaugural London Grand Prix was held, won by Prince Bira in the famous ERA R2B “Romulus” Later in 1937, The International Imperial Trophy was held and was won by Prince Bira, it was also the 1^st televised motor race from the BBC. 

The circuit reopened again in 1953 after being commandeered by The Ministry of Defence during the Second World War. The circuit was now 1.390 miles long but complaints for local residents reduced racing to just 5 days per year. In 1970, Jochen Rindt (that year’s World F1 Champion) set the 1^st 100 mph lap, also racing was increased to 14 days per year. 

The last International Meeting was held in May 1972, with Mike Hailwood setting the final lap record of 103.39 mph.  The final meeting was held on the 23^rd September 1972, but club events continued until 1974, when the circuit finally closed. 

April’s Trivia Question, which no longer circuit is this?

Answer in May’s Newsletter

National Volunteer
Volunteering system
We have identified an area of the volunteering database which may not be clear – particularly to new members.

When volunteering for an event you should always select a role – where this is an option. There was a button entitled “Registered marshal” which has now been renamed as “Other non MSUK pathway role.”  Intentionally this was for use for anyone volunteering for a role which is not listed.  Hence the renaming for clarity.If you have used this button incorrectly – please unregister for the event and re register using the correct duty roles available.

Apologies for any confusion and inconvenience.

Regalia
Draw Winners 

On Line Shop

Training
As the training season for some disciplines draws to a close, thank you, all BMMC members, both old and new, who attended training events, giving up your free time to best prepare yourself for the 2026 season.  Also a big thank you to all the trainers who put together the theory and practical sessions that made up the days and of course the Regional Training Coordinators whose months of effort in pulling everything together to ensure the days went well is especially appreciated by us all -thanks to all involved.
I will soon be starting the ‘number crunching’ based on the evaluation forms you completed and in the next newsletter I will provide the breakdown of the numbers trained, the highlights from the events, and areas that can be addressed in future training days etc.
The Regions below still have some training day planned, so if you are still wanting more, please contact the Regional Training Officers:
NI Region
Marshal training has been arranged in association with the MMPfor Sunday 12^th April 2026 at the Training Services, Nutt Corner.  Topics to be covered include Race, Electric and fuel, Auto Test and Training. 
Sign on is between 09.00 and 09.30 and lunch shall be provided.
Please contact either Rory O’Neill or Colin Robinson if you intend to attend, so lunches can be ordered.  
Contact emails are Rory O’Neill ni.sec@marshals.co.uk , Colin Robinson ni.chair@marshals.co.uk
SE Region                     Marshals Training – July 
Contact Anna  se.training@marshals.co.uk
Midland Region            
There will be a number of additional 1 day training events throughout 2026 – dates TBD
Contact Steve: m.training@marshals.co.uk
BRMC                           
The BRMC have released their evening webinar training programme which can be found on both their Facebook page and their website at https://brmc.org.uk/training  There will also be various practical training days delivered throughout the year, although dates and locations are still to be advised. 
Contact chair@brmc.org.uk
Please contact the organisers directly to register an interest in attending any of these events. 
As always, please feel free to contact me should you need to – nat.training@marshals.co.uk
Membership 
The current BMMC membership stands at 3347 as of 21.03.2026. However, to date the Club has lost 83 members who have not renewed their membership and an additional 17 resignations due to ill health or have unfortunately and sadly passed.
New Members 
A very warm welcome to the following new marshals. I hope you have a long and enjoyable marshalling experience and remember everyone is willing to help you along the way.

Marshal Upgrades
The following Marshal upgrades the month of March 2026 are: – 

Regional Reports
Midlands 
Caterham Academy test day May 8th, May 9^th Marshals Club Sprint with Caterham Academy, Curborough Championship and Caterham/Lotus 7 Club
Marshals required. Contact Steve Hill- 07710 131130 or steve@kelvicbec.co.uk
August 30^th joint event organised by BMMC which is Curborough Champion and Caterham/Lotus 7 Club Championship.
Same contact details as above.

North East 
One of the BMMC Northeast marshals has an aim to be on the grid in 2027. Ray Hunter is disabled and loves motorsport. He started marshaling to get closer to the action and now wants to take that next step to be behind the wheel, Ray is seeking help and support and would love for anyone to be part of his journey. 
‘Hello, my name is Raymond Hunter and I suffer from Charcot-Marie-Tooth (formally known as CMT UK) a progressive neurological disorder that damages peripheral nerves, causing muscle weakness, atrophy (mainly in feet/legs), and sensory loss.
I am preparing to compete as a novice disabled racing driver in the 2027 Mighty Minis Racing Championship, with the 750 Motor Club.’
If you would like to know more on how you can help Ray, please contact him via email, raymond.hunter7@talktalk.com
New secretary. 
In the recent few weeks the Northeast has appointed a new secretary. We would like to welcome Jim Little on board and we are looking forward to having Jim on the committee! 

Northern Island 
BMMC NI Region, in partnership with the Motorsport Marshalling Partnership shall be holding its annual training day on Sunday 12th April at 09.00hrs at Transport Training Services, Nutts Corner, Antrim.  Contact Colin Robinson, Northern Island Chair for details, ni.chair@marshals.co.uk
The Region shall also be making 2 trophy presentations on our first race meeting on 28th March. 
Appointment of Deputy Race Director for F1
Northern Ireland Region is delighted this week with the announcement that member, Paul Burns, has been appointed by the FIA as deputy Race Director for F1. Paul has been a member for many years and was a regular on the bank until a leg injury forced him to look at other roles. He began timekeeping at various circuits, before working for FOM and WTCC in timekeeping roles. He then moved back to F1 where he ratified the results. He then became deputy race director in F2 before his new appointment last week.  And he still has time to make the odd appearance on the bank at Kirkistown, a role he assures me that he will continue when his diary allows.  Well done Paul”. 

