Northern Ireland’s proposed MotoGP circuit goes up for sale
The Lake Torrent site covered 180-acres and was scheduled to host racing in 2019
THE site of the ill-fated Lake Torrent circuit in County Tyrone has been put up for sale. The circuit’s future now lies with the receivers, Keenan CF, who have stepped in to look for a buyer.
The track was supposed to be hosting a round of the World Superbike Championship this year, with hopes that MotoGP and Formula 1 would follow, bringing an estimated 800 new jobs to the area. Sadly, the tracks future has hung in the balance since October 2018, when the receivers were called in.
Making the development of the area more problematic is the 70 or so abandoned mine shafts that litter the site, making the risk of collapse a very real possibility. The Geological Survey NI (GSNI), said it met with a geotechnical firm appointed by Manna Developments on December 14. GSNI said that it has not received an update since and is not aware that the condition for planning approval has been met.
The facility was reported to cost £30m to develop fully, with the site costing £750,000 when originally purchased. Commercial property firm O’Connor Kennedy Turtle has been appointed to market the sale of the site, which will go to the highest bidder.
Keenan CF said: "The sale of this site represents a unique opportunity to own an extensive land holding in Coalisland and work with Mid Ulster District Council and other key stakeholders to regenerate the land for the benefit of the local economy".
The current Lake Torrent website is currently “undergoing maintenance”.
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
