By Richard Petrie

Noel Johnston had no option but to cancel the 2008 Ulster Grand Prix

The Ulster Grand Prix looked likely to be consigned to the history books after last year's washout of the event on the wettest day Northern Ireland had endured for many years.

Poor weather also brought a premature halt to proceedings in 2007 and with financial income from spectators at a minimum, the end looked nigh for the famous international event which in its heyday hosted a world championship round.

But 2009 sees the organising Dundrod club renewing their efforts to resurrect the world's fastest road race to its former glory.

Clerk-of-the-course Noel Johnston admits that he thought the race's future was in jeopardy after persistent rain forced the cancellation of last year's race.

"On raceday I didn't think the event would ever recover but against the odds we all managed to regroup and with fresh determination from our volunteers and support from a lot of different people, we've managed to get the show on the road again.

"We paid all our bills from last year and then in January we announced that we were fielding a team bearing the name of the Ulster Grand Prix in the British championship, thanks to support from one of our main financial backers.

"We knew that the idea of marketing on the mainland in this way had worked well for the North West 200 and young Stuart Elwood has been competing under the UGP banner in the Junior Superstock series."

Aided by a grant from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the expertise of a local PR company, the grand prix organisers have embarked on a mission to spread the word that their race is still very much on the calendar and represents road racing at its purest and best.

The TT and the North West have more money to work with so we have to use our funds wisely Noel Johnston

"The grant provided us with a budget to market the event in an effective, professional manner and we've been advertising extensively at the North West and the TT, including sponsoring two of the course commentary boxes on the Isle of Man.

"We've also published adverts in motorcycle racing magazines and biking websites across the United Kingdom and with billboards and posters also forming part of the campaign, we are confident that we are getting our message across.

"We've been lumbered with a reputation that it always rains at Dundrod but we want to change that and draw people back.

"One of our posters mentions that we 'will be back with more than a splash in 2009' so we've been able to inject a degree of humour as well."

The race now has a fresh logo, a new title sponsor in Stoneyford Concrete and a professional launch in June pointed to a healthy future.

"The TT and the North West have more money to work with so we have to use our funds wisely and highlight the fact that Dundrod is still the fastest road race circuit in the world, that record dating back to 2007.

Carl Fogarty was a big crowd favourite when he raced at Dundrod

"We need a few good years under our belt so that we can expand the event and make the changes that we want, with the help of a strategic plan which we want to implement.

"We've spent tens of thousands of pounds to take the safety work as far as we can at the moment but we've spent a lot of money on the paddock this year, upgrading and extending it.

"We're also putting up some portable grandstands around the course, so all we need is some good weather.

Johnston added that the race "would probably not be on the calendar this year if it were not for the tireless efforts of the faithful few in the Ulster Grand Prix Supporters' Club".

"They handed us a donation of £20,000 last year and have committed to the same amount this year, as well as sponsoring the second Superbike race.

"They only have a handful of active members but they put in a lot of hard work, while Lisburn Council also form the backbone of the event and really support our efforts."

This year will again see the world's top teams and leading road racers converge on County Antrim and another welcome guest will be former Formula One and World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty.

"Carl has a lot of fans over here and should attract a lot of interest and we're all looking forward to him doing a lap of the course and taking part in a chat show.

"We know we will never attract much of the seaside crowd that goes to the North West.

"But with the help of our 600 or so volunteers, we're aiming to carve out our own identity and establish 'the prix' as the best road race in the world with a stable long-term future," concluded Johnston.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version