North West 
It’s been a busy few weeks in the NW region events wise. Marshals across the region attended the Race Retro event and Maria Goode organised a marshals go-karting trip at the TeamSport venue in Warrington. Everyone involved lots of fun.
The Region celebrated International Women’s Day, profiling a number of NW Region female marshals who contribute so much to motorsport across the region. You can see those profiles on the BMMC NW Instagram feed. Our support for the day didn’t end there, as we supported an International Women’s Day Autosolo event in Blackburn which was organised by an all-female organising team.
Our marshals were also out in force for Oulton Park’s first meeting of the year, the 2026 Tour of Cheshire. This is an Historic Road Rally for classic cars that also takes place on public roads and focuses on timekeeping, navigation and precision driving. 

South East 
CKL Developments visit:
In Late February, The SE Region had their first visit to CKL Developments, an Alladin’s cave of Historical cars wherever you looked, from the race cars that are seen at Historical Race Meetings to those that attend concourse events. The owner of CKL, ably supported by one of his staff, showed us around, both with incredible knowledge and passion for what they do. With a post visit lunch & social nearby to round off the visit.
Classic Team Lotus Visit:
This was the SE Regions annual pilgrimage to CTL, where as always, an enjoyable visit exploring the workshop and upstairs in the gallery of cars covering the era of Lotus Racing. Guided by a very knowledgeable & amusing member of staff, followed by post visit lunch & social nearby to round of the visit.

 On Thursday 26^th March, the SE Marshals spent the morning at Team Brit along with Team Principle Mike, supported by Al on the technical side and driver Mike (sat in the GT3). Always something to learn at these visits including the discomfort that Mike experiences in his amputee leg if involved in an incident, the insulation of leg restraints and hand controls. Time was spent with the race simulator and Blaze reactions. Another visit is planned for later in the year. 

South Midlands 
Evening social arranged for 1st April at 19.00 at White Hart Silverstone, a ‘Noggin and Natter’ with Stuart Pringle OB, the CEO of Silverstone Circuit. This is open to all marshals and guest. Come along for a fascinating evening and an insight into the Silverstone circuit and its future developments and plans, karting, F1 and WEC.

Upcoming Events 

Rally

WRC Returns to UK – Rally Scotland 
Hugh Chambers announced on Monday 16^th March, that Motorsport UK had secured an agreement with World Rally Championship Promoter GmbH to bring the FIA World Rally Championship back to the UK, with a new event titled Rally Scotland, beginning in 2027.
Following funding agreements with the Scottish Government, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council, Rally Scotland is confirmed for an initial three-year run from 2027 to 2029.
The return of the championship is a landmark moment for UK motorsport. As a cornerstone of the World Rally Championship since 1973, Britain’s place on the calendar is restored—reconnecting the series with one of its most passionate and knowledgeable fanbases.
Based in Aberdeen, Rally HQ and the Service Park will be located at P&J Live. The event will blend world-class forest gravel stages with dynamic urban spectator sections, bringing the action closer to fans than ever before.
More than a sporting spectacle, Rally Scotland is designed as a platform for progress—demonstrating how motorsport can contribute to wider societal and environmental goals. This includes:

• Advancing sustainable fuel and low-carbon technologies, with WRC cars already running on 100% fossil-free fuel
• Inspiring communities through STEM and future mobility initiatives
• Supporting volunteer development across the motorsport community
• Expanding diversity and inclusion within the sport
• Delivering tangible economic and tourism benefits to the region

Motorsport UK will work in close partnership with the WRC Promoter, government and local stakeholders, and the rally community to deliver an event of the highest standard.
Further updates will be shared as plans develop. Visit www.rallyscotland.org to sign up and follow @RallyScotland for the latest news.

Volunteers Wanted 
Race

1. Marshals are required at RAF Portreath Sprint run by the Truro and District Motor Club on Saturday 11^th and Sunday 12^thApril 2026. 

This is the 1^st event of the season and there has been a fantastic response from competitors, if you are local and would like to attend, please contact Paul Plummer on WhatsApp 07707456853.
There will be toilet facilities at all posts and a hot lunchtime meal along with plenty of snacks will be provided.

Rally

1. The Alan Healy Memorial Rally organised by the Borders Motor Club on Sunday 26^th April 2026 at Cadwell Park still need additional stage marshals. A goodie bag as well as breakfast vouchers will be available at sign on. 

Interested then please register at bordermotorclub.co.uk/ahmr/marshals or email to chiefmarshal@bordermotroclub.co.uk.

Chair’s Chat 
January and February bring with them the main events in the 2026 training season. Our club along with BARC, Castle Combe, Brands Hatch and many other organisations are providing training sessions to cover the marshals’ pathway modules. I hope everyone is taking advantage of these sessions to ensure their skills are up to date and that they are ready for the new season on the hills, rally and the circuits. It doesn’t matter for which disciplines you volunteer, it is essential you attend the training to ensure you enjoy a safe, effective role.  Meanwhile the rally clubs continue to run their events along with their training sessions through all weathers and all seasons. Again, I hope that you are supporting them as much as possible.

We are also in the middle of our renewal period.  As of the end of December, we had a record 3307 registered members. As is usual we would encourage everyone to ensure they have renewed their membership before the start of the season, not only with BMMC but also with MSUK. It is essential that you renew your MSUK registration in order to take advantage of their insurance cover whilst at events. No MSUK registration means no MSUK insurance cover.  Also, if you get your renewal in before the closing date of the end of March you will be entered for the fantastic prize of a day at Jonathan Palmer’s Bedford driving facility kindly donated by MSVR.

Over the past few weeks, we have been busy reviewing the Articles of Association and the club rules. We ran an EGM for all members to approve the changes to the Articles but unfortunately there were insufficient attendees to form a quorum. This meant that we could not carry out a vote on the changes. We did however discuss the proposed changes to the Articles with all on the ZOOM call and took on board the comments that were made. As a result, a small working group has been tasked with ensuring that in the Articles, Rules, all clauses, sub-clauses etc. are correctly numbered and that the Rules and Articles are not in conflict.  This working group will be reporting back to the Directors within the next couple of weeks and then the required two directors’ meetings to approve any corrections that they have made shall be held. 

