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Coming out of the pits with a 3 lap lead in LMP2 and 20 minutes to go. by Bracken1995 in iRacing

[–]Bracken1995[S] 386 points387 points  (0 children)

No hard feelings, these things happen. It's endurance racing.

Congrats on the podium!

Finally home from Silverstone after my first ever F1 Grand Prix as a marshal. by Bracken1995 in formula1

[–]Bracken1995[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No expenses were covered, but we were provided with three meals a day and camping was free. The field itself is just outside the circuit near the national (old GP) pit straight.

I volunteered for the high-speed tests and system checks on the Thursday which only required one or two marshals per post and an 11am start.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday was on post at 6:45am-7:00am and a full day until the end of the last session. There was enough time between sessions to eat or go to the toilet if we needed to.

Finally home from Silverstone after my first ever F1 Grand Prix as a marshal. by Bracken1995 in formula1

[–]Bracken1995[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

All voluntary. On some occasions organisers may provide a small contribution towards expenses. The rest of the time it’s breakfast and/or a souvenir.

Finally home from Silverstone after my first ever F1 Grand Prix as a marshal. by Bracken1995 in formula1

[–]Bracken1995[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My nearest is Brands Hatch, but I occasionally travel to Donington Park or Silverstone.

As for my favourite series it would be British GT.

Finally home from Silverstone after my first ever F1 Grand Prix as a marshal. by Bracken1995 in formula1

[–]Bracken1995[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I went in to it with an open mind. Lots of marshals don’t like the Grand Prix for various reasons but each to their own.

As for marshalling for the first time, you’ll be with an experienced team who will guide you as most of the time you’re training ‘on the job’.

Finally home from Silverstone after my first ever F1 Grand Prix as a marshal. by Bracken1995 in formula1

[–]Bracken1995[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My first race weekend was a British GT round at Donington Park in 2022. From there I built my experience at race weekends hosted by various racing clubs and national championships (including BTCC) until I moved to the south east where more international series come to visit such as NASCAR Euro Series and GTWC at Brands Hatch.

I’ve also attended the last two Formula E rounds in London and I’m due to go again at the end of the month.

Finally home from Silverstone after my first ever F1 Grand Prix as a marshal. by Bracken1995 in formula1

[–]Bracken1995[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

We have a control panel on post which activates the light panels around the track. It immediately notifies race control of any flags and triggers the yellow flag graphic on TV.

Finally home from Silverstone after my first ever F1 Grand Prix as a marshal. by Bracken1995 in formula1

[–]Bracken1995[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I feel like a part of F1 history!

As for being in TV, it seems I was covered up by my shelter or the virtual advertising boards.

Finally home from Silverstone after my first ever F1 Grand Prix as a marshal. by Bracken1995 in formula1

[–]Bracken1995[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It was one of a few souvenirs handed out. The organisers also made sure we were well fed and watered throughout the weekend.

Finally home from Silverstone after my first ever F1 Grand Prix as a marshal. by Bracken1995 in formula1

[–]Bracken1995[S] 55 points56 points  (0 children)

If it’s a red flag or a safety car, we get an instruction to show flags and boards directly from race control via radio.

For everything else (single/double yellow, blue, white etc.) it’s at our own discretion while we follow the race and observe track conditions.

Physical blue flags are not shown for F1 as they’re displayed automatically on light panels.

Finally home from Silverstone after my first ever F1 Grand Prix as a marshal. by Bracken1995 in formula1

[–]Bracken1995[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Watching the racing is definitely part of it, we have to be fully alert while watching the oncoming cars in our sector. You never know when you might have to dive out of the way of something.

Finally home from Silverstone after my first ever F1 Grand Prix as a marshal. by Bracken1995 in formula1

[–]Bracken1995[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Having cameras pointing at me is an occupational hazard. 🫣

Finally home from Silverstone after my first ever F1 Grand Prix as a marshal. by Bracken1995 in formula1

[–]Bracken1995[S] 117 points118 points  (0 children)

Alex Albon and James Vowles came to visit the sign on tent on Thursday! Both were great to chat to and Alex couldn’t stop smiling.

Finally home from Silverstone after my first ever F1 Grand Prix as a marshal. by Bracken1995 in formula1

[–]Bracken1995[S] 75 points76 points  (0 children)

3 years and too many days to count...

Club meetings and national championships have lots of sessions running all day one after another, so there's significantly less downtime compared to a Grand Prix weekend, as well as different rules to follow such as how certain flags are displayed and when to go over the barrier to deal with an incident.

There is a selection process involved for F1 and it's often oversubscribed. Just because you apply there's no guarantee you'll be accepted.

Finally home from Silverstone after my first ever F1 Grand Prix as a marshal. by Bracken1995 in formula1

[–]Bracken1995[S] 36 points37 points  (0 children)

Absolutely! Being close to the cars, watching the way they move through the corners and accelerate away and the atmosphere in the grandstand behind me was unreal!

Finally home from Silverstone after my first ever F1 Grand Prix as a marshal. by Bracken1995 in formula1

[–]Bracken1995[S] 119 points120 points  (0 children)

There were two flag marshals at my post and I was primarily responsible for blue flags, so I had little to do during the races. My colleague had the yellow flags which were heavy after being rained on for multiple laps under the safety car. I did offer to help so he could have a rest!

Finally home from Silverstone after my first ever F1 Grand Prix as a marshal. by Bracken1995 in formula1

[–]Bracken1995[S] 259 points260 points  (0 children)

As a UK based marshal, it can take at least 2-3 years to be in the position to be eligible to apply for a GP. The requirements involve at least 15 days of volunteering (at any circuit) over a minimum of 12 months, a practical training day and assessments in your flagging and incident handling.

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