The Kuwait International Automobile Club (KIAC) last week hosted a three-day training programme for its rally and cross-country officials as part of the ongoing development of motor sport activities in the country.

The training was given by Automobile et Touring Club de Liban (ATCL) acting as the Regional Training Provider (RTP), and was aimed at improving the level of rally activities in the country with the hope of adding more national and regional events to the calendar.  It formed part of a general wider push from the ASN to improve the competency levels of officials across all disciplines as investment continues in new motor sport facilities being built in Kuwait.   

Sessions were attended by KIAC President Mr Essa Hamzah Alfailakawi, who welcomed all the participants and thanked the FIA for its efforts in developing ASNs and the support provided through the FIA Sport Grant Programme.  He mentioned the need to develop all officials in Kuwait given the new circuit under construction. He also thanked the trainers from the ATCL for their help in developing the Kuwaiti officials.

The first of the three days was reserved for a small group of senior officials to enable intensive training and a lot of interaction between the trainers and participants. 

Topics included the general organisation of a rally event, approaches to project management and also the processes of rally stewarding.

Day one provided an opportunity for the instructors from the RTP to identify potential future trainers from the group of senior officials, as a crucial part of ASN development is the creation of a self-sustaining training infrastructure.

The second and third days were aimed more at non-senior officials, and a total of 55 people were in attendance.

A broad range of topics were discussed across both days, including:

• Rallies, baja and cross-country events
• Communication protocols
• Rally organisation including theory of special stage timing including case studies
• Practical training for special stage management - session was held outside on a track to simulate the start and finish processes of a rally stage and how to handle timecards
• Event safety planning
• Risk management
• Basics of closed-car extrication