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Ulster Grand Prix

(Redirected from Ulster motorcycle Grand Prix)

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. Due to the races having the fastest average speed over a single lap of any motorcycle road race, it is the fastest race of its kind (Road Racing) in the world. The lap record of 136.415 mph (219.539 km/h) was set by Peter Hickman in the 2019 superbike race, a faster average than the Isle of Man TT lap record, which stands at 136.358mph (219.446 km/h) as of 2024, set also by Peter Hickman.

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 136.415 mph (219.539 km/h)
Fatalities 22

The last running of the event occurred in 2019. As a consequence of increased insurance and sundry costs, in association with diminished sponsorship revenue,[1] together with the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of the meeting has been called into question.[2]

History

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Origins

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Hairpin bend on the Dundrod Circuit

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.[citation needed][3] 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.[3]

1947 - 1952

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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.

1953 - 2019

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From 1953 the venue was moved to the 7.401 mi (11.911 km) Dundrod Circuit.

The 1971 meeting marked the last year in which the Ulster Grand Prix formed part of the FIM Grand Prix International Motorcycle Racing Calendar. The 250cc race was won by Ray McCulloch[4] whilst meeting concluded with Australian Jack Findlay taking the honours in the 500cc blue ribband finale race onboard a Suzuki. This was Findlay's first victory for Suzuki[5] and was also notable in that it recorded the first 500cc class win for a motorcycle powered by a two stroke engine.[6][7] 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.[8][9]

2019 meeting

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The final meeting took place in 2019 which saw the running of a full race programme with Man of the Meeting, Peter Hickman, establishing a record of seven victories over two days during which he upped the outright lap record to 136.415 mph (219.539 km/h).

Future in doubt

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As of 2024 the future of the meeting remains under threat.[10] In the wake of the 2019 races the following meetings were consequently cancelled as a repercussion of a lack of financial backing in addition to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Following the 2019 event several top riders, including Peter Hickman, subsequently had prize money held back by the organisers.[11] As a result Hickman has stated that he would be disinclined to return to any reincarnation of the event until he has received all outstanding monies in full.[11]

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 before later entering into a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) to pay back a portion of its debts to creditors.[12]

There was a degree of optimism for the running of the races which would have marked the centenary of the event in 2022. In March of that year, a potential new promotor, the Revival Racing Motorcycle Club, signaled that they were prepared to undertake the stewardship of the meeting with a view to a return of racing in August 2022. In an ambitious bid to bring Ireland's two biggest road races under one organisational umbrella, Revival Racing had sought to put together a major proposal for a financial package of £800,000 which would see them take over the Ulster Grand Prix in addition to seeking to safeguard the future of the North West 200.[13]

Government funding was signed off by the Department of Economy and Department of Finance, but in a late setback Tourism NI refused to support the proposal which in turn resulted in the proposal being withdrawn and the 2022 race meeting was cancelled.[12][10]

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 statement:

"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 27 October 2022.[10]

This resulted in Revival Racing relinquishing further involvement with the event, and consequently the Dundrod & District Motorcycle Club undertook to attempt to organise the 2023 meeting. The proposed format would have entailed a much reduced programme of racing, more in line with that of a National as opposed to an International meeting.[14]

An important announcement[clarification needed] was made on 9 February 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.[15] In late April 2023 the organisers cancelled the 2023 event, citing insurance and funding problems.[16]

A further announcement, issued by the event's organisers, the Dundrod & District Motorcycle Club, was made on 8 January 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.[17][18][19]

Official names and sponsors

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  • 1958, 1961, 1964–1965, 1971: Ulster Grand Prix (no official sponsor)[20]

Incidents

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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. [21]

Notable riders

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Joey Dunlop during the 1982 Ulster Grand Prix

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[22] and Brian Reid 9 wins.[citation needed] 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)

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Ulster Grand Prix
 
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
VenueDundrod Circuit (1953–1971)
Clady Circuit (1949–1952)
First race1949
Last race1971
Most wins (rider)Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini (7)
Most wins (manufacturer)MV Agusta (24)

Multiple winners (riders)

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# 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   Jim Redman 350cc 1962, 1963, 1964
250cc 1963
  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   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)

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# 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

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A pink background indicates a round that was not part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship.

