Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has finalised details of an offer aimed at encouraging race marshals to work on both the TT and the Manx Grand Prix 2008.

The Company has liaised with the Department of Tourism & Leisure in developing the incentive, which will offer significant savings on MGP ferry fares for visiting marshals who also travelled with the company to cover the TT.

The discounts available are:

• A marshal paying a MGP ferry fare of £200 or less will receive a refund of 50%
• For ferry fares of more than £200, the refund will be a maximum of £100

Marshals signing on for the TT 2008 will be given an MGP discount form which they must retain and complete prior to taking it to the Ferry Travel Shop in the Sea Terminal, Douglas, during the Manx Grand Prix period.

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward explained: “Both the TT and MGP depend on volunteer visitor marshals to supplement the local marshals, but in previous years visitor marshals have received no financial assistance towards travel costs.

“Last year the MGP was short of sufficient marshals to the extent there was a risk some races would not go ahead. As the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company plays such a large role in the TT and MGP festivals, bringing the majority of tourists, racers and marshals to the Island, we wanted to introduce an incentive that would be of real benefit to the races as well as to individuals.

“We would like to thank the TT Marshals Association and the Department of Tourism and Leisure for their efforts in drawing up the support package for visiting marshals. We are confident this initiative will help ensure that both events have sufficient marshals, which clearly makes for better festivals for all involved.”

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