BMF supports volunteers with training programmes

As the island prepares to host the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport international, BCIC Rally Barbados 2026, in six weeks’ time, the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF) has been working hard behind the scenes to bring training for the volunteers who are the life blood of the sport and operational best practice bang up to date.

  Affiliated to motor sport’s world governing body, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the BMF has access to valuable educational resources, both in-person and through the FIA University’s E-learning platform. Access to these on-line assets is made available free to its volunteer marshals and officials.

  Work started with FIA Safety Week in early February, a concentrated three-day on-line seminar-style event with 14 sessions covering all aspects of the sport from homologation and technical regulations to anti-doping programmes, safety and medical support. A number of island officials and members of club management participated.

  Last month, BMF Vice President - Sport David Williams and regular karting and rally Clerk of the Course Owen Proverbs travelled to Mexico for the Rally Safety Delegate Operational Workshop North America. Over two days of classroom and practical on-stage training, they worked on the details of creating and finalising an event Safety Plan and were also able to share personal experiences with officials from around the region.

  Taking advantage of a family trip to the UK, BMF Treasurer and BCIC RB26 Rally Office Manager Jeanne Crawford spent two days in Prague, Czechoslovakia, at the FIA’s 2026 Rally & Cross-Country Officials Seminar.

  In nine sessions, a record number of 164 attendees from 53 FIA National Sporting Associations (ASNs) from across the globe covered topics ranging from the central role of officials in safeguarding safety, fairness and professionalism to the importance of relying on verified data sources, documented procedures and cross-checking before making decisions in light of the growing risk of AI-generated fake evidence bring presented to officials.

  Of particular interest and relevance to the island was the Operational Safety session. The FIA summary report stated: "Strong emphasis was placed on safety caravan performance: every car must actively assess the stage, not simply drive through it, and communication between vehicles is essential.

  "Spectator management remains a major challenge. Green-tape philosophy, properly designed spectator zones and early public communication are proven tools that must be applied consistently. Marshals are central to safety delivery. Their positioning, briefing, authority and support directly determine whether a safety plan works in reality."

  This session’s case-study highlighted the recurring worldwide issue of unsafe spectator behaviour, something which affected an event in Barbados in March. Reinforcing the local decision, organisers were reminded that stopping a stage due to safety concerns is preferable to accepting unmanaged risk, and that decisive action builds long-term compliance.

  As well as the on-line training for marshals, there is a programme for Stewards, which includes a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) component to move volunteers up the organisational ladder. More than 500 persons from 100 countries have registered for the training, which started on March 24 and continues throughout the year.

  Having completed Regional Stewards training in the past, senior BMF Steward Warren Gollop and Nigel Reece have progressed to the CPD element of the programme, while Ben Norris is among the newcomers taking the first step on the ladder.

Editor’s note: the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF) is the island’s governing body for motor sport, affiliated to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). It also represents the interests of its Member Clubs in discussions with Government departments which facilitate the sport in the island, in particular the Ministry of Transport, which permits road closures for an agreed number of events each year. Away from motor sport, the BMF affiliate which answers the FIA Mobility remit is the Barbados Automobile Association (BAA).

For media information only. No regulatory value.

For further information, please contact:

BMF Vice-President - Sport, David Williams - e-mail: vicepresident@bmf-fia.com web site: https://bmf-fia.com/