No wish to sell or cease operating, says Onchan Raceway

But organisation concerned over 'number of constraints'

There are no wishes to sell or cease operating Onchan Raceway.

That's the message from Onchan Raceway Ltd. which has released a statement in response to a recent media report around the current status of the facility.

In a lengthy statement, the organisation adds it remains committed to continuing 'the long-standing tradition' of motorsport in the area.

However, it's raised concerns over what it claims are 'a number of constraints' introduced by Onchan District Commissioners within a proposed new lease agreement for the site.

In its view, Onchan Raceway Ltd. believes the proposed new lease terms are making day-to-day running of the facility 'increasingly difficult.'

Among the organisation's concerns include a recent request to move stock cars from an area in which they're stored and prohibiting the use of an outside area as a pit extension.

The company adds it's priority has always been 'safety, especially for children, families, and competitors', and claims several of the new restrictions 'would negatively impact this.'

Furthermore, Onchan Raceway Ltd. says, in light of the perceived challenges, it has suggested that the local authority might consider purchasing the raceway's assets if a situation arose where the current organisers were forced to leave, adding, without the existing infrastructure, it would be 'extremely difficult for the Commissioners—or any future tenant—to run racing or any other motorsport activities at the site.'

Manx Radio has approached Onchan District Commissioners for comment.

Onchan District Commissioners discussed the situation regarding the lease at the raceway most recently in October and November this year.

During the meeting on 20 October, the board undertook discussion over the current lease which was due to expire on 30 November, 2025.

Following these talks, the Chief Executive/Clerk of the authority was instructed to inform the tenant of the raceway that the board expressed it was not in favour of the way the facility was being operated and that 'it wishes to offer a new tenancy based on new conditions which aim to protect the authority as the landlord, and to address some of the concerns raised by complainants and members of the board.'

The new lease would include limitations such as:

- No vehicles to be stored at the facility except for the pit area directly adjacent to the garage, within the garage, and within the former monster truck store.

- No working on vehicles in any area of the facility, except for within the garage and the former monster truck store.

- The use of the facility will be permitted only for stock car racing, stock car driver training, stock car testing, road car driver tuition, and go karts.

- Dates and times to be agreed and approved by the Board in advance of the permitted use activities taking place.

- No other use of the facility by stock cars will be permitted outside of the agreed upon dates and times.

- Provision of an operational plan, including details of insurance held, health and safety procedures, medical cover, and details of the regulatory safeguards; and

- The kick-a-bout public open space adjacent to the facility is not to be used as a pit area during events.

On 3 November, the subject surfaced again at an ordinary meeting of the board, during which a proposal was put forward and accepted that the current lease with Onchan Raceway Ltd. could not continue and a new one would be offered with additional terms listed above.

Two board members - Mr Quirk and Miss Corkish - declared an interest and did not cast a vote on the matter.

Then in a further meeting on 17 November - following an update also given to the board on 3 November - the board was informed that its legal advisers had issued a notice to the tenant of the raceway on 13 November, 2025 to advise that:

- The Board is not prepared to further extend the current lease in any event based on the terms which are set out within the lease dated 29th November 2021.

- The Board is prepared to offer a new tenancy based on new terms for a period of one year. These terms are those prescribed by the Board at the Ordinary Meeting held on Monday 3 rd November 2025.

- The Board would be prepared to consider providing funds to undertake drainage works to resolve some of the drainage issues which presently persist on the race track.

- The Board will take over the maintenance of the seating area in the timber stand.

- Onchan Raceway Limited is currently in default with the Isle of Man Companies Registry in respect of the beneficial ownership filings, and for a new lease to be issued, all filings would need to be brought up to date; and

- If the tenant is not agreeable to the new terms, then they are to vacate the premises within an agreed timeframe.

During more talks during that meeting on 17 November, the board agreed that it did not wish to wish to purchase any of the tenant's assets relating to the stadium; If the tenant does not wish to enter into a new lease based on the board's proposed terms, then the tenant is to vacate the premises.