The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has announced that October will be designated as 2026 FIA Volunteers and Officials Month with a packed schedule of activities, activations and celebratory initiatives planned.

Volunteers and Officials power motor sport in every corner of the globe. From flag marshals to scrutineers, race directors to medical and rescue crews, we could not go racing, rallying, hill climbing or drifting without the diverse army of dedicated individuals who keep motor sport running safely, fairly and smoothly. It is estimated that globally there are over 300,000 formal, unpaid officials, marshals, and volunteers, covering more than 60,000 motor sport events staged every year.

To recognise their invaluable contribution to the sport, celebrate their service and promote the personal and professional benefits of volunteering or officiating, the FIA and its network of 149 Member Clubs will organise key events during World Championship rounds, spotlight the stories of those who have dedicated years or decades to the sport and highlight the ways the next generation of volunteers and officials can step forward and get involved.

Announced during the FIA Conference currently underway in Macau, the 2026 FIA Volunteers and Officials Month will build upon the inaugural edition last year which featured awards, behind-the-scenes insights into the world of volunteering and officiating. It also included activations to welcome new volunteers and officials into the sport, supporting the work of Member Clubs organising races, rallies and championships across the world.

H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, said: “Volunteers and officials are the lifeblood of our sport. Without their dedication, professionalism and passion, we could not go racing or rallying. Last year, we launched the first Volunteers and Officials Month and came together across our Federation to host events and recognise the vital role volunteers and officials play across our sport. I am proud that our community will come together to celebrate our volunteers and officials again in October.”

Valerio Iachizzi, FIA Secretary General for Sport, said: “The second edition of FIA Volunteers and Officials Month in October will be another fantastic opportunity to highlight the contribution of those who power our sport from the grassroots to our World Championships. Through the FIA Officials Department, we’re providing more training and development opportunities to volunteers and officials than ever before and supporting the race makers who enable motor sport in every part of the world”

Highlighting, the invaluable role volunteers and officials play to power motor sport across the globe, the FIA recently released a film exploring the extraordinary story of 2025 FIA Outstanding Official of the Year, Stephen Harding. Stephen has dedicated decades of service to the sport and played a pivotal role shaping South African and African motorsport through leadership positions across touring cars, rallying, rallycross, Formula E and rally raid. His dedication to mentorship and supporting the next generation of motorsport officials is a testament to his commitment and passion for the sport, which will leave a lasting legacy in South Africa.

The FIA recently released the first FIA Formula One World Championship Volunteers Report which revealed that 20,000 FIA-trained volunteers are required to support all 24 rounds of an FIA Formula One World Championship calendar with the training and support offered to volunteers by the FIA and its member clubs equating to over €11 million of investment in the sport per year.

The governing body for global motor sport also launched a new training and development programme for motor sport officials this year with three dedicated programmes rolled out to support the Race Director, Steward and Clerk of the Course roles at national, regional and international level. Developed to refresh knowledge, promote best practice and ensure alignment with current regulatory standards, these programmes aim to elevate officiating quality, strengthen consistency across competitions and embed a culture of continuous professional development and high performance across the FIA officiating network.

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact: FIA Sport Communications Manager, Omar Sharif: osharif@fia.com