 | |
|---|---|
| Region | Northern Ireland |
| Course | Dundrod Circuit |
| Type | Public road course |
| Clerk of the course | |
| Event organiser | Dundrod & District Motorcycle Club |
| Principal sponsor | Aer Lingus (most recent) |
| History | |
| First race | 1922 |
| Number of race meetings | |
| First winner | Werner Haas |
| Most wins | Joey Dunlop (24) |
| Lap record | |
| Fatalities | 22 |
The Ulster Grand Prix is a (currently) defunct motorcycle road race which took place on the 7.401 mi (11.911 km) Dundrod Circuit made up entirely of closed-off public roads near Belfast, Northern Ireland. According to the race organisers, it was the fastest road race in the world.[1]
The first races took place in 1922 and in 1935 and 1948 the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme gave it the title Grand Prix d'Europe. The Ulster Grand Prix was included as one of the races in the inaugural 1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season (now MotoGP), a place it held until 1971. It also counted for the Formula TT Championship between 1979 and 1990.
The last running of the event occurred in 2019. As a consequence of increased insurance costs and diminished sponsorship,[2] together with the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of the meeting has been called into question.[3]
History
[4] The race has been held on three different circuits. The 20.5 mi (33.0 km) Old Clady circuit was used from 1922 until 1939 and included a notoriously bumpy 7 mi (11 km) straight.[4]
After World War II the new Clady circuit was used that, due to road improvements, was now 16.467 mi (26.501 km) in length and in use between 1947 and 1952.
In 1953 the race was moved to the 7.401 mi (11.911 km) Dundrod Circuit where it is still held. The 1971 event was won by Australian Jack Findlay in what was the Ulster Grand Prix's last year as part of the FIM Grand Prix international motorcycle racing calendar. Findlay's victory on a Suzuki was also notable for marking the first 500cc class win for a motorcycle powered by a two stroke engine.[5][6] The event was cancelled in 1972 because of the political situation in Northern Ireland, but it was held in 2001 during the Foot-and-mouth crisis, even though the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT were cancelled that year.[7][8]
In 1997 Dublin sidecar pilot Stephen Galligan died of injuries sustained in a warm-up crash the day before the race. Mr Galligan died ten days later in hospital. Seven-year-old spectator Christopher McConnell-Hewitt also lost his life when he was struck by the sidecar which veered out of control on a long straight and crashed into a crowd. [9]
Bruce Anstey won the Superbike race at the Ulster Grand Prix in 2010, setting a new lap record of 133.977 mph (215.615 km/h), making him at that time, the fastest rider on the fastest motorcycle racing circuit in the world.[10][11]
Future in doubt
As of 2024 the future of the meeting is under threat.[12] The last running of the event was in 2019 with the following meetings being cancelled as a consequence of a lack of financial backing in addition to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
In 2020 a winding up order was issued to the Ulster Grand Prix organisers, the Dundrod & District Motorcycle Club, with the Dundrod & District having amassed debts of approximately £300,000. Following the issuing of the order the club went into liquidation.[13]
In March 2022 a potential new promotor, the Revival Racing Motorcycle Club, had signalled that they were prepared to undertake the stewardship of the meeting with a view to a return of racing in August 2022. However once again the required funding could not be secured and this resulted in the proposal being withdrawn and the 2022 race meeting was cancelled.[13][12]
During the Autumn of 2022 a further feasibility study was undertaken by Revival Racing with a view to the running of the Ulster Grand Prix in August 2023. Whilst initial studies appeared favourable, Revival Racing subsequently found difficulty in mustering the required financing and in October 2022 issued the following starement:
"As this situation is unlikely to change in time to allow us to progress for 2023, we have therefore reluctantly withdrawn our UGP date application with the MCUI (UC)."
