2021 Isle of Wight Diamond Races wants to be the next Isle of Man TT

Isle of Wight wants to be the next Isle of Man event

Widely regarded as the most dangerous motorsport event in the world, the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (TT), continues to be a highly-anticipated motorcycle racing event despite of the dangers of racing on a road course. After all, the sight of the world’s fastest superbikes zooming through sleepy British towns and narrow roads is a rare sight.

As if that wasn’t a spectacle enough, a group of organizers are planning to organize yet another similar event, this time on the Isla of Wight, just a little over a hundred kilometers and 2 hours travel south of London.

Called the Isle of Wight Diamond Races, this new road racing festival is planned to debut on October 2021. The location features picturesque landscapes similar to the Isla of Man, with coastal roads on white cliffs and parts of the course running through sleepy towns with charming traditional architecture.

The name comes from the island’s diamond shape. The course is 12.4 miles long set on the southern portion of the island. It also features a 5-mile long coastal stretch.

Like the Isle of Man TT, the Isle of Wight Diamond Races will run over the course of half a week, with practice days beginning on Thursday. The main race will be on Saturday in time-trial format. Competitors will be released in 10-second intervals from each other.

Because of its similarity to the Isla of Man TT, the Diamond Races have enlisted the expertise of some of the organizers from the former. Some of the key players include Gary Thompson MBE (Isle of Man TT Clerk of the Course), Steve Plater (past Isle of Man TT Senior winner and ex British Champion), Neil Tuxworth (ex-Honda Racing Manager) as well as James Kaye (ex-British Touring Car Championship driver and Diamond Races co-founder) and Matt Neal (three-time British Touring Car Champion and Honda UK ambassador).

“As an Isle of Wight local resident, I am very excited to welcome motorsport fans from across the globe to this beautiful island, for what is sure to be an unforgettable weekend of racing action and entertainment for the whole family,” ‍Paul Sandford, CEO and Co-Founder of the Diamond Races, said.

Naturally, the event has some opposition, with authorities and local residents wary of the crowd, chaos, and noise the event may bring. There are also many residents looking forward to the event. Nonetheless, the Isle of Wight Diamond Races team believes they can win over the local population and bring even more tourist revenue to the island.