About the Rescue and Medical Group
We operate three Motorsport Rescue Units.
Our Rescue and Medical Group is a team of specialist volunteers making an essential contribution to motorsport by providing immediate extrication and medical facilities at the scene of an incident. We cover all types of licenced motorsport events but are mostly involved in circuit racing, stage rallies and hill climbs. We work in inherently high-risk environments: the race circuit or rally stage may still have cars moving, even if not at competitive speed; there is significant risk of fire; and undertaking a technical extrication involves the use of heavy cutting gear with the potential risks of sharp edges, broken glass, inhalation of dust and fumes. In a typical year, we provide safety and emergency services to over 60 events, which equates to around 4,000 hours a year voluntarily working to improve the safety of hundreds of competitors, supporting teams, officials and spectators.
All of our vehicles are licenced by Motorsport UK and are subject to spot checks by their officials at an event to ensure that the crew have the appropriate licence, the mandated equipment is operable, and all medical supplies are in date.
We also have a number of registered healthcare professionals on the team, and they are able to support an event with us or independently.
The SMMC Rescue and Medical Group members are unpaid volunteers like all marshals. The Motorsport UK rescue licence holders have undertaken training in both medical and extrication disciplines and passed a practical assessment, monitored by a Motorsport UK rescue instructor or assessor. They are then re-assessed every three years in order to maintain their rescue licence. SMMC places great importance on training; medical, equipment and extrication training sessions are held regularly.
Days are often long and more often than not, there is not a lot to do in terms of incident response. That’s a good thing as far as we’re concerned as it means that everyone has had a fun and safe event.
As there is potential for the Rescue and Medical Group to be working at incidents involving people under the age of 18, people with a disability or other condition that puts them in a vulnerable group, the Club requires all rescue licence holders (Full and Trainee) to undergo disclosure/criminal record checks via the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG Scheme) provided by Disclosure Scotland.
We attend many forms of four-wheeled motorsport events, generally in Scotland and the north of England – but we have travelled as far as the Channel Islands, Brands Hatch, Silverstone, and to Ireland for the Circuit of Ireland Rally, and Wales for the British round of the World Rally Championship.
How to get involved
We are always seeking new volunteers to join our Rescue and Medical Group. We will be pleased to chat and tell you more about what we do.
If you already have special skills – technical, mechanical, rescue, vehicle recovery, medical, first aid or administration – you may wish to use them as a volunteer with us. You'll make many friends and enjoy a great sense of achievement.
The Motorsport UK regulations stipulate a minimum age of 18 for crew members.
Find out more about how to get involved.
You might also want to look at our Fire Response Team.
In addition, the Motorsport UK website has some useful information about obtaining a Trainee licence: https://www.motorsportuk.org/volunteers/officials/rescue-recovery-crews/
Get in touch
- Rescue and Medical Group Co-ordinator: Jon Bolton