Once the Directors have signified their approval, we will again email all members to advise the date of an EGM to approve the articles. With the notice we will be including a proxy form so that those members who cannot attend the EGM zoom meeting can appoint a proxy to register their vote. This will, we hope, ensure that we have a quorum so that the amendments can be approved.

At the same time, we will be sending out notice of the election for a new National Chair. As per the club rules all members are invited to volunteer for this position if they consider they have the necessary expertise and experience. We will be including an overview of the duties etc. together with the process details and timetable.

A postal election will be held for the position if more than one candidate comes forward.  As soon as the new Chair has been elected, I will stand down and take up a non-exec, pro-tem, Vice Chair role to support the new Chair (this will be a coordinator appointment by the Directors and does not carry voting rights at Council).  When the EGM to approve the Articles, noted above, has taken place we will go out to elect a Vice Chair as per the amended rules and articles.  As soon as the Vice Chair is elected, I will revert to my Vice-President role.

This is an important point in our Club’s history. Implementing the role of a Vice Chair is essential to ensure the future of the club. The Chair and Vice Chair are the face of the Club to the outside world, essential links with Motorsport UK and the organising clubs. Having occupied the chair’s position for some 13 years, I look forward to handing the reins over to a younger, active member of the Cub, hopefully someone with the gravitas and acceptability not only to our members but to all the individuals and organisations with which we interact.

On a separate subject, I am pleased to say that I had a very useful meeting with senior members of MSUK this month at which we covered many topics that had been raised by our members. These included discussions on the operation of light panels and flags, communications between the organisations, insurance cover for our members, recruitment, training presentations and other aspects that affect our members.  These will all be further discussed now at the next national council meeting.

As I look forward to my first events of the year, I hope I will meet as many members as possible out there enjoying our chosen hobby. If you see my name down as MSUK Steward at any event at which you are officiating please come along and say hello and let me know what your feelings are about the way the club is run or indeed any aspects of motorsport that the club might be able to help with.
In the words of a famous American tv series “Stay safe out there”.  Enjoy!

Secretary’s Noggin
Nearly time to get the probans out and to check whether they have shrunk over the winter break, maybe time for a new pair? Has your marshal box seen better days? Fix that wobbly wheel, repair that annoying leaking lid and apply new 2026 stickers. Check your waterproofs, gloves, hats, flags and poles. New batteries for your stopwatches and timers. Charge up your scanner. All you need now is a race meeting! 
The new volunteering system is now fully operational; there were a few teething bugs but all seems well now. Thanks to all the Volcos for inputting events, you will see that there are Karting, Hillclimb and Sprint events listed along with circuit. Well done to all involved.

Many of you will recognise the above bridge, you pass over it when going to marshal at one of the most beautiful of circuits on the Isle of Anglesey, Trac Mon. It is the Menai Suspension Bridge and on 30^th January 2026, it shall be 200 years old. Spanning the tidal waters of the Menai Strait between mainland Wales and Anglesey, the bridge stands today not only as a vital transport link, but as a monument to imagination, courage and engineering innovation.

Designed by Thomas Telford, with construction commencing in 1819, it took 7 years to complete the suspension bridge with a central span of over 170 metres, high enough to allow tall-masted ships to pass beneath. Before the bridge, crossing the Menai Strait was a dangerous, ferries had to battle powerful currents and shifting tides and delays were com. mon. Livestock being driven to market had to swim across and many were drowned. 

The bridge was extensively rebuilt during the Second World War, new cables and steelwork were installed, the inner cables (shown below) were removed to allow the roadway to be widened to enable army convoys to pass over and remain there today. The Bridge is Grade 1 listed and is due of a repaint commencing in 2026. 

So the next time you are passing over the bridge on your way to and from Trac Mon, tip your hat to Thomas Telford for without him you would be on a ferry or even worse swimming across the Menai Straits. 

For those Marshals wanting to marshal abroad in 2026, you will need to apply for a letter of confirmation of your marshalling grade from Motorsport UK. Go to the Motorsport UK website and click on Volunteers Marshals and scroll down until you see Marshalling Abroad and Click on Request to Marshal Abroad 2026. You shall also require your EMR Insurance Cover from the National Treasurer to cover you for the dates you are marshalling.

BMMC Committee Vacancies 
Do you have Xero experience?
As you will have seen from previous newsletters, the club’s present bookkeeper,Colin Barnes, will be standing down from this position in the near future.
This means that the Club will need a volunteer to take on this vital role for the smooth running of the club.
If you have experience of the accounting software, Xero, and are interested in taking on the role of club bookkeeper then please get in touch with me for more details. Email nat.treasurer@marshals.co.uk

The Club is also looking for a Brand and Communications Coordinator as well. Dave Smithson is standing down a the end of March 2026 and the Club need a replacement. The role of a Brand and Communications Coordinator for the British Marshals Motorsport Club (BMMC) is vital for managing the club’s public image and ensuring consistent and effective communication across various platforms. This role requires a blend of strategic thinking, media relations, content creation, and brand management, with a strong foundation in communications and public relations. If you feel you have the right qualifications and would like further information please contact either The National Secretary, Ian Ashcroft on nat.secretary@marshals/co.uk or David Smithson on comms@marshals.co.uk

Draw Winners 

Training
The majority of BMMC Regions, and the BRMC, are running training events throughout the winter / early spring of 2026. Locations and dates as currently known are as follows:
North West Region       Marshals Training – 7^th & 8^th February 
Contact Sean  nw.training@marshals.co.uk
Midland Region            Marshals Training now completed
There will be an additional 1-day training event throughout 2026 – date TBD
Contact Steve mids.training@marshals.co.uk
South Midlands Region Marshals Training – 8^th February
                                    Kart Marshals Training – 28th February
Contact Nina  sm.training@marshals.co.uk
SE Region                     Marshals Training – July 
Contact Anna  se.training@marshals.co.uk
SW Region                    Marshals Training – 22^nd February 
Contact Duncan  sw.training@marshals.co.uk
NE Region                    Marshals training at Croft alongside BARC, 14^th and 15^th February
Contact Michael  ne.secretary@marshals.co.uk
BRMC Various Training days throughout the year including both online and Face to Face events.
Contact training.admin@brmc.org.uk
Please contact the organisers directly to register an interest in attending any of these events.  Please note that many of the training events include the delivery of Motorsport UK’s generic modules, so if the Region is right but not necessarily the discipline you can still attend but do speak to the event organisers first.
As always, please feel free to contact me should you need to – nat.training@marshals.co.uk
The SAMSC (Scottish Association of Motor Sports Clubs) has announced its marshal training programme for 2026, mainly the training shall be on line via ZOOM but also some in person practical training has been included. 

