The Motor Sports Association (MSA), governing body of UK motor sport, launched its Year of the Volunteer at the Autosport International show (10-13 January).Introducing the initiative on the events high profile Central Stage, the MSAs Chief Executive Colin Hilton was joined by reigning Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion Gordon Shedden and Richard Egger, Go Motorsports Regional Development Officer in the East Midlands.

We are celebrating the invaluable work carried out by these all-too-often unsung heroes without whom motor sport wouldnt function, as well as showing others how they can get involved, explained Hilton. Every year there are more than 5,000 motor sport events staged all over the UK and, whether a 12-car rally organised by a local motor club or an international race meeting at Silverstone, they all need volunteers.

To help launch the campaign, Egger helped to set up a special Go Motorsport display stand at the NEC showcasing all the exciting opportunities open to volunteers ranging from trackside marshals to technical scrutineershe was keen to emphasise the desire to attract newcomers. Theres always a need to attract more young people and thats why its important to have this Year of the Volunteer, said Egger who regularly marshals on regional rallies and motor club events. I know from personal experience just how much job satisfaction you getyou go home with a real buzz having played your part in the successful running of an exciting event.

They really are a key part of the action and it really is a great way to be involved in this sport, agreed Shedden and the newly crowned BTCC champion knows just how valuable volunteers are to the safety and well being of competitors following a fiery incident at Snetterton last season that almost cost him his first touring car title. My car was a bonfire and, if it hadnt been for the swift action of some fire marshals, my season would have been over there and then, he recalled. Whether I won the championship or not came down to those ten seconds.