Year Track 50cc 125cc 250cc 350cc 500cc Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
1971 Dundrod Race cancelled [N 1]   Ray McCullough Yamaha   Peter Williams MZ   Jack Findlay Suzuki Report
1970   Ángel Nieto Derbi   Kel Carruthers Yamaha   Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta   Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1969   Ángel Nieto Derbi   Kel Carruthers Benelli   Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta   Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1968   Bill Ivy Yamaha   Bill Ivy Yamaha   Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta   Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1967   Bill Ivy Yamaha   Mike Hailwood Honda   Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta   Mike Hailwood Honda Report
1966   Luigi Taveri Honda   Ginger Molloy Bultaco   Mike Hailwood Honda   Mike Hailwood Honda Report
1965   Ernst Degner Suzuki   Phil Read Yamaha   František Šťastný Jawa   Dick Creith Norton Report
1964   Hugh Anderson Suzuki   Phil Read Yamaha   Jim Redman Honda   Phil Read Norton Report
1963   Hugh Anderson Suzuki   Jim Redman Honda   Jim Redman Honda   Mike Hailwood MV Agusta Report
1962   Luigi Taveri Honda   Tommy Robb Honda   Jim Redman Honda   Mike Hailwood MV Agusta Report
Year Track 125cc 250cc 350cc 500cc Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
1961 Dundrod   Kunimitsu Takahashi Honda   Bob McIntyre Honda   Gary Hocking MV Agusta   Gary Hocking MV Agusta Report
1960   Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta   Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta   John Surtees MV Agusta   John Hartle Norton Report
1959   Mike Hailwood Ducati   Gary Hocking MZ   John Surtees MV Agusta   John Surtees MV Agusta Report
1958   Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta   Tarquinio Provini MV Agusta   John Surtees MV Agusta   John Surtees MV Agusta Report
1957   Luigi Taveri MV Agusta   Cecil Sandford FB-Mondial   Keith Campbell Moto Guzzi   Libero Liberati Gilera Report
1956   Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta   Luigi Taveri MV Agusta   Bill Lomas Moto Guzzi   John Hartle Norton Report
1955   John Surtees NSU   Bill Lomas Moto Guzzi   Bill Lomas Moto Guzzi Report
1954   Rupert Hollaus NSU   Werner Haas NSU   Ray Amm Norton   Ray Amm [N 2] Norton Report
1953   Werner Haas NSU   Reg Armstrong NSU   Ken Mudford Norton   Ken Kavanagh Norton Report
1952 Clady   Cecil Sandford MV Agusta   Maurice Cann Moto Guzzi   Ken Kavanagh Norton   Cromie McCandless Gilera Report
1951   Cromie McCandless [N 3] FB-Mondial   Bruno Ruffo Moto Guzzi   Geoff Duke Norton   Geoff Duke Norton Report
1950   Carlo Ubbiali FB-Mondial   Maurice Cann Moto Guzzi   Bob Foster Velocette   Geoff Duke Norton Report
1949   Maurice Cann Moto Guzzi   Freddie Frith Velocette   Les Graham AJS Report
Footnotes
  1. ^ The 1971 50cc race was cancelled as the organisers had only received eight entries.[23]
  2. ^ The 1954 500cc race was stopped due to bad weather and the race was excluded from the world championship.[24]
  3. ^ The 1951 125cc race only had four competitors and the race was excluded from the world championship.[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ The Ulster Grand Prix, Again, Unlikely For 2023 Season rideapart.com, 29 October 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023
  2. ^ Ulster Grand Prix future in doubt as 2022 centenary event cancelled amid funding shortfall ITV News, 7 March 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023
  3. ^ a b Eddie McIlwaine (17 August 2008). "10 things you didn't know about the big event". The Belfast Telegraph. p. 15.
  4. ^ "News Archives -".
  5. ^ "Jack Findlay". The Telegraph. 4 June 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Jack Findlay". 3 June 2007. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  7. ^ "MotoGP Milestones". crash.net. 22 May 2003. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  8. ^ Ulster Grand Prix 2001 – Preview (retrieved 10 September 2006)
  9. ^ Victoria O'Hara (17 August 2008). "Revved up for race". The Belfast Telegraph. p. 15.
  10. ^ a b c "Ulster GP return shelved by Revival Racing MCC". BBC Sport.
  11. ^ a b "Peter Hickman 'still owed prize money' from 2019 Ulster Grand Prix".
  12. ^ a b "UGP off amid doubts over event's future". BBC Sport.
  13. ^ "Ulster Grand Prix: Lack of funding axes this year's race and could spell the end of famous Dundrod meeting". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 7 March 2022. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Kyle White: Ulster Grand Prix needs fresh approach for real chance of survival or famous old race could be lost forever".
  15. ^ "North West 200 organisers 'not giving up fight'". BBC Sport.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "Ulster Grand Prix '24 cancelled due to ongoing insurance issues". 3FM. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  18. ^ "Ulster Grand Prix cancelled for fifth year in a row". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 8 January 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  19. ^ "No Ulster Grand Prix for 2024". Manx Radio. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  20. ^ "1958 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  21. ^ By, The Motorsport Memorial Team. "Motorsport Memorial -". www.motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  22. ^ "Anstey claims 12th Ulster GP win at Dundrod". BBC Sport. 14 August 2016.
  23. ^ "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.
  24. ^ "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.
  25. ^ "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.
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