Successful motorsport events do not happen by chance. It is the result of comprehensive planning, world-class expertise and efficient coordination.

That is where the Clerk of the Course comes in.

The Clerk of the Course is arguably one of the most important officials roles at any Motorsport Australia-permitted event, overseeing the safety of all in attendance, as well as the welfare of all competitors involved.

The Clerk of the Course maintains a close working partnership with the Race Director, who has ultimate authority over any motorsport meeting, and Stewards, keeping proceedings in line with Motorsport Australia rules and regulations.

As one of the most senior and trusted individuals at an event, participants can always take concerns or questions regarding the safety or legality of the races to the Clerk of the Course.

A Clerk of the Course can also seek guidance and direction for any unresolved issues from the Race Director.

Motorsport Australia Events Manager David Mori has been an official for 39 years, first getting involved in an officiating capacity alongside his father.

Mori’s rise through the officiating ranks resulted in him becoming a Clerk of the Course and he has attended some of the largest and most covered motorsport events on the planet.

Mori was also announced as the Clerk of the Course for this year’s Formula One Australian Grand Prix and has experience in the position across Formula Ford, Formula 4, V8 SuperUtes, Australian Production Cars, Porsche Carrera Cup and Sprint Challenge events.

“The Clerk of the Course is responsible for the event in its entirety,” Mori said.

“This includes ensuring that race control is set up correctly and that there’s a sufficient amount of officials trackside, that there’s the correct amount of response vehicles trackside, and that they’re placed in locations that they’re the most effective for deployment in the event of an incident.

“But for me, the key part of the role is getting a team working together, at the optimum level, in the shortest amount of time.”

The list of official duties a Clerk of the Course must oversee is extensive, given the larger level of responsibility for overall public safety.

• Ensuring that each official is at their post and that they are provided with the necessary information to perform their duties;
• Controlling any competitor, driver, navigator and their automobile;
• Preventing any competitor, driver or navigator subject to disqualification, suspension or exclusion from taking part in a competition for which they are not eligible;
• Ensuring that each Automobile, and if necessary, each Driver and Navigator, carries the correct markings;
• Ensuring that each Automobile is driven by the Driver as entered;
• Marshalling each Automobile in the appropriate category and class;
• Ensuring each Automobile is in its correct starting order and, if necessary, giving the Start;
• Reporting to the Stewards any proposal to modify the Official Program;
• Reporting to the Stewards any improper conduct or alleged breach of any Rule;
• Receiving any protest and transmitting it immediately to the Stewards;
• Collecting the report of any timekeeper, scru tineer, track or road marshal, together with any information necessary for the determination of the results;
• If required, collecting the reports of the Chief Medical Officer for delivery to the Stewards;
• Preparing, or requesting the Secretary of the Event to prepare information for the Stewards’ closing report regarding the Competition/s for which they were responsible;
• And where no Stewards have been appointed to a club Event, assuming their authority in accordance with the National Competition Rules.