Isle of Man TT Mountain Course
Location | Douglas, Isle of Man |
---|---|
Time zone | British Summer Time (during event-season) |
Major events | Isle of Man TT Manx Grand Prix Sidecar World Championship (1960-1976) |
Length | 37.730 miles (60.718 km) |
Turns | 219 |
Race lap record | 16:36.114 seconds – 136.358 mph (219.447 km/h) average (Peter Hickman, BMW M1000RR, 2023) |
The Isle of Man TT Mountain Course or TT Course or Jalmaf Mountain Course[1] is a street and public rural road circuit located in the Isle of Man, used for motorcycle racing. The motorcycle TT Course is used principally for the Isle of Man TT Races and also the separate event of the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling for the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT Races held in September of each year.[2] The start-line for the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course is located on Glencrutchery Road in the town of Douglas, Isle of Man.[3]
The clockwise course has a lap of 37.730 mi (60.721 km),
Evening Standard Top 10 UK road trip routes
In 2019, the Evening Standard UK newspaper nominated the TT Course as one of 10 of the most spectacular road trip routes in the UK.
Tourist Trophy Route, Isle of Man – Sitting pretty between the UK and Ireland, the Isle of Man hosts the world-famous motorcycle race – the Isle of Man TT – each year. If you don't fancy racing, you can follow the 37.730 mi (60.721 km) circuit in your own time. Expect to be in awe of the stunning landmarks along the way..."[5]
History
Motor racing began on the Isle of Man in 1904 with the
For the 1905 Gordon Bennett Car event it was decided to run a trial for motor-cycles the day after for a team to represent Great Britain in the International Motor-Cycle Cup Races. The inability of the motorcycle competitors to climb the steep primary
Course changes: 1920–1939
For the
For the
Course changes: 1947–1999
Major road widening occurred on the Mountain course at the 33rd Milestone, including the removal of fence posts at road level and the removal of a section of a grass bank before the start of the
During the 1960s further road-widening occurred at Ballig and also at
Course changes: 2000–present
From 2003 to 2006, road repair work was carried-out on the primary A3 road from Barregarrow to Cronk-y-Voddy, including
During the winter of 2010, further road construction and repair work was carried out by the Isle of Man Department of Infrastructure Highways Division, and the Isle of Man Water Authority between
Official lap records
The outright lap record for the TT Mountain Course is 16 minutes and 36.115 seconds at an average of 136.358 mph. This was set by Peter Hickman on a BMW M1000RR Superstock bike during the 2023 Superstock TT Race Two.[34]
The lap record for the Senior TT race is 16 minutes and 42.778 seconds at an average speed of 135.452 mph (217.989 km/h) set by Peter Hickman during the 2018 Senior TT Race. The race record is also held by Hickman in 1 hour, 43 minutes and 08,065 seconds; an average race speed of 131.700 mph (211.951 km/h) achieved during the same 6 lap Senior TT race.[35]
The lap record for the Sidecar TT race is 19 minutes and 22.928 seconds at an average speed of 116.798 mph (187.968 km/h) set by Ben Birchall and passenger Tom Birchall during the 2016 Sidecar TT Race 1.[36][37] The race record for the Sidecar TT is 58 minutes and 24.971 seconds an average race speed of 116.259 mph (187.101 km/h) for 3 laps (113.00 miles) of the Mountain Course is also held by Ben and Tom Birchall, during the 2015 Sidecar TT Race 2.[38]
In the 2006 TT practice New Zealander Bruce Anstey achieved the unofficial current top speed record of 206 mph (332 km/h)[39] at the end of Sulby straight on a Suzuki 1000cc machine. This speed value was registered by the on-board datalogging equipment.
