security operation involves more than 3 000 effects
The more than 3,300 operatives from the various entities, supported by almost 90 vehicles, and a helicopter, are supervised through a command center located at Exponor, in Matosinhos.
The security and assistance operation for this edition of the Rally de Portugal is one of the largest carried out in the country, with more than 3,300 operatives from different branches, who, working in networks, watch over the competition and the public.
The device, planned and actioned before the start of the GNR and PSP, is put into practice by the Civil Protection, National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) and as a security force of the GNR and PSP, all in collaboration with the race organizer, Clube from Portugal (ACP)
The more than 3,300 operatives from the various entities, supported by vehicles and a helicopter, are supervised through a command center at Exponor, where few people work, with real-time access to all features.
In a visit to this “Brain” of all operations in Portugal, where there are also elements of the ACP and the FIA, the agency is present a need for complexity for everyone to “work in a network”.
“As long as each one respects the other’s work and there is trust in what each entity has above all to play, role is easy to work in a network. This is the secret for this whole operation to go well”, Commander Carlos Alves told Lusa. , responsible for the Civil Protection device in the test.
In its action, 60 firefighters are involved, with 450 operatives supported with 105 vehicles, which in total will be 550 hours engaged in the test.
Carlos Alves, who has been in charge of coordinating the civil protection device at the Rally de Portugal since 2016, is also an aficionado of motorsports and of the driver Sébastien Loeb, confessing that “when you combine a taste for work with a passion for cars, everything runs even better.”
Interestingly, the person in charge of INEM’s operation in this race, Bruno Borges, is also a fan of the sport and of the same French driver, and adds the experience of working on the rally since 2005.
In its supervision, the Security Coordinator, Crisis Office of INEM, has 117 effects, including doctors, nurses, auxiliaries and fleet support personnel, supported by 39 logistics and a helicopter operating by force with personnel on board.
“The main mission is to assure all participants in the race, but several times, as is our obligation, we provide assistance to the public”, our medical assistance also Bruno Borges.
This INEM official also highlighted the “strong interconnection” that exists with other entities that ensure the security of management, remembering that only “with a joint work can an event of this dimension be ensured”.
The idea was shared by Rui Silva, lieutenant colonel of the GNR, who for this event coordinates an extensive contingent with 2,800 soldiers and around 750 vehicles.
The GNR pilot from Portugal, who confesses to being responsible for the role setting up the Rally once, and who is a pilot for Araújo the fourth time, is such an appreciative job that “this is such a demanding job that “this one is so demanding that it doesn’t follow the chase time to follow the race”, “More correct translates that what was done correctly in safety test and without incident”.
All this safety device operated by various entities will be mobilized until Sunday, the day on which the Rally de Portugal ends.