WorldSBK Travels To Northern Ireland For Its 2019 Season
It has just been announced that Motul FIM Superbike World Championship is coming to Northern Ireland next year at the Lake Torrent Circuit. The news came from the media rights holder of WorldSBK, Dorna, as well as Manna Developments, the circuit developer.
(Image: Cycle Online)
The circuit is located in Coalisland, County Tyrone that is 40 minutes away from Belfast. It was created with the intention of creating more job opportunites in the Business, Engineering, and Leisure sectors. Driven International, the designer of the circuit, aims to transform 163 acres of former clay pits into a world class circuit.
Still in the early developmental stage, the production of the 3.6km circuit is expected to begin early this year, featuring corners with a width of 12-15m and elevations of +/-30m. Estimated to create 700 jobs in the 18 month construction phase, and the long term plan is to build a further 90 retail and business units around the circuit, it will bring a huge financial boost to the area as its set to become more than just a race track.
“For the past 15 years,” David Henderson of Manna Developments said, “it has been a dream of mine to build a motor racing circuit that incorporates the feel of the road with the safety of an international standard track – and also to bring the World Superbike Championship to Northern Ireland.
“Having finally identified the perfect location and achieved planning permission last year, today sees the completion of that dream and is a day that will only be topped when we see up to 30,000 spectators converge in Coalisland for the first WorldSBK racing event in Northern Ireland. They really don’t come much bigger than this.
“This is a historic milestone for the town of Coalisland, the county of Tyrone and indeed for the whole of Northern Ireland as we celebrate the realisation of our vision to create an internationally recognised motorsport arena which will become a venue for regional, national and international competitions for many years to come.”
Executive Director of WorldSBK, Daniel Carerra, has this to say about the championship being set in Northern Ireland: ““We are delighted to be adding Northern Ireland as a destination for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, Lake Torrent circuit is a fantastic project that will deliver a high-class facility for competitors and visitors. We are proud that Manna Developments and Mid ulster representatives have chosen WorldSBK as their top event for the international promotion of the circuit and region. We know that the proper management of this kind of facility could provide the local community with new opportunities through business, job creation, leisure and tourism. With the large tradition and culture in motorcycling in Northern Ireland, I am sure that this event could become a reference in our Championship in the near future”