Tourist Trophy announces sidecar racing return for 2027

Sidecar racing is set to return to the Tourist Trophy in 2027 as part of a multi-year commitment spanning through 2029. The category was previously suspended for the 2026 event following an accident during qualifying sessions.

To ensure safety and sustainability, the return will feature a significantly revised technical regulation. The new format will involve two races per edition, with the 2027 races limited to two laps of the Mountain Course as a cautious measure.

A major shift in engine architecture will see the abandonment of the traditional 600cc four-cylinder formula. Instead, competitors will use mid-capacity engines aligned with British Sportbike regulations, such as the Yamaha R7, Aprilia RS660, and Kawasaki Ninja 650. This change aims to reduce performance gaps caused by high-cost engine development and addresses the decreasing availability of the older 600cc four-cylinder platforms.