Lake Torrent

Lake Torrent Motorsport Centre
Position of race circuit within County Tyrone shown in context of Northern Ireland
Location Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Time zone GMT
Coordinates 54°32′09.5″N 6°42′25.5″W / 54.535972°N 6.707083°W / 54.535972; -6.707083Coordinates: 54°32′09.5″N 6°42′25.5″W / 54.535972°N 6.707083°W / 54.535972; -6.707083
Owner Manna Developments Ltd
Broke ground 20 September 2017
Architect Graham6 Architecture and Engineering
Length 3.6 km (2.2 mi)
Turns 12
Website laketorrent.com

Lake Torrent Motorsport Centre is a new, purpose-built motor racing circuit under development from September 2017, located in Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The name is shared with the nearby Torrent River.

The anticipated completion date for phase-one involving the circuit and infrastructure buildings is by 2019; the 163-acre site is situated on disused clay pits, previously providing raw materials for brick production, in an area traditionally known for coal mining.[1] Initial groundworks were formally opened in September 2017, attended by Francie Molloy, MP for Mid-Ulster,[2] unlike the continually stalled Circuit of Wales which has seen no actual development.

The circuit's 2.2 mile (3.6) km design by contracted-consultants Driven International incorporates the existing undulating land-contours having a 24-metre elevation range mixed with 12 turns, allowing for three layouts, and will comply with FIA Grade 2 / FIM Grade B requirements, to include all car and motorcycle sport classes excepting F1 cars.[3][4]

It is envisaged that there will be approximately four race meetings per year for both motorcycle and cars, and that otherwise it could be used for vehicle development and corporate/training track days.

Triple world superbike champion Johnny Rea commented in October 2017 that it would be a good facility for the development of future Irish circuit-race competitors, but had reservations about mixed-use where the circuit might be used for both car and motorcycle events, as each had different criteria within their respective design considerations.[5] Rea's fellow Northern Irish World Superbike competitor Eugene Laverty in February 2018 expressed his delight concerning the prospect of world-level racing coming his homeland.[6]

Planning consent granted by Mid-Ulster District Council also covers a proposed second-phase, including a hotel, retail and business units together with a range of community and leisure facilities. The development is to be financed privately.[3][4]

In February 2018, David Henderson, principal of Manna Developments announced the signing at Mid Ulster District Council offices in Dungannon of a three-year contract with Daniel Carrera, Executive Director of Dorna WSBK, to host World Superbike rounds starting from 2019. The project construction is expected to take 18 months.[7]

Development delays

When questioned about seemingly little activity on the site in June 2018, a year before the intended first race, Henderson commented that there had been unforeseen works below ground concerning mine shafts and that much topsoil had to be imported to cover the entire area, which were not unusual circumstances when converting a previous industrial site.[8] Race organisers Dorna were reported to have approached the owners of Donington Park as a contingency to host the 2019 races.[8]

Pre-existing race tracks

There are two existing non-road based race tracks in NI, both based on former airfields, at Bishopscourt and Kirkistown.

References

  1. ↑ Settlements: Coalisland, Introduction Planning NI. Retrieved 3 February 2018
  2. ↑ Breaking ground ceremony Lake Torrent official website, 22 September 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018
  3. 1 2 Lake Torrent: Work begins on £30m Coalisland race track BBC News N.Ireland, 20 September 2017 Retrieved 3 February 2018
  4. 1 2 Lake Torrent Motorsport circuit on track to drive NI economy Belfast Telegraph, 20 September 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018
  5. ↑ New racing circuit in NI would inspire next generation, says Jonathan Rea Belfast News Letter, 3 October 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018
  6. ↑ Rea and Laverty welcome World Superbikes to NI Belfast Telegraph, 2 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018
  7. ↑ Northern Ireland set to host World Superbike round as early as 2019 Belfast Telegraph, 1 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018
  8. 1 2 Coalisland race track developer downplays delay fears The Irish News, 21 June 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018

See also

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