Fate of Ulster Grand Prix won't be allowed to 'drag on' as decision expected on future of legendary Dundrod race next week

A meeting between the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) and Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council on Tuesday is set to provide a final answer on the future of the Dundrod race, which was last run in 2019.

Several attempts to revive the event have failed over the years after former promoters the Dundrod and District Club was issued with a winding up order in 2020 and forced into liquidation after accumulating debts of around £300,000. The club later entered into a company voluntary arrangement with creditors.

In 2022, the Revival Racing Club, led by road racing great Phillip McCallen, attempted to run the race in its centenary year but was unsuccessful in obtaining funding, while a further bid to reinstate the race by the Dundrod and District Club in 2024 also failed.

This latest venture by the MCUI’s Sports Promotion company with support from affiliated clubs could be the last throw of the dice, and the governing body’s secretary Mark Sanlon says a final call on whether to press ahead with plans for the race in August 2027 will be made in a timely fashion.

“We’re not going to drag this on: you can’t drag it on and there has to be a decision made that either we are going ahead, or do we stop,” he said.

“We’ve put everything into trying to make this happen and we’ve got the right people involved in the finance side of things and a good management team, so we’ve given it our best shot.”

Sanlon offered some insight into the work that has been undertaken behind the scenes since last November’s announcement at Stormont, when the latest plans to try and resurrect the historic road race were revealed.

“We pinpointed at least 20 areas on the course that need repair work done to sections of the road surface, and some parts needed full-width carriageway repairs,” he said.

“That was in January, but we haven’t had much engagement from the Department of Infrastructure. We have a request in to Liz Kimmins, the Minister for Infrastructure, for a meeting to see where we are at, but we have been told that the repairs will be done for 2027.

“We have engaged with Openreach and have costs around moving telegraph poles, with at least eight telegraph poles that need to relocate from one side of the road to the other.

“A lot of it is doable. We’ve had a meeting with the Department for Communities and discussed funding for safety items and removable fencing, and that has been positive.

“The last meeting we had with council was very good and they are able to provide a lot of support in-kind in terms of portacabins, fencing, barriers, generators, lighting… which would reduce our expenditure and increase their support in-kind.”

Salon revealed there has been “massive interest” in the return of the Ulster Grand Prix from around the world and said the race – which previously formed one of the ‘Big Three’ road races along with the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT – would generates millions for the Northern Ireland economy.

“We’ve had requests from all around the world asking when it’s happening, when the dates are, so there is massive interest in the race and it would be great for the economy,” Sanlon said.

“Figures are showing that it would generate around £3million for the economy over race week in the Dundrod area and for the wider NI economy overall.

“If we can get the race running in 2027, we expect massive support from across the globe and large numbers turning out.

“But the key is that it has to be sustainable so it keeps running year on year. The North West 200 is a fantastic festival now and it’s something I can’t ever see disappearing because it’s part of the infrastructure of Northern Ireland and Ireland, and hopefully the Ulster Grand Prix can do that too.”

Looking ahead to Tuesday’s meeting, he added: “It is an important meeting, I’m still positive at the minute, but we don’t know what they will say until Tuesday.”