Race Lap Records
Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Circuit: 60.718 km (1908–present) | ||||
Superbike | 16:42.778 | Peter Hickman | BMW S1000RR | 2018 Isle of Man TT |
Formula 750 | 20:09.8[40] | John Williams | Suzuki TR750 | 1976 Isle of Man TT |
350cc | 20:49.6 | Tony Rutter | Yamaha TZ 350 | 1976 Isle of Man TT |
250cc | 21:27.8 | Tom Herron | Yamaha TZ 250 | 1976 Isle of Man TT |
500cc | 21:45 | John Surtees | MV Agusta 500 4C | 1960 Isle of Man TT |
Sidecar (B2A) | 23:13 | Helmut Fath Siegfried Schauzu |
BMW Aro Fath sidecar |
1960 Isle of Man TT 1976 Isle of Man TT |
125cc | 26:17.6 | Carlo Ubbiali | MV Agusta 125 Bialbero | 1960 Isle of Man TT |
Grand Prix | 39:15[41] | Henry Segrave | 1922 Sunbeam | 1922 R.A.C. Isle of Man Tourist Trophy |
Voiturette |
41:04[42] | Algernon Lee Guinness | Talbot-Darracq 56 | 1922 Isle of Man Voiturette race |
Cycling
The same course has also been used for
The cycling absolute lap record for the Mountain Course was broken in 2015 by Isle of Man born professional cyclist Peter Kennaugh in a time of 1 hour, 23 minutes and 48 seconds,[45] beating the previous longstanding record, set by former Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman in 1993, by 6 seconds.[46]
Cars
On 6 June 1990
In 2011 Mark Higgins completed a lap in 19 minutes, 56.67 seconds at an average speed over 113 mph (182 km/h) driving a USAC Rally America specification Prodrive prepared 4-door Subaru WRX STI.
In 2014 Mark Higgins broke his own record driving a 2015 model Subaru WRX STI with a lap time of 19 minutes, 15.88 at an average speed of 117.510 mph (189.114 km/h).[48]
On 4 June 2016 Higgins improved on his record with a lap in 17 minutes 49.75 seconds, an average speed of 126.971 mph (204.340 km/h) driving a 2016 model of the same car.[49] Then a few days later he went even quicker completing the lap in 17 minutes 35 seconds, an average speed of 128.73 mph (207.17 km/h).[50]
Named corners
It is estimated that there are over 200 corners on the Mountain Course with about 60 named corners, some named after individuals. The first corner to be named after a competitor was Edges Corner in 1920 on the primary A21 Johnny Watterson's Lane on the Mountain Course between
Part of the TT Course was renamed
Following a crash during an evening practice session for the
The uphill section of the Mountain Course from the
In 2013 the Isle of Man Government took the unusual step of naming corners after active competitors, with 23 times TT winner
The latest corners to be named have been named in honour of non-riders who have demonstrated a dedication to the TT. These include Ray Caley, former operator of the shop and post office at the junction of the course with Sulby Glen road who died in 2017.[57] Caley's Corner is at the beginning of Sulby Straight. In 2019 Harold Leece was recognised for his garden hospitality to TT spectators with his name on a directional marker board. Harold's corner is the 170 mph right hand bend as the riders approach Gorse Lea.[58]
Safety
Between 1911 and 2023 there have been 266 rider competitor fatalities during official practices or races on the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course (this number includes the riders killed during the Manx Grand Prix, and Clubman TT race series of the late 1940s/1950s). The first fatality on the TT Course was near Glen Helen during practice for the 1911 TT when Victor Surridge, a works Rudge-Whitworth rider, crashed heavily and died of his injuries.[59] This was also possibly the first death in the Isle of Man of a person in a motorcycle or other road-vehicle accident.[60]
The compulsory use of crash helmets for the 1914 Isle of Man TT motor-cycle races was the result of a fatal accident to Frank Bateman on the Keppel Gate section of the TT Course near to Kates Cottage during the 1913 Senior TT race.[61] The first introduction of a flag to signify the end of an Isle of Man TT race was as a result of a fatal accident to Fred Walker near to the finish line of the 1914 Junior TT motor-cycle race after crashing into course boundary boards at St. Ninians Crossroads and Ballaquayle Road in the town of Douglas.[62]