Training dates for June onwards shall be in the March Newsletter.
If you would like to attend any of the above go to the SAMSC website and go to 2026 Training programme for more details and how to apply.

Membership 
The membership currently stands at 3316 as of 24.01.2026.

New Members 
A very warm welcome to the following new marshals. I hope you have a long and enjoyable marshalling experience and remember everyone is willing to help you along the way. 

Marshal Upgrades
Congratulations and well done to the following marshals who have successfully upgraded:

Upcoming Events 
Rally

Volunteers Wanted 
Rally

1. If you are on the Isle of Wight or close by on the mainland. The Weaver Brothers Ltd Island Stages are looking for marshals for the event on Sunday 15^th February 202. Contact The Chief Marshal, Rob Highmore for details, email marshals@iowcc.co.uk
2. The Manx National Rally is scheduled for the 8^th and 9^th May 2026. The Manx Auto Sport are looking for the following volunteers: Marshals, Radio Operators, Time Keepers and Service Area. 

For none Island Volunteers, The Manx Auto Sport are offering support for each volunteer towards travel and accommodation costs. They are also offering camping and motorhome parking.
For all travel and accommodation deals, please contact their travel partner Isle of Man Event Services on 01624 664460 or email 
To register email  or telephone Alison on 07624 205705 or via Facebook and Website manxautosport.org

1. Jon Cordrey has been asked to run the Sarnau Stage SS1 and SS5 (Cwmysgawen) on this years Severn Vally Stages on Saturday 11^th April 2026. If you can help Jon then please volunteer via Rally Stage Team https://www.rallystageteam.co.uk/
2. Jon has also been asked to run the Dyfnant North Stage SS2 and SS5 at this year’s Trailhead Get Jerky Rally North Wales on Saturday 28^th March 2026, again please volunteer at https://www.rallystageteam.co.uk/

And finally……

Press Release Malcolm Wilson Rally 2026
It is with great sadness that we have to release the following Statement.
The North Lakes forests became unavailable due to the cost of regrading and although we tired tirelessly to work out a plan with Forest England without those forests there was simply no answer to the logistical issues.
Therefore, this year, the 49^th Malcolm Wilson Rally will not run.
Apologies to all those who wished to enter and also those support teams we rely on. 
We will continue to talk to Forest England and hope that the issues can be resolved for the future.
Press Officer – Richard Forster

Chair’s Chat 
As we enter 2026 the club needs your support!

As many will be aware the Club has had difficulties at the start of 2025 trying to find a suitable volunteer to take on the role of National Chair.  I was asked to resume the role on a strictly “pro-tem” basis until a replacement could be found. In order to make this more probable National Council has agreed that the role of Vice-Chair is to be introduced, to take on some of the responsibilities and review the Club’s practices to help overcome these sorts of situations.  In order for this to happen, the Club’s rules and Articles of Association need to be amended.  

The Directors of the club have the power to change the rules, and, after discussions at two Directors’ meetings the changes we agreed and are now published on the web site.  BUT.  The articles of Association also need corresponding changes and these need to be ratified by you, the members.  The Directors have agreed these changes and they are now on the website for you to review and, hopefully, to agree.  Without the agreement pf the members, the Club cannot move forward with the search for a new Chairman, so please read the marked-up version on the website and let us have your views.  

The changes will be put to the vote at an EGM held via Zoom on January 18^th – It is hoped the Club can rely upon your support.

Assuming the changes are ratified, the election process for the new Chair and Vice-chair can commence.  In parallel, volunteers are required to take on other National Roles.  IT Co-ordinator, Media and Publicity Co-ordinator and Bookkeeper are three key roles in the running of the club. Job specifications are on the website – please have a look and, if you think you can help, please contact either Ian Ashcroft, the club secretary, or me, Chris Hobson, so we can answer any questions you may have.

On a personal note, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time back in the chair and the interactions with the other clubs and MSUK.  The club continues to grow and thrive, our members are present at virtually all disciplines of motorsport, at all levels.  It doesn’t matter the type of motorsport, the organisers or the venue, I always enjoy seeing our BMMC logo’d orange overalls wherever I go, and am extremely proud of the way you go about your duties – as credits to the club.

I hope everyone has a great New Year and a very enjoyable, safe and varied year of motorsport in 2026.

Secretary’s Noggin
Hope everyone had a joyous Christmas, not too many mince pies and a (relatively) sober New Year. Time now to look forward to the upcoming race season. For those marshals wanting or thinking of upgrading in 2026, please watch the BMMC website and social media for training day dates in your Region. Also, remember you will also need to attend a training day to maintain your grade once every 2 years. Spaces will be limited at training days, so please apply early and only apply if you need too. 

A big thank you to all of the Club members how spared their time to attend the annual AGM on the 7^th December, either via TEAMS or in person. The main meeting was relatively short but the discussions during AOB were informative with good interaction with the members. Date for your diaries in 2026 is the AGM on Sunday 6^th December 2026 again at Motorsport UK at Bicester.

The revised BMMC Volunteering shall be going live in early January following the recent update and final testing by National and Regional Volunteering Coordinators and event organisers finalising and confirming dates.

For those of you who attend Le Mans each June, the famous Dunlop Bridge will not be seen again. The Dunlop brand has been sold by Goodyear to the Japanese Company Sumitomo. From 2026 onwards the bridge shall be rebranded as the Goodyear Bridge (and presumably the Dunlop Chicane shall become the Goodyear Chicane. The “Dunlop Bridge” first appeared in 1923 and was situated at the end of the pit straight. It was moved to its current position as part of major rebuild following the 1955 terrible accident. Over the years the bridge has become progressively wider as the track has expanded and the surrounding gravel traps needed to be accommodated.



