FIA award for Andrew Farrington's CPR at Newtown rally
Andrew Farrington, 62, from the Newtown area, was scrutineering the Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages in the town last September when one of the drivers collapsed in the scrutineering bay.
'I have no medical training, but I remembered my daughter, who previously nursed in A&E, saying that if you do nothing, the person will probably die, but it you try, you may just save their life,' he said.
Remaining calm and focussed under immense pressure, Andrew helped perform life-saving CPR and managed the situation until emergency services arrived.
'Thankfully he made a full recovery following surgery,' Andrew said. 'I went to meet him in hospital which was very humbling. I'm so relieved he survived.
'It was a privilege to be able to help on the day.'
Andrew, who serves as Technical Delegate for the British Rally Championship, has been named recipient of the FIA Outstanding Official of the Year/Specialist Award, a prestigious honour recognising the dedication, passion, and hard work of individuals.
'This FIA award news came out of the blue,' Andrew told the County Times. 'An award of this type is a great honour and a very nice surprise.
'I have no idea how they have heard about me, but it is very nice being recognised for years of service.
'It is much appreciated, and I am very grateful to them.'
The Probite British Rally Championship (BRC) said that it's not just Andrew's technical expertise that set him apart, it's his 'calm leadership and instinctive care for others that truly define him'.
The married father of two daughters has been involved in motorsport since starting out as a marshal in his teens with Newtown and District Automobile Club.
In the 24 years since starting as a licenced scrutineer, Andrew has built a reputation for professionalism, consistency, and unwavering commitment to the sport both nationally and internationally including Peugeot Sport, M-sport, Race of Champions and the World Rally Championship.
'Whether supporting the British Rally Championship at the highest level or assisting at grassroots events across the country, Andrew's impact on UK motorsport is both wide-reaching and deeply felt,' a spokesperson for the BRC said.
'His quick thinking and composure were widely praised and captured the essence of what it means to be a motorsport official.
'The BRC and the wider community are thrilled to see Andrew receive international recognition for his contribution to the sport.
'His award is not only a reflection of decades of hard work but also a powerful reminder of the critical role volunteers and officials play in keeping motorsport safe, fair, and accessible.'
Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Stages congratulated Andrew on being recognised for his 'extraordinary actions' and his 'unshakeable professionalism' which were widely praised by everyone on-site and beyond.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Downfield double tees up Scottish Challenge start for Tartan Pro Tour player
Rhys Thompson joins Rory Franssen and Bradley Neil in securing Schloss Roxburghe start Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Rhys Thompson joined Rory Franssen and Bradley Neil in securing a Farmfoods Scottish Challenge spot as a Tartan Pro Tour winner after completing a Downfield double. Hot on the heels of Neil becoming the first player to defend a title on Paul Lawrie's circuit, Thompson also achieved the feat in the Downfield Masters presented by Piper Sandler. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rhys Thompson shows off the trophy after winning the Downfield Masters presented by Piper Sandler | Tartan Pro Tour After opening with back-to-back 66s at the Downfield venue, in-form Liam Johsnton led by a shot from both Thompson and Connor McKinney heading into the closing circuit. Following a nip-and-tuck last-day battle, Thompson emerged as the winner, signing off with a 68 for a 12-under-par total to pip Johnston (70) by a shot, with John Henry, who stormed home in 29, a further shot back in third place. 'The Downfield double, aye - back at it,' said Thompson, who picked up a top prize worth £4,500. 'I'd been there before and knew the course, so I was excited to be heading back there. I'd played well there before, so I decided 'yeah, why not have another go'.' Franssen secured his spot in next week's Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A through winning the Cardrona Classic presented by Martin Gilbert, with Neil doing likewise with his victory in the Newmachar Classic presented by Boskalis. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The incentives were there,' added Thompson of a third spot being up for grabs at Downfield. 'They had three Challenge Tour spots from the three events and I wasn't in the hunt for the top two on the Order of Merit for the Scottish Challenge, so I knew I had to win one of the three events. 'I was playing okay going into it, so I just had to go for it, really. Liam was playing well, having been up there every week on the Tartan Pro Tour, so I knew what I had to do.' In addition to Franssen, Neil and Thompson, Johnson and Craig Ross will also be teeing it up at Schloss Roxburghe near Kelso through Tartan Pro Tour tickets as the leading two players on the Order of Merit not otherwise exempt. They'll be taking on the likes of David Horsey, James Morrison and David Law - all recent winners on the HotelPlanner Tour - as well as Eddie Pepperell and Renato Paratore. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rhys Thompson will be teeing up in next week's Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A at Schloss Roxburghe in the Borders | Tartan Pro Tour 'It always is a strong field for the Scottish Challenge,' noted Thomspon of an event won last year by Brandon Robinson Thompson at Newmachar. 'It will be tough, but all the Challenge Tour events are tough to do well in.' After topping the Tartan Pro Tour Order of Merit in 2023, Thompson played on the HotelPlanner Tour last season but, to his disappointment, it proved to be a fruitless rookie campaign. 'Ultimately, it was a great experience, but it was tainted from not playing my best golf, which was obviously frustrating,' he said. 'I can't complain, though, because I had a great year. 'Yes, I didn't play my best golf and it's now how I wanted to perform, but it's golf. You can't always be good. I took the brunt of it and still went out there every week and I tried to make the most of the experience. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I want to be back there for sure and give it a go again playing some better golf. I always felt the way I'd played the year prior to setting up that opportunity, even if a small percentage of that I'd probably have been alright but I didn't, unfortunately. That was the frustrating part as I knew I was capable of doing better.' 'People have realised how good the Tartan Pro Tour is' Having been a bit of a trailblazer, Thompson is now being joined by lots of other English players making the journey north to compete on the Tartan Pro Tour, which was set up during the Covid pandemic to provide playing opportunities for Scottish-based players but has blossomed into a Satellite Tour for the HotelPlanner Tour
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Fears for future of iconic F1 track that's set to disappear from calendar after years of drama and tragedy
Max Verstappen called on it to have special status earlier this year Bel tolls Fears for future of iconic F1 track that's set to disappear from calendar after years of drama and tragedy Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FOR Formula One fans, few race tracks capture the pure essence of motorsport racing quite like Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps. Located in the Ardennes forest, the 7km circuit has a special place in the hearts and history of F1 and beyond. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The iconic Belgium Grand Prix is under threat Credit: Getty 5 Spa-Francorchamps is a traditional track with some of the best racing in motorsport Credit: Getty 5 But the glamour of new F1 tracks like Las Vegas mean Belgium's place is under threat Credit: Getty 5 It is already now on a rotation contract from 2026 Credit: Getty Whether it's the tricky La Source (Turn One), the breathtaking ride up Eau Rouge and Raidillon (Turn Three, Four and Five) or the sweeping double left-hander at Pouhon (Turn 12), there is something to get every petrol head excited. And that is not to mention the countless iconic races which have graced F1 there over the years - with Belgium being one of the original grand prix in F1's first season in 1950. From Michael Schumacher's maiden F1 win at Jordan in 1992 to Lewis Hamilton's epic battles with Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel in 2008 and 2018 respectively, raceday there is rarely dull. Indeed, reigning F1 world champion Max Verstappen named it as one of the six circuits which should have protected status on the calendar, alongside Silverstone, Suzuka, Interlagos, Zandvoort and Imola. READ MORE IN F1 FLOODY HELL Fears for F1 race with track damaged by huge storms appear to rip up road However, the modern pressures of F1 - which has seen the demand for glitz and glam skyrocket as scores of influencers and celebs with only a passing interest in the sport choke out those who genuinely care - mean some of the most iconic tracks on the calendar are at risk. Imola has lost its contract from next season in place of another controversial street track in Madrid, while Zandvoort is celebrating the final Dutch Grand Prix in 2026. Spa's place in the F1 calendar has already been reduced to a rotation piece for the next six years, with its absence sure to be felt in 2028 and 2030 in the wake of potential new venues such as Thailand or Argentina. However, gone are the days when the relative danger of a circuit is tolerated by FIA and F1 chiefs. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK F2 driver Anthoine Hubert tragically lost his life following a high-speed multi-car collision at Raidillon in 2019, while four years later Dutch driver Dilano van 't Hoff was also killed in the same spot during a race in Formula Regional. Circuit chiefs responded in 2022 by investing in gravel traps, widening run-off areas and moving barriers, but some said the changes did not go far enough. Fears for F1 race with circuit damaged by raging storms as floodwater rips up part of the track Wet races there are a particular concern too, with the 2021 Belgium Grand Prix being abandoned after just two laps driven behind the safety car due to the almost non-existent visibility on the track. The spray issue of F1 tyres is far from Spa's fault, but a growing desire for races in parts of the world where weather conditions are more guaranteed, such as the Middle East or even the warmer states in the USA, mean money talks. A record 380,000 fans attended the F1 weekend in Spa last year, yet lucrative money-spinning deals with new tracks including Las Vegas and Miami in the expanding US market are choking an already congested calendar. Indeed, the move to three