During an early morning practice session for the 1927 Isle of Man TT races, Archie Birkin, brother of Tim Birkin of the Bentley Boys fame, crashed fatally at Rhencullen after swerving to avoid a collision with a Fish Van being driven on open roads.[63] From 1928 onwards, practice sessions for the Isle of Man TT Races and Manx Grand Prix were held on closed public roads.[64]
During the first lap of the 1934 Lightweight TT race, Syd Crabtree, European Grand Prix competitor and winner of the 1929 Lightweight TT, crashed fatally in heavy hill fog on the Mountain section of the TT Course near to the Stonebreakers Hut on the Verandah section of the course.[65][66] For the 1935 Isle of Man TT races, two motorcycle-equipped Travelling Marshals were employed to search for missing riders, particularly in poor weather conditions on the Mountain section of the TT Course.[67] After a fatal crash by Doug J. Pirie, in poor visibility caused by mountain mist and fog near to the 33rd TT Milestone during the 1935 Lightweight TT, races were delayed or postponed to the next day until the weather improved.[68] The first evening practice sessions were introduced for the 1937 Isle of Man TT races which continue to this day.[69]
Further changes to the Mountain Course occurred during the winter of 1953/54 as the result of fatalities to competitors during the TT races and Manx Grand Prix from 1951 to 1953. Changes were also made to facilitate the return of Sidecar TT on the new Clypse Course. On safety grounds, 'seeding' of competitors occurred for the 1959 TT race. The Thursday afternoon practice session from 13:45–17:00 pm introduced in the late 1950s was discontinued for the Centenary 2007 Isle of Man TT races. Also during the late 1950s, Appledene Cottage was demolished on safety grounds along with Old Brew's Restaurant near Glen Helen during the early 1960s accompanied by a road widening programme at Greeba Bridge.
There were six fatalities among the competitors at the
The A2 Quarterbridge Road including the road junctions at Selborne Drive and Brunswick Drive and the A2 Bray Hill were subjected to major road repairs and re-profiling during the winter of 1978/79 by the Isle of Man Highway Board. This followed a series of fatal accidents during the start of the 1978 Sidecar TT 'A' race, to the Swiss sidecar competitor Ernst Trachsel on Quarterbridge Road, and the sidecar crew of Mac Hobson & Kenny Birch on nearby Bray Hill.[76] For the 1979 TT races the practice of starting competitors in pairs was abandoned followed by the Manx Grand Prix in 2011 after the result of fatal crash at Alpine Cottage during the 2010 Junior Manx Grand Prix.
Following a fatal accident to French newcomer Serge le Moal during the first practice session of the
After a series of safety reviews, a number of general measures were introduced after 2007 for the Isle of Man TT races and the Manx Grand Prix and other events such as the Southern 100 motor-cycle races and the Rally Isle of Man. This included the introduction of restricted areas, safety fencing and the continued introduction of air-fencing to corners to the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course. Following the start of the 2013 Senior TT race, a competitor lost control on the steep descent of Bray Hill and the racing motor-cycle collided with a wall and spectators' safety area near the junction of Bray Hill and Cronkbourne Road in the town of Douglas, injuring 11 spectators.[80][81] During an evening practice session for the 2018 Isle of Man TT, a race competitor received serious injuries after colliding with a course inspection car near to Ballacrye Corner in Ballaugh parish when travelling in a group of race competitors in the reverse course direction. The incident occurred following a red-flag incident near Sky Hill (Churchtown) after a fatal accident to Isle of Man competitor, Dan Kneen.[82] Following a meeting of the Strategic Motorsport Group organised by the Isle of Man Government, the Clerk of Course announced procedural changes to red flag incidents. Competitors would now wait on the course until the incident had been cleared and only travel in 'course direction' accompanied by TT Travelling Marshals at the front and rear of the convoy.[83] After a further legal review by the ACU in 2018 into the cause of the accident and the collision with a course inspection car a number of safety changes were initiated. This included the creation of a new event safety officer and GPS tracking to be fitted to all course inspection cars.[84]