Treasurer’s Report
As 2025 draws to an end I am pleased to say that the club’s finances remain in a healthy state thanks in part to the generosity of sponsors and donations from various organisations.
At a recent Council meeting it was agreed that the membership renewal fee will remain at £20 for 2026. Thank you to all those members who renew by Direct Debit and if you wish to wish to do so for 2026 and beyond, please get in touch.
Membership renewal is a hectic time for Mike Mulder and Colin Barnes so please bear with them if you have any questions about your membership.
As mentioned previously, Colin, the club’s bookkeeper has decided that it is time for him to stand down and so the search continues for someone to step into his bookkeeping shoes. The club’s finances would be in a poorer state without the attention to detail and the diplomatic skills demonstrated by Colin. My heartfelt thanks to him for his patience in helping me through various issues and procedures in my 1^st year of office. If you feel that the role of bookkeeper is one that would fit your skill set then please get in touch with me.
May I wish everyone a peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year. If the New Year does prove to be prosperous for you then the club is always open to donations!

Draw Winners 

 
Training
The following Marshal Training Days have been confirmed.

1. Saturday 17^th January 2026 – Thruxton – Novice/ Registered Marshals (less than 5 days attended).
2. Sunday 18^th January 2026 – Thruxton – Speed Training (All Grades)
3. Sunday 1^st February 2026 – Pembrey – All Grades
4. Saturday 7^th February 2026 – Lydden Hill – Novice/ Registered Marshals.
5. Saturday 7^th February 2026 – Oulton Park – Grades to be advised.
6. Sunday 8^th February 2026 – Lydden Hill – Grade 1,2 and 3 Marshals. 
7. Sunday 8^th February 2026 – Oulton Park – Grades to be advised. 
8. Saturday 14^th February 2026 – Croft – Novice/ Registered and Grade 1 Marshals
9. Sunday 15^th February 2026 – Croft – Grade 2 and 3 Marshals and Off Track (All Grades).
10. Saturday 21^st February 2026 – Thruxton – Registered (more than 5 days) and Grade 1 Marshals.
11. Sunday 22^nd February 2026 – Thruxton – Grade 2 and 3 Marshals and Off Track (All Grades).
12. Sunday 22^nd February 2026 – Castle Combe – All Grades inc Fire Theory and Practical. Schedule to be confirmed.
13. Sunday 8^th March 2026 – Harewood – Speed Training (All Grades)

Marshals’ Trackdays 
Once again MSVT shall be providing a limited number of free trackday spaces for marshals on nominated days and circuits January 2026.
 These ‘own car’ free trackday spaces are available for booking now. If marshals have any questions please email trackdays@msv.com
 Dates and venues are as below: 

1. Brands Hatch on Monday 19^th January 2026
2. Donington Park on Monday 19^th January 2026
3. Bedford Autodrome on Saturday 24^th January 2026
4. Snetterton on Wednesday 28^th January 2026
5. Oulton Park on Wednesday 28^th January 2026
6. Cadwell Park on Saturday 31^st January2026

 The free spaces are only on the dates above and limited to 10 per event on a first come first served basis. One trackday per marshal is free, with Passengers (£10) and helmets (£15) to be added and charged on the day. Garages (£40) and Additional drivers (£30) can also be added by phone, quoting the booking ref, after the trackday booking has been confirmed. 
The space cannot be transferred or cancelled once booked and the space will be lost if unable to attend either in advance or on the day.
To book, marshals must email in with all the info bellow to trackdays@msv.com. The trackday spaces cannot be booked by phone or online.

• Preferred circuit and date
• First and last name
• Car make and model
• Postal adds including postcode
• Telephone number

Each marshal shall also need to include their marshal ID. This ID must then be shown during sign-on at the trackday (along with their suitable driving licence) or full payment will be required.

• Circuit marshal’s (without a marshal ID), will need to tell us which MSV circuit they work for and we will verify in advance of the track day.

 Spaces will be booked on a ‘first received’ basis as long as all the info requested is included. Once booked an email receipt will be sent directly to the marshal confirming the booking is successful, which will include a booking reference number.
 Usual track day rules, noise limits and requirements apply: https://car.msvtrackdays.com/FAQ/Booked?utm_medium=menu

Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM)
All BMMC members should have received an email informing of the calling of an EGM via ZOOM on Sunday 18^thJanuary 2026 at 10.30 to vote upon the proposed changes to the Club’s Articles of Association. 
The Articles of Association have been amended to reflect the changes to the Club Rules to allow for the election of a Vice Chair to assist the Chair in the running of the Club on your behalf. The Rule Changes have gone through discussions at 2 Council meetings and have been voted on and passed by all Club Directors. However, the revised Club Rules can’t be acted upon until the Club Membership have reviewed and either approve or reject the new Articles of Association.
If you would like to attend, please advise the National Secretary via email on nat.secretary@marshals.co.uk by the 10th January latest and links to meeting shall be issued.

An Evening with Motorsport UK 
Motorsport UK is inviting all members to join online on the evening of Wednesday, 28 January for a live broadcast with David Richards, Chairman and Hugh Chambers, CEO.
David and Hugh will be looking back at key highlights from this year and, more importantly, looking ahead to the next five years and walking through “Vision 2030”, the new strategy to get more people enjoying motorsport, more often.
Everyone is invited to register and submit questions in advance here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/motorsportuk1/poweringthefutureofmotorsportlivejanuary2026

Regional News
North West 
The last few months of the season were a busy one for the region. Many of our members attended the Race of Remembrance and spoke of what a wonderful weekend it was. The North West Region AGM was held in October which saw Duncan Fitz-Gibbons, Paul Newns and Ian Briggs were appointed to the committee. We were also lucky to be joined by Paul O’Neill our club ambassador.
 In the year since the 2024 AGM the NW region has processed 45 upgrades: 
On Track

• 21 Accredited marshals became Grade 1
• 8 Grade 1 marshals became Grade 2 Incident
• 9 Grade 1 marshals became Grade 2 Flag
• 2 Grade 2 marshals became Grade 3 Post Chief
• 1 Post Chief became an assessor

Off Track

• 2 Accredited marshals gained Grade 1
• 3 Grade 1 marshals became Garde 2
• 2 Grade 2 became Grade 3

Many congratulations to everyone that successfully upgraded this year.
Planning has already begun for next season with confirmation of the North West Region annual training weekend will once again be held at Oulton Park Circuit. It will be on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th February 2026. More information on this will be shared with members in the new year. 

