The Manx Grand Prix (MGP) is set to be hampered by unsettled weather which is expected to coincide with the start of the event.

Thursday looks to have been the last day of the recent hot weather, with temperatures falling several degrees into Friday and over the weekend. However, it will largely remain dry with some sunny spells.

But after enjoying seemingly endless heat and sunshine - probably since TT - an unsettled spell is drifting in just in time for the start of the MGP.

Ronaldsway Met Office forecaster Colin Gartshore said: ‘We have had an exceptional summer but that will change for the start of the MGP.

‘Sunday will be okay but it will be mixed from Monday onwards and is likely to last for the full two weeks of racing. That will mean sessions being cancelled and changes being made.

‘These are down to a number of Atlantic fronts which are set to come in.’

Sunday’s MGP qualifying sessions should escape the worst of the weather, with mainly dry conditions and rain only arriving later.

There is qualifying every day until August 22, when there will be qualifying and racing. The contingency day on Sunday, August 23, may be needed before racing begins again on August 24.

But Mr Gartshore said: ‘Monday (August 17) will have occasional rain which will last into the evening. That should clear on Tuesday but later on in the week will be more unsettled.

‘Race organisers will have to deal with potential delays which could continue into the following week.’

But there is some better news thanks to the prolonged dry weather the island has experienced.

During the TT, the course struggled to dry quickly enough to take advantage of breaks in the rain.

But Mr Gartshore said: ‘Because the ground is so dry there will not be so much water running off the fields onto the course even when it does rain so that will help dry the course a bit more quickly.’

Temperatures over the next couple of weeks will remain around average for this time of year at 18-19C, while there should be no significant issues with strong winds.