The Mid Antrim 150 Club is celebrating a “huge milestone” after formally receiving the green light for the return of the Irish road race later this year.

The event will be held from July 31-August 1 on the 3.5-mile Clough course after an absence of four years.

In 2022, the race was sabotaged for the second time when oil, glass and nails were deposited onto sections of the course in an overnight attack.

Previously, in 2011, the meeting was also targeted, with oil dropped around course in the early hours of the morning of the race.

placeholder image — Neil Kernohan and Michael Sweeney round Clough hairpin during Superbike practice at the Mid-Antrim 150 in 2022. (Photo by Rod Neill Pacemaker Press)

However, plans are advanced for the return of the famous race following successful meetings between club members and residents, and the event has now received the green light after the course was recently passed for racing by the MCUI Track Inspection Committee.

In a statement, the club said: “We are delighted to share some fantastic news. The MCUI Track Inspection Committee visited Clough to assess our road race circuit in the village – and we’re proud to announce that we have officially been given the green light to go road racing in 2026! “This is a huge milestone for everyone involved with the Mid Antrim 150. A massive thank you to all the volunteers, supporters, and committee members whose hard work and dedication made this possible. “We can’t wait to welcome riders and fans back to Clough for what promises to be an incredible return to road racing.”

In December, Mid Antrim 150 Club stalwart Jack Agnew said an extensive plan was in place to ensure the race could become “self-sufficient” over the next five years.

“We’ve worked for the last four years to get to this level and 2022 drained us money-wise and we struggled to get over 2022, but we managed; we ran short circuit meetings, we ran shows to gather finances together, and now we’re in a position financially and also from the local community, so we’re good to go,” Agnew said.

“I think we’d see a good turnout of riders and it will also be the last round on the calendar, so there’s the championship coming into it with the Mid Antrim being the culmination of the national road racing championship.

“We’ve a new team on board to run the event with the likes of Bary Davidson and Kitty Harland; we’ve a new secretary and Clerk of the Course – so basically a new team.

“We have a five-year plan in position and we would like to see the event be self-sufficient in five years’ time.”

The Irish road racing season begins with the Cookstown 100 from April 24-25 followed by the North West 200 from May 6-9.

The Armoy Road Races will run from July 24-25 followed by the Mid Antrim a week later.

Road racing is set to return in the Republic of Ireland this year for the first time since 2022, with the Kells, Skerries 100, Walderstown and South West Road Races (Athea) on the calendar.