As always, a big thank you, to every North West Region member who gave their time this year and looking forward to seeing everyone on the bank in 2026.

South Midlands Region 
It has been a busy end of the year for the South Midlands Region, following out sustainability contribution to support the nature trail at Stowe gardens, a nature pathway linking Stow with Silverstone, an invitation was received to display a Snowman design dressed as a marshal for visitors to see, these are referred to as ‘Stowemen’

An invitation was also received to attend the ‘Time Attack’ Gala dinner, where the South Midlands Chair (Ian Whiting) was honoured to receive a donation from this great organisation for £10410.00 on behalf of the BMMC.

The South Midlands region also arranged a tour of Ecurie Bertelli, the vintage Aston Martin restorers and race preparation, a great evening and privileged to also see the car originally owned by land speed record breaker Sir Malcolm Campbell.

In January Ian Whiting has been invited to talk to Milton Keynes roundtable in relation to the Motorsport Marshalling, will report on how this goes.

Membership 
The membership currently stands at 3280 as of 19.12.25.
New Members 
A very warm welcome to the following new marshals. I hope you have a long and enjoyable marshalling experience and remember everyone is willing to help you along the way. 

Marshal Upgrades
Congratulations and well done to the following marshals who have successfully upgraded:

Upcoming Events 
Hillclimb
The 2026 edition of the Manx Classic Hillclimb has unfortunately had to be cancelled. The event organised by the Longton and District Motor Club is for Classic Cars tacking climbs at Lhergy Frissell, The Sloc and Creg Willeys and was due to take place in April.

Clerk of course, Graham Tilley says that the cost and resources of road closures, safety cover, medical provision, marshalling, insurance and logistics have made the event unsustainable in 2026.
However, plans are being made for the return of the event in 2027.  

Rally

Volunteers Wanted 
Rally

1. The Tore Cars Snowman Rally is the be held on the Saturday 14^th February 2026 and are wanting to recruit marshals for the event. If you are new, they are offering a training day on Saturday 24^th January 2026. If you would like to be involved then sign up via the link below or on their website. www.snowmanrally.co.uk/marshals. 
2. Enthusiastic individuals are required to act as Stage Marshals at the 22026 Guernsey Rally to be held on the 20^th and 21^st February 2026. This is a fantastic opportunity to see rally up close whilst playing an important and vital role in ensuring safety for both spectators and competitors. A professional ability to engage with the public is essential for a successful event. 

If you are interested, please email guernsey@gmail.com by the end of January latest.

1. Club member Jon Cordrey has been asked to run 2 stages, SS2 and SS5 Dyfnant North Stages at the Trailhead Get Jerky Rally North Wales on Saturday 28^th March 2026. If you would like to assist Jon in running these stages, please register via Rally Stage Team at https://www.rallystageteam.co.uk and sign up for Dyfnant North Stage. 

In its 20^th consecutive season, Club Time Attack announced that the beneficiary of their annual charity initiative for 2025 would be the BMMC Marshals Club in recognition of the vital role they play in supporting the sport in the UK.

At its annual awards dinner held at the start of November in Daventry, Club Time Attack revealed an amazing total of £10,410 had been raised from a combination of late entry fees, raffle monies and money raised from tyre raffles with tyres generously provided by Yokohama Tyres.

Time Attack challenges drivers to set the fastest lap – and then do it again! Introduced to the UK in 2006, the Time Attack Championship has gone on to become the largest and most professional championship of its kind in the world. The wide range of classes means that almost every production-based car is eligible, from standard road-going machines right up to full-race power-packed monsters.

BMMC Chair Chris Hobson said: “This is an amazingly generous donation from the Time Attack team.  The BMMC is grateful to accept this contribution to our costs involved in running the only club in the world run by marshals for marshals.  BMMC currently has almost 3,500 members providing marshals for all forms of motorsport run under the auspices of MotorSport K – including the Time Attack Championship.  

“Marshals rarely get the recognition they deserve, standing out in all weathers, carrying out duties on and off the circuits at all levels, providing the safety cover essential to enable competitors to enjoy their sport.  Whether it is races, sprints or hillclimbs at a fixed venue, rallies and off-road events at non-permanent venues, club level Auto Solos or international Grand Prix our members give of their time and effort free of charge, purely for the love of the sport. 

“This show of appreciation from Time Attack will help us to continue to train and equip our members to support not only their events, but many others around the country.  We are extremely grateful – “Thank You”.

 Andy Barnes of the Time Attack Organisation comments: “I am delighted by our final total and thank each and every driver who has contributed this season as well as the great folks at Yokohama tyres for their tyre pool. Through a simple initiative, using our strengths, our club was able to donate 100% of the amounts raised to support the BMMC and its volunteers who keep our beloved sport on track and as safe as possible for all.

“In addition, we provided all-weather marshals ruck sacks, food and race suit patches as part of our 2025 campaign to show support and acknowledge the work of all marshals in the UK, it’s a great result and one which all members of our club are proud of.”

Pictured: Ian Whiting (South Mids Chair) and Simon Clarke from Yokohama, alongside the main championship drivers from each discipline. Left to right: Simon Clarke (Yokohama), Ian Whiting (BMMC), Dan Thackeray (Racing Hondas) and Aleksandr Volkov (Time Attack Championship).

