The first ever FIA Volunteers Day took place today (12 May), celebrating the commitment and thanking the individuals who freely give up their time as volunteers at motor sport events.

“It has been wonderful to see so many people around the world engaging with the first FIA Volunteers Day,” said FIA President Jean Todt. “We want to say thanks to the thousands who give their time freely so that motor sport events can happen – without them it simply would not be possible.

“I hope that with support not just from six of our championships, but from the whole community of motor sport, it will encourage even more people to become volunteers.”

It was a day that crossed all the wide variety of disciplines in the motor sport world, as six FIA events led the celebrations. At the Spanish FIA Formula One Grand Prix, marshals were invited to meet with the world’s most famous drivers for a once in a lifetime picture, while the FIA Formula 2 championship invited a group of volunteers on a special tour of their garages at the same venue.

In Hungary, the FIA World Touring Car Championship teams and drivers are making it an extra special weekend, with marshals invited to the pre-event press conference in the centre of Budapest, before the two drivers themselves were given a special lesson in how to be a flag marshal.

Works Honda driver Norbert Michelisz, who is racing on home soil in Hungary this weekend, said: “I really appreciate their work. It’s not only about volunteering but volunteering with an attitude of professionalism that makes it much easier for us drivers to cope with certain scenarios on the race track. Wherever we go in the world we always see volunteers being really prepared I know I am in the best hands.”

The stars of the FIA World Rallycross Championship made video messages and posed for photos with the volunteers at the Circuit Jules Tacheny in Belgium, while with the glamourous background of the harbour in Monaco, FIA Formula E drivers and officials also came together for a special family photo. Current Formula E and FIA World Endurance Championship leader Sebastien Buemi added, “Thank you very much to all the volunteers in the FIA and around the world, we are very lucky to be racing in an FIA Championship and thank you for your help.”

Some of the drivers in the FIA European Truck Racing Championship race in Austria actually began their careers as volunteers, and they met up with the current generation to swap stories. “We know that without the marshals racing would be impossible and we are grateful for the job they do,” said double ETRC champion Norbert Kiss. “We rely on them for so much and quite often they are out of the limelight. Today is a good opportunity for them to be in the focus and celebrate for everything they do.”

With the message of appreciation being spread so widely and in so many different ways, the first FIA Volunteers Day has brought all the motor sport community together, and anyone wishing to find out more about becoming a volunteer is encouraged to contact their local ASN and join the huge network of the FIA.