Bahraini Marshals top pick for F1 races: BMF General Manager

Manama : Bahrain’s ongoing success in hosting and organising formula 1 races is a demonstration of its capabilities and has gained it acclaim on an international scale, said the President of the Fédération Internationale de l’ Automobile (FIA)Volunteers and Officials Commission.
 
In remarks he gave to BNA, Abdul Aziz Al Thawadi, who is also president of the Motorsports Marshals Club (MMC), said the support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the follow up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, have driven the significant development of the sports scene in Bahrain and its achievements on the ground.
 
He also noted the importance of the initiatives led by His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian and Youth Affairs, President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), and His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of SCYS, Chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA), and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC), which have motivated youth to engage in
sports.
 
Al Thawadi said that the MMC was founded in 2004, when the BIC organised the first F1 race in the Middle East.
 
He added: “With over 900 members, the club is considered one of the biggest in Bahrain. The members perform a wide range of tasks and roles, along with organising various events.”
 
“The marshals supervised and contributed to the first F1 race held in India in 2011, with 150 members from different teams participating in organising the race which won the award for best race of the year.”
 
Bahraini marshals also organised the first F1 race in Baku, Azerbaijan, where approximately 250 club members took part. The club actively participated as well in organising the first F1 race in Abu Dhabi in 2009.
 
Al Thawadi recounted that the MMC members trained Baku Marshals six months before the race through lectures, courses, and workshops for three years.
 
The Bahraini Marshals were tasked with a new assignment in 2021 of organising the first race in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which involved the participation of 436 members.
 
Saudi Arabia’s first Formula One race was a worldwide success, which was preceded by Bahrain’s contribution to the Formula E World Championship race in Al Diriyah, Al Thawadi said.
 
He expressed his pride in the participation of Bahraini women in organising these races and becoming a part of the success of the Bahraini Marshals brand, which has earned international recognition and the trust of the FIA .
 
Bahraini Marshals have become a top pick for supervising, organising and managing races for any country applying to host an international motorsports race, he said.
 
Al Thawadi said that the track record of Bahraini Marshals now included many local and international races, in which they apply the highest international security and safety standards.
 
The FIA Volunteers and Officials Commission President said having a sell-out race in Bahrain reflected the popularity of the F1 culture.
 
Over the last 20 years, the Bahrain International Circuit has scored many awards, last of which was the Event Innovation award; which speaks volumes of the success Bahrain has made in this area, he said.