Now dressed in orange coveralls, for increased safety along of the track, the 1,700 marshals of the 24 Hours of Le Mans are volunteers and come from all over the world. The marshals serving at Le Mans are considered the best in the world due to aggressive training. This makes them highly sought after at other circuits like Monaco for the Grand Prix.
Marshals are first trainees for one year and only intervene on basic tasks. They are trained during races throughout the year so as to have enough experience before the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They even go through fire training where they learn to master a burning car.
The marshals are the first to intervene when there is an accident, so at any given time they may have the destiny of a car or the life of a driver in their hands. This is why they are extremely respected, particularly by drivers.
The marshals' role is essential and without them the race could not take place. They are as important as the drivers.
Sophie Ligier / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO