Rick de Feber is a 25-year-old marshal who has been working in motorsport since 2013 and can most often be found at Circuit Zandvoort. With almost nine seasons under his belt, de Feber has worked on a variety of racing classes, including Formula 1, the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, the ADAC GT Masters, and the GT World Challenge Europe.
In an interview with It’s All Sport to Me, de Feber discusses his passion for cars and motorsport and shares some of his most memorable experiences in the field.
Memories and marshalling
When asked about his favourite racing memory, de Feber cites Max Verstappen’s win as a standout moment. He also recalls the tense excitement of marshalling the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Here he stood at the marshal post at the bottom of the hill (MP97 in Füchsrohre), where “over a hundred cars come at you and you just don’t know where to look.”
In addition to his work as a marshal, de Feber also serves as a Chief of Post, directing his crew during races. This is a position he has worked up to, as he started out as Flag Marshal. He says that he has developed a “survival instinct” when it comes to dealing with crashes and other emergencies on the track, but does admit that crashes stay with him to a certain extent. Still, in the moment he just aims to resolve the situation quickly and safely, the rest comes later.
Despite the challenges of working in motorsport, de Feber says he is driven by his passion for the sport and the camaraderie he shares with his colleagues. He does admit with a cheeky laugh, however, that there have been times when harsh weather conditions have made him question why he continues to work in the field.
The importance of LGBTQ+ representation and Racing Pride
As a gay man, de Feber is involved with Racing Pride, an organization that supports and advocates for LGBTQ+ inclusion in motorsport. While progress has been made in recent years to promote inclusivity and diversity in motorsport, de Feber says that discrimination and homophobia are still major issues within the industry.
He recalls no instances where he has been made to feel uncomfortable or unwelcome because of his sexual orientation, but does admit that at first he held this information about himself back in fear of a negative reaction and still refrains from marshalling at racing events taking place in countries where being ‘out and proud’ can be dangerous or is illegal.
Which is why de Feber stresses the importance of organizations like Racing Pride. While progress has been made in recent years to promote inclusivity and diversity in motorsport, it is still lagging behind in comparison to other sports. Not only impacting those individuals working on track, but also for LGBTQ+ fans who draw attention to various motorsport series racing in countries where being part of the community is dangerous, or even illegal.
Organizations like Racing Pride are working to provide support and community for LGBTQ+ individuals in these countries and to raise awareness about the issues they face. By promoting inclusivity and acceptance, Racing Pride and others hope to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ individuals in motorsport, regardless of where they live.
Racing Pride’s ambassadors also serve as role models for fans, which have been sorely lacking in years previous. Rick recalls how, as a young boy growing up, he never had anyone in motorsport that he could look up to as a gay person. He never had anyone to identify with, and he hopes that through his involvement with Racing Pride, he can be a role model for the next generation of LGBTQ+ individuals in the sport. These role models are especially relevant when it comes to series racing in countries where being part of the LGBTQ+ community might be taboo, as this is most likely some of the only representation or allyship they will get to see.
Through his involvement with Racing Pride, de Feber hopes to raise awareness and promote inclusivity in motorsport. He believes that everyone should feel welcome and safe in the racing community, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. De Feber is proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community and to be a visible presence in the world of motorsport.
What’s next?
Looking to the future, de Feber says he would like to marshal at more international events, including the 24 Hours of Daytona and the Indycar St. Petersburg race. Overall, de Feber says he is grateful for the experiences he has had in the world of racing and looks forward to continuing his work as a marshal.
