65 volunteers from the UAE officiated at the 2023 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix held in Baku at the weekend.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The 2023 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix this year witnessed a diverse participation of licensed volunteers from the Emirates Motorsports Organisation (EMSO).

The group of EMSO volunteers consisted of 65 volunteers, of which 24% were UAE nationals and 20% were female volunteers. The number of EMSO volunteers who travelled to Baku this year has doubled since their first participation in 2017.

EMSO volunteers attended the Azerbaijan Formula 1 Grand Prix for the first time in 2017 as part of the exchange program between the two ASNs. The EMSO volunteers shared experience from the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which has taken place in the UAE since 2009.

Every year, more than 150 volunteers licensed by the Emirates Motorsports Organization participate in F1 and other international events around the world including Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, the US, Italy and Singapore.

In 2023, the number of volunteers trained by the Emirates Motorsports Organization and registered in the EMSO’s Officials Management System reached 3500. Officials undergo more than 60 training courses annually with the aim of developing and revitalizing their skills and being in touch with the latest regulations.

The EMSO’s systematic approach for officials’ training and education has been initiated by former EMSO President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, current President of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile), who successfully developed the officials’ scheme in the country and took it to the highest level. This is part of Ben Sulayem’s vision and long term campaign to recruit, train and retain the diverse pool of UAE based volunteers, needed to become self-sufficient and achieve sustainability to service the growing needs of motorsport in the country.

The project is continuing under the leadership of the current EMSO president Khalid Bin Sulayem. EMSO sanctions around 150 international national and club level motorsport events in the UAE every year.