Chair’s Chat 
December already.  Doesn’t time fly when you are having fun!  My season finished in great style with the Walter Hayes meeting at Silverstone, good racing, no-one in front of the Stewards and lots of orange overalls in view with everyone seeming to enjoy the day.  I know there are a few winter meetings to come, notably the Plum Pudding meeting at Mallory on Boxing Day (a meeting I regularly supported when I lived closer).  If you have not tried it, I urge you to go, it’s a great way to get over the excesses of Christmas Day with some fun car and motorcycle racing.
I know the rally members are in full action at present with the RAC rally just completed.  If you have not tried rallying, I would also urge you to have a try at marshalling one.  You will find them very welcoming and the sight and sound of cars in the forests is superb.  Just ensure you wrap up warm and take sufficient food and hot drinks with you.
December 7^th sees our AGM at MSUK Headquarters in Bicester.  Please come along to hear the reports from the National Officers and Regional Chairs, together with our plans for the forthcoming year.  I hope we will be able to present some important changes to the club rules together with proposed amendments to the Articles of Association that will help us find a new National Chair and Vice-Chair to take us forward into the future.  We will so be looking for volunteers for other National Roles, IT Coordinator, Communications and Branding and Bookkeeper.  
Our club is unique in that it is run purely by marshals for marshals, all committee and National roles are held by volunteers, working to ensure you, the members can enjoy your discipline in the sport safely and enjoyably.  Without volunteers the club cannot exist so please, if you think you can help, get in touch so we can discuss the opportunities.
Don’t forget to get your names down for the various training events that will be happening in the New Year.  We all need to refresh our existing skills and learn the new ones needed to enable us to perform our duties as officials.  
May I take this moment to wish all of you a “Very Merry Christmas” and a safe and enjoyable New Year.  I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at events throughout 2026.

Secretary’s Noggin
Where has this year gone? Does not seem 5 minutes ago I was attending training in February followed by my 1^st race weekend at Silverstone for the CSCC. Since then 43 marshalling days up the end of October at Silverstone, Donington, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park, Goodwood and Le Mans. Next year’s calendar already beginning to be populated. Let us hope that 2026 shall be a very safe year for both marshals and drivers.
There is still time for you to register interest in assisting to run the BMMC, the posts were advertised last month’s newsletter for Chair, Vice Chair, IT Coordinator, Brand and Communications, IT Coordinator and Bookkeeper. If you are interested and feel you would like to help, then please contact me on nat.secretary@marshals.co.uk
Over the weekend of the 21^st to 23^rd November you will have noticed that the BMMC email system and any other club systems that depend upon email were unavailable. This was so the IT Working Group could transfer the BMMC email system to a new server. All went very smoothly and the new email server is up and working. Congratulations to Derek and all the team for all your good work. It took a lot of preparation and planning before the switch over in order for it to go so smoothly. 
How many of you either attended the 2025 Roger Albert Clark Rally over from the 21^st to 24^th November, or did you like me watch it live on U Tube? The sight and sound of Mark Higgins in that glorious Triumph TR7 V8, or the sad sight of a rare Skoda Octavia Super on a trailer looking rather sad and sorry. Only to see it resurrected. Ford Escorts, BMWs, Rover, Volvo, Lancia, Mini and even a Jaguar. A great event, full of exciting racing, looked a bit nippy though. Next one in 2027, can’t wait. Thanks to all the competitors, marshals and spectators for making a memorable event. 
Finally, may I wish all members a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous, Happy and Healthy 2026 and hope to see as many of you on the bank in 2026 as possible at various circuits around the UK. 

Membership Renewals 2026
Despite increased running costs of the club, the subscriptions rates for 2026 are being held the same as 2025 and previous years and renewals for 2026 are now open. For members who already have Direct Debits set up, the funds are due to be taken from your bank during the 1^st week in January 2026 (around the 6^th January).
Online payment is also available, if you go to the BMMC website, log into your account and go to Members and then click on Membership Renewal and follow instructions. 
Your digital membership card will be sent to your email address before the Season Starts.
 The club year runs from the 1^st of January to 31^st December. To stay covered by our insurance make sure your payment is made.
As in previous years for members renewing by the 31^st January 2026, all will be entered into a Prize Draw, the prize being a day at the Palmer Autosport Bedford Autodrome. A big thank you to MSV and PalmerSport for their continued support to all our marshals.

Treasurer’s Report 
There have been various articles in the media about how the government spends the money it raises, how little income pubs receive from the cost of a pint etc. In addition, with renewal season approaching, I have been asked by several members “what do I get for my £20 membership fee?”
I thought that I would put a brief article together to give you a summary of the club’s annual income and expenditure and illustrate the incredible value that the membership fee provides.
The annual accounts for the club have been filed at Companies House where they can be inspected for free by anyone. 
To save you time in this hectic period I have summarized the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024.

The numbers have been rounded up or down for ease of reference.
Income £127,000
The income came from:
Membership £54,000
Overalls Sponsorship £32,000
Training Income £22,000
Race/Sprint income £11,000
Regalia Sales £4,000
Misc £4,000
Expenditure £128,000
The club spent:
Overalls subsidy £47,000
Training £23,000
Race/Sprint £12,000
Regalia £1,000
Running/Admin costs £45,000
The actual deficit was £403.
The draft accounts for this year are showing similar headline numbers although there will be some exceptional costs such as the upgrade to our IT systems, the digital membership database etc.
The other main area of expenditure are the costs incurred in running the club. These costs are under constant review but, like any other organisation, we are faced with increased costs from our suppliers such as insurance, licenses, travel, IT, professional fees etc. Without the goodwill of volunteers our administration costs would be a lot higher so my heartfelt thanks to everyone who gives their time and expertise willingly to the club.
The membership is continuing to rise which is an encouraging sign. It is expected that the membership will be around 3,500 by the end of this year. Some of the members are life members and so do not pay a membership fee. The estimated membership income for 2026 will be around £70,000. Whilst this is a healthy annual income the growth in membership does place huge pressure on the overalls subsidy fund. Without the generosity of our sponsors, donations etc. the club would be in a different financial state.
So, going back to the original question, “what do I get for my £20?” It is hoped that the above has given you an indication of the incredible value that your membership gives you.
Make sure you renew for 2026!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send them to me at nat.treasurer@marshals.co.uk.

