Ulster Grand Prix back on road racing schedule for centenary festival

A change of organising club sees the under threat Ulster Grand Prix given a new lease of life for 2022 following a two-year hiatus 

Peter Hickman - Smiths Racing BMW

The Ulster Grand Prix will go ahead in 2022 after a two-year absence following a change of organising committee that has pumped fresh investment into the road racing showpiece.

The Ulster GP - held at the Dundrod Circuit in Lisburn, Northern Ireland - last held an event in 2019 amid a brewing storm of mounting debts and concerns over how funding granted for safety upgrades was spent by the organising Dundrod Club.

It meant the 2020 Ulster GP was already under threat before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic led to it and the 2021 event being cancelled anyway.

However, the arrival of the Revival Racing Motorcycle Club in the role of organising committee has breathed fresh life into the popular event, regarded as one of the highlights of the road racing calendar that attracts a high calibre entry list.

The revival comes just in time for what will be 100 years since the Ulster GP was inaugurated.

"We understand the unique appeal of the Ulster Grand Prix to riders and fans alike, and we are delighted to bring racing back to this famous track," a statement read.

"It's been a very uncertain time for the sport because of coronavirus and we can't wait to hear bikes roaring down the flying kilo again this summer.

"We are indebted to the volunteers at the Ulster Grand Prix for their collaboration and continuing hard work to stage this famous race in its centenary year.

"More details of the week-long race week programme will be announced soon."

Known as the ‘World’s Fastest Road Race’, Peter Hickman set a new record of 136.415mph around the Dundrod Circuit in 2019 aboard the Smiths Racing BMW S 1000 RR.

This compares with his Isle of Man TT record of 135.452mph on the same machine.