MSA unveils new tabards for all rally marshals.

The Motor Sports Association [MSA] - the governing body of motor sport in the UK - has confirmed that it will supply over 5,000 registered rally marshals with brand new orange tabards.

In the latest move to improve rally safety and thereby promote the sport's development in this country, the MSA will ensure that its trained marshals are instantly and consistently recognisable on every event.

Thanks to generous support from SLE Worldwide, Alexander Forbes Motorsport Risk Management Services (the governing body's insurance provider) and the Motorsport Safety Fund, the MSA has produced thousands of fluorescent tabards complete with reflective strip which will be distributed later this month to those on the MSA Rally Marshals Register.

Last year the MSA set up an initiative to train and register the UK's force of rally marshals, as a result of which more than 5,100 people are now listed on the official register. Around half of these registrations resulted directly from a series of nationwide seminars organised by the MSA in the run-up to the 2002 Rally GB, while the remainder have been recruited thanks to the on-going efforts of regional associations and clubs.

"One of the primary objectives of establishing a centralised Rally Marshals Register was to improve communications and standards," explains Allan Dean-Lewis, Head of External Affairs at the MSA. "The register enables us to have a direct channel of communication with the country's marshals, keeping them up to date with developments and notices."

The MSA is confident that the circulation of these special MSA-approved tabards will make a noticeable difference to the smooth and safe running of all rallies throughout the UK.

Dean-Lewis continued: "The tabards are designed to be highly visible which not only improves safety but also makes registered marshals instantly recognisable to competitors, officials and spectators. With the register in place, we can mail tabards directly to those individuals, and as well as being an immediate endorsement for those on the register, the fact that all trained rally marshals will now be wearing the same attire means that people will get used to seeing them and this consistency is important."