Trackmarshal Ruben

Tag: blog

  • The language of flags: What a marshal tries to tell you

    If you’ve ever attended a motorsport event — or followed one on television — you’ve likely seen colored flags waving along the track. But did you know that each flag conveys a specific message to the drivers? For marshals, the eyes and ears of the track, these flags are the primary means of communicating quickly and clearly. In this blog, I will take you into the world of the flags that we marshals use.

    Flags at the marshalpost

    🟡 Yellow Flag: Danger!

    The yellow flag is probably the most well-known. If you see one yellow flag waving, there is danger on the track after the flag. Drivers must reduce their speed, and overtaking is not allowed.
    Two yellow flags indicate serious danger: there may be a car blocking the track, or marshals may be on the field. Maximum vigilance is required.

    🟢 Green Flag: All Safe Again

    As soon as the danger has passed, we wave a green flag. This means: clear course, racing may resume. You often see this flag shortly after a yellow zone.

    🔴 Red flag: Race suspended

    When a red flag is raised, everything comes to a halt. This only happens in serious incidents or when conditions are too dangerous to continue racing — think heavy rain or a serious accident. Drivers must significantly reduce their speed and proceed to the pit lane or another safe zone.

    ⚫️ Black Flag: Disqualified

    This flag is rarely waved, but when you see it with a license plate, you know: that car must come in immediately. The reason? Behavior that is too dangerous or unsportsmanlike to ignore.

    ⚪️ White flag: Slow participant on the track

    For example, a car with a technical problem or a medical car. The white flag warns drivers that there is a much slower vehicle on the track.

    🔵 Blue flag: Faster car approaching

    Especially relevant in races with different classes or when overtaking backmarkers. As a marshal, you indicate that the driver must make way for a faster participant who is on a lap.

    🟠 Yellow with Red Stripes: Slippery Surface

    This flag warns of reduced grip — think of oil, gravel, or little parts of debris on the asphalt. Racers need to be extra alert here.

    🏁 Black and white checkered flag: Finish!

    The flag that everyone hopes for: the end of the race! This is waved at the finish line to indicate that the race, qualification, or training is over.

    🎌 And what do marshals do exactly?

    Marshals monitor safety on and around the track while flagging. We assist in accidents, report what we see, and ensure that drivers can race as quickly and safely as possible. The flags are our means of communication, but our eyes, ears, and teamwork make the difference.

    Have you ever attended a race and seen flags yourself? Or do you have questions about what it’s like to be a marshal? Let me know in the comments!

  • My personal equipment

    Before every day on track I prepare myself by checking if I have everyting I need. Several things are crucial for marshal to have with them. I will list down below what we need.

    • Highly visible clothing – Ofcourse we need highly visible clothing to be visible for cars or bike comming at us at high speeds. Most marshal will wear orange clothin, but some tracks require white clothing as well (you will see that more often in the United States).
    • Sturdy shoes – We have to run through gravel, grass and over the circuit to be quickly at the scene. So sturdy shoes are a must have. If you come to the track on flip flops, you will send home (Believe me, people have tried it). Also for kicking bits and pieces of the track is a lot easier with the right shoes on.
    • Gloves – As much as important as the studry shoes. The rule I learned when I became a marshal was: “Crashed bike or cars have hot or sharp parts, no doubt!”. It protect us from being cut or burned. But, also waving flags is a lot more comfortable with gloves on.
    • Wistle – A wistle is needed to warn other marshal for oncomming vehicles. When we are at work on track, during session or in between them, we do not see what is happeing around us. We are focused on our job. That’s why there always one marshal facing towards the oncomming traffic with a wistle in his mouth, so he can react imedtiatly when needed.
    • Radio Scanner – Although it’s not possible on every track, I always bring my radio scanner to the track. With a radio scanner, we can listen to the communication between Race Control and other marshalposts around the track. In that way, every marshal is always up to date about what is happing around the track. It is very useful when Race Control desides to neutralise. Race Control will count down: “In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Full Course Yellow, Fulle Course Yellow.”
    • Writing material – A pen and an notebook are also part of my gear! Writing down important notes from Race Control or the race numbers of the leaders in the race so we know when to wave te blue flag. That’s why we need it!

    Do you have any question? Let my know!