See also
- List of Isle of Man TT Mountain Course fatalities
- Isle of Man TT Races
- Manx Grand Prix
- Clypse Course
- St. John's Short Course
Sources
- ^ Isle of Man Centenary TT – ACU/MMCC Official Race Guide page 67 Isle of Man Department of Tourism and Leisure (2007) Mannin Media Group Ltd
- ^ International Isle of Man Tourist Trophy – 2018 Regulations page 26 Section 7 Qualifying and Race Procedure TT Business Development Manager (2018) Isle of Man Department of Economic Development. ACU Events Ltd
- ^ a b Daily Express page 38 Friday 7 September 1979
- ^ Official TT Guide 1992 pp 45 Mannin Media Publication/Isle of Man Department of Tourism
- ^ "10 of the most spectacular road trip routes in the UK Drives From the best of the Welsh coast to the perennial beauty of the Scottish Highlands". Evening Standard online. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
- ^ Island Racer 2004 page 112–113 Mortons Media Group Ltd ISSN 1743-5838
- ^ The Statutes of the Isle of Man Vol VII from 1896 to 1905 page 569 Edited by C.T.W Hughes-Games Brown and Sons Ltd
- ^ a b TT Pioneers – Early Car Racing in the Isle of Man page 103–104 Robert Kelly, Mercury Asset Management (1996)(1st Edition) The Manx Experience, The Alden Press ISBN No 1 873120 61 3
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner and General Advertiser page 12 No 2158 Saturday 12 November 1921 – Tynwald £27,325 improvement scheme for course
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner and General Advertiser page 2 Saturday 12 May 1922
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner and General Advertiser page 12 No 2158 Saturday 12 November 1921
- ^ Official TT Guide 1992 page 45 edited by Norrie White Isle of Man Department of Tourism (1992) Mannin Media Ltd
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner dated 31 May 1934
- ^ Isle of Man Weekly Times dated 25 May 1935
- ^ Isle of Man Weekly Times pp4 dated 13 May 1939
- ^ a b Isle of Man Weekly Times pp18 dated 17 June 1939
- ^ Isle of Man Weekly Times dated 12 May 1947
- ^ Isle of Man Weekly Times pp7 dated 25 April 1953
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner pp12 dated 14 August 1953
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner pp12 dated 5 January 1954
- ISBN 9781899602674
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner pp6 dated 28 May 1954
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner pp1 dated 10 April 1958
- ^ ISBN 9781899602674
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner pp5 dated 6 June 1963
- ^ Isle of Man Weekly Times pp1 dated 6 January 1971
- ISBN 9781899602674
- ^ Official Isle of Man TT Programme 1992 pp 45 edited by Norrie White Isle of Man Department of Tourism (1992) Mannin Media Ltd
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner pp5 dated 5 February 2008
- ^ Manx Independent pp3 dated 4 July 2008
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner page 5, Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2010) Johnson Press Publishing 2 November 2010
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner page 5, Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2011) Johnson Press Publishing 25 January 2011
- ^ Manx Independent – Manninagh Seyr page 4 Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2015) Johnston Press Publishing – Newsprint (Knowlsey) Ltd 4 April 2015
- ^ Petrie, Richard (9 June 2023). "Hickman seals record-breaking Superstock TT double". BBC Sport.