Draw Winners 



Regalia

Training
With the 2025 season drawing to a conclusion it can be quite difficult to turn your mind to training, but the Regional Training Coordinators are already ahead of you, and by the time you read this they will have submitted their bids to the British Motorsport Trust (BMT) / Motorsport UK for grant aid to support the 2026 training season.
It is fair to say that for the coming year there are a number of financial challenges to the BMT which will undoubtedly have a knock-on effect in the amount of training funds available however, despite this, your BMMC / BRMC committees are working hard to endure you receive the highest quality training available.  When all the bids have been submitted, a list of training events and dates will be published and all marshals are encouraged to sign up as early as possible, as places will be limited and will be taken up fast.  Please remember, if you cannot make your local training event consider travelling to your next closest one, or look at the BARC training day list (as an alternative of course).
Motorsport UK has asked the BMMC / BRMC to remind their membership that if you wish to maintain your grade over time you need to attend training events.  The marshals pathway for all disciplines can be found here
As per last year your National Training Coordinator, Alan Page, will be visiting various training events during 2026 and looks forward to meeting you. If you wish to contact Alan directly you can do at nat.training@marshals.co.uk

Regional News
Midlands Region
The BMMC Midlands Region has released the dates for its 2026 annual training, 

1. Saturday 10^th and Sunday 11th January 2026. – Resue Training
2. Saturday 24^th and Sunday 25^th January 2026. – Marshal Training Grades 1, 2 and 3 Track and Off Track including fire training for those grading to Grade 1 

More details email Steve Allison at  m.training@marshals.co.uk
South West Region 
Kop Hill Festival (from Rachel Cobley)
Kop Hill, near Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire “became” a hill climb in 1910 when motorcyclists discovered the “sinuous and steep road” (description as per the Kop Hill website). Cars joined the bikes a year later and it then became a key feature on the motor sport calendar. However, in 1925, a spectator accident (not adhering to marshal requests to move) caused the end of all high-speed contests on UK public roads. 
Today the event is a charity festival for road going vehicles to climb the hill, albeit under Road Traffic Act conditions. 
Over 300 vehicles each year register to “Run the Hill” and then return to the paddock through the town centre. The cars and bikes are mainly older (prior to the 1980s) but with some modern vehicles and supercars. The entrants often dress in period costume and there are usually special features. This year included the centenary of Brough Superior motorbikes and 7 of these early superbikes took to the hill as a cavalcade. Other features in 2025 included MGA, a French feature, Lancia and Japanese cars. 
My husband Phil and I first went to Kop Hill in 2015 and I have been in the paddock each year. It’s a friendly, hectic place, and occasionally chaotic too. For the most part the drivers are not used to motorsport events and the timetable is vague (Hill opens at 9.45 and closes for lunch at 1pm) so there are a lot of queries along the lines of “what time do I need to be at my car?” 
As the event isn’t timed most incidents for the marshals on the hill involve either turning round struggling cars and bikes or giving them a push to get going again; sometimes with the help of the car’s passengers. Fortunately, the steam powered car never seems to struggle no matter how low its revs get although it can be hard to see it in the cloud of steam as it comes up the hill.
This year we were visited on the Saturday afternoon by the local policeman in his patrol car – asking if he could run the hill. After a discussion with the organisers to complete the necessary paperwork, and having been given a driver briefing, the car took to the hill with lights and sirens (and 2 paying passengers in the back). 
Not to be out-done, one of his colleagues from the neighbouring beat turned up on the Sunday in her car and applied to take the car up the hill. Again, spectators paid the charity to go up the hill in the back of a police car. It was quite entertaining for both Marion Quarrington and I to remind serving police officers not to break any traffic laws as they went up the famous hill. 
A ride in the 1923 Alfa/Ferrari was auctioned for charity (pictured below) – what an opportunity!
As well as the cars running the hill, there are static car displays, music, stalls selling vintage and modern items, a children’s soap box competition, a funfair, food and a bar. The paddock is open to the public for them to admire the vehicles at close range (unlike at some events) and to talk to the drivers about their pride and joy. 
For the past few years, there has been a Lancaster Bomber fly past at lunchtime (weather permitting) and the sound of the engines flying relatively low overhead brings the event to a standstill. 
It’s a brilliant, friendly event and I’ll definitely be back next year.  

Membership 
The membership currently stands at 3259 as of 27/11/2025.
New Members 
A very warm welcome to the following new marshals. I hope you have a long and enjoyable marshalling experience and remember everyone is willing to help you along the way.

Marshal Upgrades
Congratulations and well done to the following marshals who have successfully upgraded:

Upcoming Events 
Rally

Volunteers Wanted 
Rally

1. The Historic Rally Car Register (HRCR) is holding its annual Open Day at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, Warwickshire (Junction 12 on the M40) on Saturday 10^th January 2026 from 09.30 to 15.30. The 2026 theme will be Works and World Rally Championship Cars. A selection of factory rally cars will be on display charting the history of British Rallying. The HRCR will also cover everything from Scenic tours through road rallies to full blown stage events. The Museum will also be open for an additional charge. 
2. Applications are open for marshals and radio crews for the Brands Hatch MGJ Engineering Winter Stages organised by the Chelmsford Motor Club to be held on Saturday 17^th January 2026. Please register on https://brandshatchstages.co.uk/marshals
3. The Weaver Brothers Ltd Island Stages Rally on Saturday 15^th February 2026 on the Isle of Wight is in need of additional marshals. There will be a Marshals pack with decent merchandise and goodies available. Contact Rob Highmore via IOWCC. co.uk if interested
4. The organisers of the 2026 Plains Rally wish to advise competitors, volunteers and supporters of a revised date. The rally shall now take place on 13^th June 2026, moving from the originally planned date of 16^th May 2026.  The change has had to be made due to the organising team being unable to secure a suitable service area for the May date. The event shall still be based in the Balaas.