Tourist Trophy: Future of the sidecar class still unclear

Training for this year’s Sidecar TT was overshadowed by a serious accident. Last year’s winners and track record holders, Ryan and Callum Crowe, had rolled over after a jump at high speed. The accident was strikingly similar to the incident involving Pete Founds and Jevan Walsmley the year before. In that case, too, their sidecar had rolled over after a jump.

It quickly became clear to the organisers, led by race director Gary Thompson, that this was not down to riding errors by the teams involved, but rather that the problem lay with the design of the sidecars. For safety reasons, they had no choice but to remove the races – which were popular with spectators – from the programme and launch a thorough analysis of the faults to prevent such incidents in future.

On 31 July, the initial findings of this analysis were presented. As part of the review, a wide range of evidence was gathered, including more than 460 public submissions. The report was drawn up on the basis of the work of a panel comprising participants, organisers and technicians, including Gary Thompson, Dave Molyneux, Ryan Crowe, Ben Birchall and Pete Founds.

It remains unclear whether sidecars will remain part of the Tourist Trophy

It was unanimously concluded that there remains a strong desire to retain the sidecar class as part of the Tourist Trophy. However, there is also a consensus that the class cannot return in its current form, and that efforts must be made to reduce speeds through better control of engine power, as well as clear specifications regarding chassis and fairing.

For the time being, these changes should focus on measures that can be implemented within the available timeframe whilst ensuring exciting and spectacular races. The aim is to develop a concept that makes the class safer, simpler, more distinctive and more cost-effective. However, the report also points out that longer-term technical work is inevitable.

“This report does not mark the end of the process. It merely marks the end of the first phase,” clarifies Thompson. The review recommends the establishment of a Technical Development Group to drive the next phase of work, supported by ongoing consultations with participants, manufacturers, the Auto Cycle Union and the wider sidecar racing community.

Only once this work has been completed will a decision be made on the future participation of sidecars. This is expected to take place in the autumn.