And why was he marshalling? Because the sport’s governing body had refused to re-new his Co-Driver’s Licence!
Last year this individual and his regular driver hatched a plan to contest next year’s FIA WRC Grampian Rally to top their final years in this sport before resorting to the more ‘gentle art’ of historic rallying and bar-room bragging!
Come 2026 and Motorsport UK refused to automatically re-new this Co-Driver’s Licence – and so far without specific reason or explanation, thus scuppering hopes, plans and dreams.
And here’s the slightly complicated bit, the Co-Driver in question has a heart condition. This however is not something new, a slight defect he has had since birth. Up till now this has not been a problem.
The Co-Driver in question has, and uses regularly, a DVLA Class 1 driving licence to get himself around the country and to and from events so there is no problem there. He is mentally able to use OS maps and even sufficiently electronically competent to use a SatNav which means he can safely be allowed to leave home without the need for carers. He even has scans from his regular consultant which have shown no change over the past five years. In other words, he is normal, absobluidylutely normal. And yet the Motorsport UK medical view is that he does not meet DVLA Class 2 licence criteria and therefore have refused his licence renewal!
Of course this prompted a few questions from our aggrieved party which were initially sent by email to the appropriate named person in Motorsport UK. Answer came there none. Undaunted, a telephone call was made to the named personage and questions repeated. Apparently he was assured of a response. So far no response and no questions answered.
That is surely not good enough from a major sports governing body. The least that could be done is a private call to discuss the matter and explain Motorsport UK’s position. Perhaps there is a good reason for refusal and maybe that reason has not been fully investigated so far, but the very least that could be done is keep the chap informed, even if he is asked to keep their response confidential.
Naturally our hero is made of sterner stuff and hasn’t given up, but to keep contact with the sport in the meantime he has qualified as a Marshal and is giving something back.
On a personal level, methinks our governors have taken their hands off the steering wheel on this one. Of course we need officials, organisers, marshals with regular training and qualifications, and yes the governing body has many rules and regulations to oversee and amend as and when necessary along with all the other things they have to do, like newcomer initiatives and bringing an FIA WRC round to the UK - again. But they have to remember that the lifeblood of the sport, any sport, is and are the competitors. Without them we wouldn’t need all the volunteers, or even Motorsport UK!
The non-identification of individuals in this wee story has been deliberate as there is no desire to upset any delicate sensibilities, but there is a wrong to be righted here, and on that basis all licence payers/holders should be concerned.
Hopefully we can return to this sorry tale with some better news !!
Note: Pics for illustrative purposes only, any similarity to anyone involved in rallying is entirely unintentional and purely coincidental!
