Modern sidecars to return to Southern 100 meeting next year

Modern sidecars will return to the Southern 100 next year operating under updated and improved 2025 Formula 2 (F2) technical regulations.

Following the withdrawal of the sidecar class at this summer's TT because of serious incident and safety concerns surrounding aerodynamic undertrays, Southern 100 organisers took the difficult decision to also stand down the class from July's Billown meeting due to the short notice between events. Classic machinery was ultimately allowed to race in the place of the modern outfits.

Since then, TT organisers have conducted a review and subsequently announced regulations mandating a transition away from traditional Supersport 600cc engines toward lower-powered BSB Sportbike-specification units.

After consultation with teams and with representatives of the Auto Cycle Union, rather than introducing a completely new class formula for 2027, Southern 100 organisers have refined the proven 2025 F2 regulations.

This will allow competitors to continue using standard Supersport 600cc engines.

Nevertheless, to directly address the core safety issues identified in 2026, these updated regulations will strictly exclude aerodynamic undertrays as well as other regulation improvements.

All competing outfits will be subject to rigorous pre-event inspections by Southern 100 technical control to ensure complete compliance, and their decision on any machine's eligibility will be final.

Speaking on the announcement, Southern 100 clerk of the course Giles Olley said: 'Sidecars have always been an integral and much-loved part of "The Friendly Races", and our focus since last summer has been on bringing the class back safely and sustainably for 2027.

'Following positive discussions with the sidecar paddock and the ACU, we have chosen a path that addresses the key safety requirements while keeping costs manageable for our competitors.

'By building upon our 2025 F2 600cc regulations and specifically banning aerodynamic undertrays, we are directly addressing the stability issues identified last year whilst ensuring that the event is still accessible to the teams who want to come and race. 'Because most F2 outfits never ran aerodynamic undertrays in the first place, teams can now prepare their existing machinery for the Billown Course with minimal work and cost.

'Our technical control team will enforce this exclusion strictly, and their decision will be final.

'We cannot wait to welcome a full, competitive grid of Sidecar crews back to the Southern 100 in 2027.'

The full 2027 Southern 100 sidecar technical regulations will be published shortly and made available to all prospective entrants via the official Southern 100 website.