— Revival Racing Motorcycle Club statement: Thursday October 27, 2022.[12]
An important announcement was made on February 9 2023 by the Motorcycle Union of Ireland with regard to the running of motorcycle racing in Ireland for the 2023 season. This followed a significant increase in the insurance premium required to cover the events and consequently placed the 2023 racing schedule under threat of being cancelled.[14] In late April 2023 the organisers cancelled the 2023 event, citing insurance and funding problems.[15]
A further announcement, issued by the event's organisers, the Dundrod & District Motorcycle Club, was made on January 8, 2024, concerning the running of the event as part of the 2024 racing calendar. The statement by the club concluded by stating that due to ongoing insurance and financing issues, the proposed 2024 Ulster Grand Prix had been cancelled.[16][17][18]
Official names and sponsors
- 1958, 1961, 1964–1965, 1971: Ulster Grand Prix (no official sponsor)[19]
Famous riders
Joey Dunlop won 24 Ulster Grand Prix races during his career, with Phillip McCallen winning 14 races, Peter Hickman with 13 wins, Bruce Anstey 12[20] and Brian Reid 9 wins. Some of the famous riders include: Guy Martin (11 wins) Stanley Woods (7 wins), Jimmie Guthrie, Jimmie Simpson, Artie Bell, Les Graham, Freddie Frith (3 wins), Geoff Duke (3 wins), John Surtees (6 wins), Ray Amm, Carlo Ubbiali (5 wins), Bill Lomas (3 wins), Mike Hailwood (7 wins), Giacomo Agostini (7 wins), Phil Read (3 wins), Bill Ivy (3 wins), Bob McIntyre, Gary Hocking (3 wins), Tom Herron (5 wins), Ron Haslam (5 wins), Jon Ekerold, and more recently Mick Grant, Wayne Gardner, Steve Hislop, Robert Dunlop (9 wins).
FIM World Championship rounds (1949–1971)
| |
| Grand Prix motorcycle racing | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Dundrod Circuit (1953–1971) Clady Circuit (1949–1952) |
| First race | 1949 |
| Last race | 1971 |
| Most wins (rider) | Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini (7) |
| Most wins (manufacturer) | MV Agusta (24) |
Multiple winners (riders)
| # Wins | Rider | Wins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Years won | ||
| 7 |  Mike Hailwood |
500cc | 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967 |
| 350cc | 1966 | ||
| 250cc | 1967 | ||
| 125cc | 1959 | ||
 Giacomo Agostini |
500cc | 1968, 1969, 1970 | |
| 350cc | 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 | ||
| 6 | John Surtees |
500cc | 1958, 1959 |
| 350cc | 1958, 1959, 1960 | ||
| 250cc | 1955 | ||
| 5 | Carlo Ubbiali |
250cc | 1960 |
| 125cc | 1950, 1956, 1958, 1960 | ||
| 4 | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Jim Redman |
350cc | 1962, 1963, 1964 |
| 250cc | 1963 | ||
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Luigi Taveri |
250cc | 1956 | |
| 125cc | 1957, 1962, 1966 | ||
| 3 | Geoff Duke |
500cc | 1950, 1951 |
| 350cc | 1951 | ||
| Maurice Cann |
250cc | 1949, 1950, 1952 | |
| Bill Lomas |
500cc | 1955 | |
| 350cc | 1955, 1956 | ||
| Gary Hocking |
500cc | 1961 | |
| 350cc | 1961 | ||
| 250cc | 1959 | ||
| Phil Read |
500cc | 1964 | |
| 250cc | 1964, 1965 | ||
| Bill Ivy |
250cc | 1968 | |
| 125cc | 1967, 1968 | ||
| 2 | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Ken Kavanagh |
500cc | 1953 |
| 350cc | 1952 | ||
 Werner Haas |
250cc | 1954 | |
| 125cc | 1953 | ||
| Cecil Sandford |
250cc | 1957 | |
| 125cc | 1952 | ||
| John Hartle |
500cc | 1956, 1960 | |
 Hugh Anderson |
125cc | 1963, 1964 | |
| Kel Carruthers |
250cc | 1969, 1970 | |
 Ángel Nieto |
50cc | 1969, 1970 | |
Multiple winners (manufacturers)
| # Wins | Manufacturer | Wins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Years won | ||
| 24 | MV Agusta |
500cc | 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1969, 1970 |
| 350cc | 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 | ||
| 250cc | 1956, 1958, 1960 | ||
| 125cc | 1952, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960 | ||
| 13 |  Honda |
500cc | 1966, 1967 |
| 350cc | 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966 | ||
| 250cc | 1961, 1962, 1963, 1967 | ||
| 125cc | 1961, 1962, 1966 | ||
| 11 | Norton |
500cc | 1950, 1951, 1953, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1965 |
| 350cc | 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954 | ||
| 8 | Moto Guzzi |
500cc | 1955 |
| 350cc | 1955, 1956, 1957 | ||
| 250cc | 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952 | ||
| 7 | Yamaha |
250cc | 1964, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1971 |
| 125cc | 1967, 1968 | ||
| 5 | NSU |
250cc | 1953, 1954, 1955 |
| 125cc | 1953, 1954 | ||
| 4 | Suzuki |
500cc | 1971 |
| 125cc | 1963, 1964, 1965 | ||
| 2 | Velocette |
350cc | 1949, 1950 |
| Mondial |
250cc | 1957 | |
| 125cc | 1950 | ||
| Gilera |
500cc | 1952, 1957 | |
| Derbi |
50cc | 1969, 1970 | |
| MZ |
350cc | 1971 | |
| 250cc | 1959 | ||
By year
A pink background indicates a round that was not part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship.
