Roads: 2024 Ulster Grand Prix cancelled

The Ulster Grand Prix has been cancelled for the fifth consecutive year due to “ongoing insurance issues” within motorcycle racing.

The historic race in Northern Ireland last took place prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2019, with that outbreak and financial challenges causing problems for organisers [Dundrod and District Motorcycle Club] ever since.

The Dundrod and District Motorcycle Club was issued with a winding up order in 2020 and was forced into liquidation, before the Revival Racing Club attempted to get the race back on track in 2022, but no to avail due to a lack of backing.

The statement from the organisers reads:

“It is with regret that the Dundrod and District Motorcycle Club must announce the Ulster Grand Prix will not take place during 2024.

“Despite recent positive negotiations with stakeholders of the event, the club has been left with no choice but to take this course of action given motorcycle sport’s ongoing insurance issues and a lack of sufficient time to find a solution to these challenges.

“The DDMC remains committed to reviving the Ulster Grand Prix and will continue to work towards achieving that goal.”

In 2023, following an emergency meeting of the Ulster Centre of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland, all road racing, short circuit events and trials in Northern Ireland was cancelled. This initially included the North West 200, but this was later saved due to a GoFundMe campaign which raised just over £97,000.

The Ulster Grand Prix was first held in 1949 and has been won by many of the biggest names in motorcycle racing, including Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini. Joey Dunlop is the event’s most successful rider with 24 victories, whilst Peter Hickman is the lap record holder after posting a lap of 136.415mph in 2019.

The Ulster Grand Prix is the second Northern Irish road racing event to be cancelled in 2014 following the removal of the Tandragee 100 from the calendar. This is due to the circuit requiring resurfacing work.

As things stand, the Cookstown 100, North West 200 and Armoy Race of Legends are all set to go ahead as planned. In the Republic of Ireland, the ongoing insurance problems mean that there will be no road racing at all in 2024.