Growing costs making Manx Grand Prix tough to run, says organiser

The future of the Manx Grand Prix (MGP) looks to be secure, at least for now, despite the growing costs involved with running the famous road race. 

The event, which takes place on the Isle of Man, is one of the major highlights of the road racing calendar each year alongside the TT and North West 200. 

However, organisers say there are mounting challenges with running the MGP, as people are becoming less likely to help the event for nothing in return. This is no real surprise, as the challenging global financial climate is likely to be playing a major role in why people, and potentially companies, want to be compensated for offering their time.

This could prove to be a damaging factor in the future of the road race, although for now, Manx Motor Cycle Club chairman John McBride says help from key sponsors and the local government means the event is currently in a stable position. 

Speaking to Manx Radio, McBride said: 

“It’s extremely challenging but we’ve been lucky, particularly this year, due to our newest committee members Lee and Carol Bartram, we now have a series of sponsors. It’s eased it a little bit [but] we’re finding that a lot of people don’t want to do anything for nothing any more.

“At one time everything ran, not on a nod and a wink, but everybody knew what they wanted to do in getting involved in the Manx Grand Prix and that was their reward, and now a lot of people tend to want to be paid for things. But we do have quite a few local firms and people who actually provide things free of charge or at low cost, but the event is quite an expensive event to put on now.

“It’s supported by [the] government and we don’t take anything from the government for ourselves, but [the] government does provide a certain amount of funding towards maintaining the infrastructure around the course, and of course you have a motorsports department to maintain and ACU Events need to be paid.”

McBride also admitted that the Manx Grand Prix, together with the Isle of Man TT, is central to the road racing scene, and that without the latter in particular, road racing would struggle to survive.

The 2026 Manx Grand Prix will take place alongside the Classic TT from August 16 to August 28.