Motorcycling road racing looks set to return to Enniskillen 66 years after the last road race was held in Fermanagh, the Impartial Reporter can reveal.
The Enniskillen 100 was a well-known and prestigious racing event, and between 1929 and 1952, seventeen races were held on the six and a quarter mile triangular circuit.
In 2012 the Enniskillen 100 at St Angelo was set up as a commemorative event with support of the then local council, which moved to championship status the following year.
After four successful years of championship racing at St Angelo, which will again be held this weekend, the Enniskillen and District Motorcycle Club (Road Racing) Ltd. have now revealed they have applied to move up a gear and hold a road race in 2018 as well as the current short circuit event.
First time spectators this weekend will see for themselves how popular the sport of motorcycle racing is, and how much effort goes into running such an event.
The club have met with senior Council officers about the proposed road race and the benefits it would bring to the area, and their plans were received positively. They have been asked to provide further information about the finances involved and they look forward to their second meeting.
Members of the club have visited residents as well as farmers around the circuit and found the local community to be overwhelmingly supportive. An event of this nature is a massive undertaking and road racing isn’t just a motorsport event, but also an opportunity to bring the whole community together. The event will not only showcase how welcoming County Fermanagh can be regardless of what your interests are, but also increase tourism for the area.
With many road races throughout the North and South of Ireland, and with riders, teams and fans prepared to travel any lengths to catch the thrills of road racing, this would introduce a new opportunity to the area as it would be the only road race in the west of Northern Ireland.
The proposed circuit itself, set in the quiet countryside with scenic views of Benaughlin and Cuilcagh mountains, is a 3.1-mile triangle with twists and turns and plenty of areas for viewing spectators. The club has been continuously fundraising for many years and are thankful to the support of all those who have contributed towards funding with special thanks to the Britton family, and encourage more people to visit St. Angelo on Saturday, which will help with raising of funds towards the future road race.
The club are also looking at the financial implications of staging the event and are currently actively seeking title sponsors and individual race sponsors.