The British Grand Prix is one of the marquee events of the Formula 1 calendar, but holding it successfully would not be possible without the help of some of the hard-working volunteers who make the race weekend run smoothly: the Race Makers.
It’s Sunday night and we are absolutely shattered. Physically shot. Mentally drained. But, as the sun sets, casting an eerie pink hue across the Northamptonshire countryside, we clink glasses with a small group of ‘Race Makers’ gathered around our campervan, to toast yet another epic British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The deafening engines and the roars of the crowd have subsided, and the only sounds are the laughter and conversation among the other groups like ours.
Rachel and I are just two of 500 Race Makers; Silverstone’s volunteer program, which started over a decade ago, with the aim to enhance the customer experience, much like the 2012 ‘Games Makers’ did for the London Olympics.
We have walked the best part of 100,000 steps in the past four days and been part of an event which has delighted over half a million customers. 12 months of precision planning and preparation boil down to three days on track, 20 cars, 10 teams, three drivers on the podium and just one winner. This year a British driver, from a British team, winning the British Grand Prix is an extra special experience, but the result is just a very small part of sending half a million fans home happy.
Getting up close and personal with Keanu Reeves, Gordon Ramsey, Sir Jackie Stewart, countless A-list actors and other celebrities is just as rewarding as supporting the hundreds of fans who have queued since before dawn and sprinted to the paddock entrance to get a glimpse of one of their heroes. We help hundreds of fans find their grandstand, locate a merch store, find a loo or get urgent medical attention in the event of a fall or sudden loss of blood pressure. Making people smile is our only job, but it is so much more than that.
Over the last decade and more, the Race Maker program has evolved dramatically and plays a large part in Silverstone having one of the highest CX ratings on the circuit. Rachel and I have been coming to the Grand Prix as guests since 2010, but our experience has been elevated since joining the volunteer program in 2022.
We are now part of a huge team, young and old, from all walks of life who give up their precious time to volunteer at this epic event. Being responsible for delivering great customer service is clearly a powerful pull factor as many of us keep coming back year after year. Putting smiles on so many faces clearly overrides the 5 am alarms and the aching legs, and reflecting on the days trials and tribulations with our colleagues over some hot food and a cold beverage is a brilliant way to relax after a long, hard day.
Every year the experience as a Race Maker gets better and better and it’s a good job, as the event keeps getting bigger and bigger with more and more fans. It’s a huge privilege to play our part in the magical experiences that many of the fans will never forget.
As volunteers, we don’t get paid. Our campsite is covered, along with all our meals for the weekend and we are afforded access to all the entertainment once our shifts are finished and we get to see our fair share of track action too. We have seen some exceptional concerts and many up-and-coming acts over the years. For us, Tom Grennan has to be a particular highlight – what a performance!
But being a Race Maker is no walk in the park. With over half a million people attending over the weekend, our communication and people management skills are put to the test as we encounter our fair share of rude, drunk, stressed and sometimes disappointed people, but it’s the smiles we help to create that keep us committed.
Attending a Grand Prix weekend is extremely trying for everyone and seeing so many fans with accessibility needs, toughing it out to enjoy this amazing sport in person is extremely inspirational; so helping a Williams fan with terminal cancer grab a selfie and a signature was a very wholesome moment.
Being so close to the teams, drivers and their families requires exceptional security teams to maintain safety whilst we concentrate on helping the fans have the best experience. The support we got this year from the BPS team made everyone’s experience so much better. This was a timely upgrade with the new Fan Forecourt area bringing so many more people to the inner track. We hope they are asked to provide close protection next year.
Race Makers can be spotted in grandstands, public areas and hospitality suites; on the perimeter and in the centre of the track so if you need anything at one of Silverstone’s major events (F1, MotoGP, BSB or Festival / Classic) then seek out one of the volunteers in a pink T-shirt.
Silverstone’s continued investment and development of this program is a testament to their commitment to delivering best-in-class CX at all their events. The camaraderie developed among an ever-growing bunch of volunteers is incredible and has enabled us to meet an eclectic bunch and develop some lifelong friendships.
Being a Race Maker has given us an unrivalled perspective of F1 at Silverstone, made the event even more special than we thought possible and enabled us to attend Grand Prix in other countries as paying guests. Until the next event we can put our feet up and our pink t-shirts away.
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