races in the States came before the release of the new F1 movie. The film, produced by Apple and starring Brad Pitt, broke box office records as it grossed $463million worldwide on a reported budget of $200-$300m. Spa is a traditional track, but a fair share of the latest generation of fans following the success of Netflix's Drive To Survive series and any more after the film tend to be more ensnared by the spectacle of the host tracks. Monaco has suffered the opposite issue to Spa, being a place where the race result is all but decided by Saturday's qualifying due to a lack of overtaking opportunities, but with the glamour to justify its continued existence. The real question for all parties in the coming years is whether F1 is really willing to abandon what made it the most popular motorsport in the world, the racing, in favour of money-spinning events catered for celebs and social media stars. In many ways it could be argued that it represents a battle for the soul of the sport, and some tough debate could be in line for CEO Stefano Domenicali in the future. F1 returns to Spa this weekend after a two-week break in the 2025 season, with the backdrop of Christian Horner's abrupt Red Bull exit sure to make headlines before any cars even hit the track.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Fears for future of iconic F1 track that's set to disappear from calendar after years of drama and tragedy
FOR Formula One fans, few race tracks capture the pure essence of motorsport racing quite like Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps. Located in the Ardennes forest, the 7km circuit has a special place in the hearts and history of F1 and beyond. 5 5 5 5 Whether it's the tricky La Source (Turn One), the breathtaking ride up Eau Rouge and Raidillon (Turn Three, Four and Five) or the sweeping double left-hander at Pouhon (Turn 12), there is something to get every petrol head excited. And that is not to mention the countless iconic races which have graced F1 there over the years - with Belgium being one of the original grand prix in F1's first season in 1950. From Michael Schumacher 's maiden F1 win at Jordan in 1992 to Lewis Hamilton 's epic battles with Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel in 2008 and 2018 respectively, raceday there is rarely dull. Indeed, reigning F1 world champion Max Verstappen named it as one of the six circuits which should have protected status on the calendar, alongside Silverstone, Suzuka, Interlagos, Zandvoort and Imola. However, the modern pressures of F1 - which has seen the demand for glitz and glam skyrocket as scores of influencers and celebs with only a passing interest in the sport choke out those who genuinely care - mean some of the most iconic tracks on the calendar are at risk. Imola has lost its contract from next season in place of another controversial street track in Madrid, while Zandvoort is celebrating the final Dutch Grand Prix in 2026. Spa's place in the F1 calendar has already been reduced to a rotation piece for the next six years, with its absence sure to be felt in 2028 and 2030 in the wake of potential new venues such as Thailand or Argentina. However, gone are the days when the relative danger of a circuit is tolerated by FIA and F1 chiefs. F2 driver Anthoine Hubert tragically lost his life following a high-speed multi-car collision at Raidillon in 2019, while four years later Dutch driver Dilano van 't Hoff was also killed in the same spot during a race in Formula Regional. Circuit chiefs responded in 2022 by investing in gravel traps, widening run-off areas and moving barriers, but some said the changes did not go far enough. Wet races there are a particular concern too, with the 2021 Belgium Grand Prix being abandoned after just two laps driven behind the safety car due to the almost non-existent visibility on the track. The spray issue of F1 tyres is far from Spa's fault, but a growing desire for races in parts of the world where weather conditions are more guaranteed, such as the Middle East or even the warmer states in the USA, mean money talks. A record 380,000 fans attended the F1 weekend in Spa last year, yet lucrative money-spinning deals with new tracks including Las Vegas and Miami in the expanding US market are choking an already congested calendar. Indeed, the move to three races in the States came before the release of the new F1 movie. The film, produced by Apple and starring Brad Pitt, broke box office records as it grossed $463million worldwide on a reported budget of $200-$300m. Spa is a traditional track, but a fair share of the latest generation of fans following the success of Netflix 's Drive To Survive series and any more after the film tend to be more ensnared by the spectacle of the host tracks. Monaco has suffered the opposite issue to Spa, being a place where the race result is all but decided by Saturday's qualifying due to a lack of overtaking opportunities, but with the glamour to justify its continued existence. The real question for all parties in the coming years is whether F1 is really willing to abandon what made it the most popular motorsport in the world, the racing, in favour of money-spinning events catered for celebs and social media stars. In many ways it could be argued that it represents a battle for the soul of the sport, and some tough debate could be in line for CEO Stefano Domenicali in the future. F1 returns to Spa this weekend after a two-week break in the 2025 season, with the backdrop of Christian Horner 's abrupt Red Bull exit sure to make headlines before any cars even hit the track. 5
