Marshals at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland - volunteers with passion and responsibility

• German WRC rally as ADAC's major collaborative motor sport feat
• Some 2,000 marshals and another 1,000 helpers contribute to the effort
• How to become a marshal at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland: concept with intensive training for optimum safety at the event

Munich. The ADAC Rallye Deutschland blends spectacular motor sport and outstanding safety. To take both to top levels every year, team work is the key to success: all of the 18 ADAC regional clubs are involved in the planning and implementation of the German event to the FIA WRC. Again this year, some 3,000 volunteer helpers will flock to the Saarland and neighbouring regions to support the rally that takes place between 16 and 19 August; most of them belong to the ADAC local and motor sport clubs across Germany. This makes the German WRC rally ADAC's greatest collaborative motor sport accomplishment.

The marshals play a key role in the success of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. Some 2,000 specially trained helpers are needed also at this year's event: as marshals, they will provide optimal support at the 18 Special Stages (SS), which have a total length of approx. 330km. The yellow vests of the marshals will be a common sight also at the AUTODOC Service Park, at the Shakedown as well as at the opening ceremony (16 August) and podium ceremony (19 August) in St Wendel.

It is the job of the marshals to ensure that the ADAC Rallye Deutschland runs smoothly. Their main task is to ensure the safety of the track and spectator areas. In their allocated areas, they make sure that the applicable rules are strictly complied with, keeping a special eye on no-go areas. In addition, they maintain efficient communication with the rally headquarters in the event of an accident, issue warnings to the vehicles behind and ensure immediate access to first aid. As competent contacts for the people on site, they also handle the important task of spectator management.

To ensure maximum safety at a Special Stage, intensive staffing with marshals and radio marshals is essential. To this end, they always work in teams so that each post is manned by at least two marshals. The Special Stage chief official, usually recruited from the motor sport club in charge of the respective SS, coordinates the helpers. Very long Special Stages usually keep over 300 marshals and more than 40 radio marshals busy. In 2018, in addition to the Panzerplatte stage (18 August), this will be the case at the almost 30km Grafschaft SS on Sunday (19 August), which is under the auspices of the ADAC motor sport club Melsungen e.V. Besides the marshals, the team of volunteer helpers for the Grafschaft SS alone includes three first aid points, three mobile medical teams and over 100 firefighters - all coordinated by the club's SS chief official.

Being a marshal at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland means working long hours: already three to four hours before the first rally car passes, the marshals are briefed by their Special Stage chief officials before moving into their posts along the track. Since a Special Stage is usually run twice, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, this means that they are on their toes all day long. The clubs and their members are also in charge of setting up and removing the Special Stages including signposting and safety measures. This year, some 70 ADAC local clubs and motor sport clubs will be at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland to perform all these tasks.

The clubs are the first place to go for all motor sport fans interested in becoming a marshal at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. However, having a passion for rallying is not enough: a marshal needs to undergo training.

The marshal training is free for ADAC members. Attendants must be at least 18 years of age. Experienced marshals who are at least 20 years old can attend further training to become SS chief officials. Volunteer marshals at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland get a special bonus: off duty, they are granted free access to any other SS at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland with their marshal's licence. Interested in attending marshal training? Please contact an ADAC local or motor sport club (www.adac.de/adac_vor_ort).

Get your rally and day passes in pre-sale now!

Passes for the ADAC Rallye Deutschland are available from the official ticket shop on the web: go to www.adac.de/rallye-deutschland (under the Tickets tab) to get your four-day rally passes or day tickets (Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday). Pre-sale buyers will enjoy discounts and an attractive package offer that includes the official event magazine. Just like last year, the pre-sale price of a rally pass package is EUR70 (EUR65 for ADAC members). Day passes are available for EUR35 exclusively in pre-sale. During the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, the regular price for a rally pass will be EUR80 at all on-site sales points.

The rally passes cover:

- Access to all Special Stages on all days
- Access to the AUTODOC Service Park on all days
- Access to the Shakedown on Thursday
- A spectator map providing all the essential information about the rally
- ADAC Rallye Deutschland lanyard
- ADAC Rallye Deutschland sticker
- ADAC Rallye Deutschland magazine (in German with essential information in English and French)

ADAC Rallye Deutschland information:

The ADAC Rallye Deutschland has a unique worldwide reputation. Its mix of hairpin stages in the vineyards, tough tracks on the Baumholder tank range and fast asphalt roads presents extreme challenges for both the teams and the drivers. Excellent driving skills and versatility are of the essence here. Diversity, high-class action and closeness to the fans are the ingredients that make the ADAC Rallye Deutschland such an attractive package for spectators as well. Year after year, this major event draws enthusiastic crowds from all over Europe, giving it a special, international atmosphere.