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- Footnotes
- ↑ The 1971 50cc race was cancelled as the organisers had only received eight entries.[21]
- ↑ The 1954 500cc race was stopped due to bad weather and the race was excluded from the world championship.[22]
- ↑ The 1951 125cc race only had four competitors and the race was excluded from the world championship.[23]
See also
References
- ↑ "The World's Fastest Road Race" Ulster Grand Prix Official Website 2010. Retrieved August 2010
- ↑ The Ulster Grand Prix, Again, Unlikely For 2023 Season rideapart.com, 29 October 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023
- ↑ Ulster Grand Prix future in doubt as 2022 centenary event cancelled amid funding shortfall ITV News, 7 March 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023
- 1 2 Eddie McIlwaine (17 August 2008). "10 things you didn't know about the big event". The Belfast Telegraph. p. 15.
- ↑ "Jack Findlay". 3 June 2007. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ↑ "MotoGP Milestones". crash.net. 22 May 2003. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- ↑ Ulster Grand Prix 2001 – Preview (retrieved 10 September 2006)
- ↑ Victoria O'Hara (17 August 2008). "Revved up for race". The Belfast Telegraph. p. 15.
- ↑ By, The Motorsport Memorial Team. "Motorsport Memorial -". www.motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ↑ Pinchin, Gary (2010) "Bruce Anstey: Road racing’s reclusive hero", Motorcycle News, 18 August 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010
- ↑ "Ulster Grand Prix: Anstey celebrates being fastest man on planet", The Belfast Telegraph, 17 August 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010
- 1 2 3 "Ulster GP return shelved by Revival Racing MCC". BBC Sport.
- 1 2 "UGP off amid doubts over event's future". BBC Sport.
- ↑ "North West 200 organisers 'not giving up fight'". BBC Sport.
- ↑ White, Kyle (27 April 2023). "Ulster Grand Prix: Tourism NI says 'approval was in place' to offer funding pending 'clarification' on several issues". NewsLetter. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ↑ https://www.three.fm/news/isle-of-man-news/ulster-grand-prix-24-cancelled-due-to-ongoing-insurance-issues/
- ↑ https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/motorcycling/ulster-grand-prix-cancelled-for-fifth-year-in-a-row/a254646992.html
- ↑ https://www.manxradio.com/news/tt-news/no-ulster-grand-prix-for-2024/
- ↑ "1958 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
- ↑ "Anstey claims 12th Ulster GP win at Dundrod". BBC Sport. 14 August 2016.
- ↑ "Les Championnats du Monde de Courses sur Route – L'année 1971" [World Championship Road Racing – 1971]. Racing Memory (in French). Archived from the original on 24 June 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
- ↑ "Les Championnats du Monde de Courses sur Route – L'année 1954" [World Championship Road Racing – 1954]. Racing Memory (in French). Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
- ↑ "Les Championnats du Monde de Courses sur Route – L'année 1951" [World Championship Road Racing – 1951]. Racing Memory (in French). Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
External links
- Ulster Grand Prix official website
- Ulster Grand Prix race history Archived 5 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- Ulster Grand Prix Supporters Club