- ^ Thompson, Gary (8 June 2018). "PokerStars Senior TT: Result Sheet" (PDF). Official results. iomtt.com. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ "Holden & Winkle take dramatic win in Sure Sidecar Race 1". Isle of Man TT. Duke Marketing Ltd. 4 June 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- ^ "Holden and Winkle win dramatic Sidecar TT". Isle of Man Today. Johnston Press. 4 June 2016. Archived from the original on 6 June 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- ^ "Sure Sidecar TT 2 – Result Sheet" (PDF). Isle of Man TT. Duke Marketing Ltd. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- ^ "Motorcycle Daily". Archived from the original on 2 January 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2013. New Isle of Man Top Speed Record (retrieved 12 August 2006)
- ^ "1976 Senior TT". Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ "1922 Tourist Trophy". Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ "1922 Isle of Man Voiturette". Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner pp15 dated 29 January 2008
- ^ "Courses for British national championships revealed". cyclingnews.com. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner – Brialtagh Ellan Vannin page 31 Final Whistle Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2015) Johnson Press Publishing – Sheffield Web 29 September 2015
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner – Brialtagh Ellan Vannin page 30 Final Whistle Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2014) Johnson Press Publishing – Sheffield Web 19 August 2013
- ^ Williams, David (2 April 2002). "Tony Pond". Motor Sport. The Guardian. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner – Brialtagh Ellan Vannin page 13 Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2014) Johnson Press Publishing – Sheffield Web 10 June 2014
- ^ "Mark Higgins Demolishes Isle of Man TT Record With 2016 Subaru WRX STI". autoevolution.com. 4 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ^ "Modified Subaru WRX STi sets new Isle of Man TT lap record". Auto Express. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ Isle of Man Weekly Times pp3 dated 9 June 1923
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner pp9 dated 10 June 1955
- ^ Isle of Man TT Festival Fortnight 1–12 June 1981 – Official Souvenir Programme page 17 Isle of Man Tourist Board The Auto-Cycle Union (1981) J.M. Noble Ltd, Isle of Man
- ^ TT News – Issue 1 pp20 dated 1 June 2003
- ^ Isle of Man TT: McGuinness equals Hailwood record seven Senior wins BBC Sport Northern Ireland, 12 June 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2020
- ^ "TT corners named after McGuinness and Molyneux". visordown.com. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ Corner named in memory of Raymond Caley Manx Radio, 18 May 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2020
- ^ "New TT sign to honour Harold Reece's hospitality at Gorse Lea". iomttraces.com. 18 April 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ Isle of Man Weekly Times page 9 Saturday 1 July 1911
- ISBN 1-901508-09-9
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner page 8 Saturday 7 June 1913
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner page 3 Saturday 30 May 1914
- ^ Mona's Herald page 5 T.T. RIDER KILLED Wednesday 8 June 1927
- ^ Mona's Herald page 5 A SAFTEY [sic?] MEASURE Wednesday 14 March 1928
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner page 5 LIGHTWEIGHT TT TRAGADY Friday 15 June 1934
- ISBN 978-0-9560151-0-5
- ISBN 1901508064
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner page 24 9 October 2007 Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2007) Johnson Press Publishing
- ^ TT Special Editor G.S. Davison page 4 TT HISTORY IS MADE Friday 11 June 1937
- ^ "World's fastest way to die: The most dangerous race on the planet". news.com.au. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ "Two more deaths take Isle of Man TT Festival toll to five". express.co.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ Isle of Man Weekly Times page 1 dated 6 January 1971
- ^ TT News 2006 – Preview Edition page 2 Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2006) Johnson Press Publishing ISSN 1471-7905
- ^ Mona's Herald page 4 Tuesday 13 June 1972
- ISBN 09531311-14
- ^ Motor Cycle Weekly page 1, 2 & 13 IPC Press and Professional Publications Ltd (1978) Saturday 10 June 1978
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner page 3 Monday 1 June 2004
- ^ TT News 2006 – Preview Edition page 2 Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2006) Johnson Press Publishing ISSN 1471-7905
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner page 1 Monday 12 June 2007 – Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd ISSN 1358-4383
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner – Brialtagh Ellan Vannin page 1, 4 & 55 Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2013) Johnston Press Publishing – Sheffield Web Monday 10 June 2013
- ^ Manx Independent – Manninagh Seyr pages 1 & 3 Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2013) Johnston Press Publishing – Newsprinters (Knowsley) Ltd Thursday 13 June 2013
- ^ Isle of Man Courier – Roieder Ellan Vannin pages 1, 2 & 40 Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2018) Tindle Newspaper Group – Newsprint (Knowlsey) Ltd Friday 1 June 2018
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner – Brialtagh Ellan Vannin page 1 & 4 WHAT WENT SO WRONG ? INQUIRY INTO MERCER CRASH Tuesday 5 June 2018 – Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2018) Newsprint (Knowsley) Ltd ISSN 1358-4383 "Mercer: What went so wrong ? How the Flags Work."
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner – Brialtagh Ellan Vannin page 1 & 4 Changes after Mercer Crash Tuesday 23 April 2019 – Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2019) Newsprint (Knowsley) Ltd ISSN 1358-4383
External links
- Circuit Guide with Steve Hislop, 11 times TT winner
- 2D and 3D Maps of the TT Course