England's only active natural road race circuit is continuing its biggest season yet with the Barry Sheene Cup this weekend.
The historic Oliver's Mount circuit in Scarborough is preparing to mark a major milestone in 2026, as the iconic venue celebrates its eightieth anniversary year.
Recognised as England's only active natural road race circuit, the North Yorkshire track is set to host an expanded calendar of events to commemorate eight decades of motorsport history, bringing high-speed action back to the Yorkshire Coast.
Among the major highlights of the venue's racing calendar is the P&K Barry Sheene Festival. The popular mid-season motorcycle event serves as a dedicated celebration of Britain's legendary racing champion, Barry Sheene. Fans attending the festival can expect a thrilling mix of both modern and classic motorcycle races, with the highly anticipated Barry Sheene Classic acting as the weekend's feature race.
Andy Hayes is the Managing Director and Racing Director of Oliver's Mount Racing. He is incredibly excited for the 2026 season and the track's eightieth anniversary. However, he also notes that the survival of the circuit has not always been guaranteed. He believes the venue is a vital economic and cultural asset to the Yorkshire Coast and is urging the community to back the historic track during its anniversary season:
"This is an absolute jewel in the crown for Scarborough. It's massive for motorsport worldwide. And I think, you know, it would be great if more people locally came and supported it, because, you know, over the last five, six years, there have been times when we've been very close to losing Oliver's Mount, and it's only really been through a lot of hard work, sheer determination, and a lot of help from volunteers and support from riders that we've kept it going. This is our 80th anniversary year, and over those eight decades, it must have brought absolute millions and millions of pounds worth of tourism in the Scarborough. So the area has done well out of it. And I think it's it'd be great if local people supported it as much as they could."
The 2026 season represents a significant turnaround for the Scarborough circuit, which has faced operational challenges in recent years. The anniversary schedule will see a dramatic increase in track action, ensuring local residents and visiting fans have ample opportunity to experience the unique thrill of natural road racing in North Yorkshire.
The expanded programme for the year includes a wide variety of motorsport disciplines. Alongside the traditional road racing fixtures, the venue will host hill climbs and a national supermoto event, eventually culminating in a special, extended edition of the Gold Cup meeting.
Reflecting on the packed schedule for this year, Andy said it could be the biggest in the track's history:
"It is, I think this is probably, it's certainly the biggest year since I've been involved since 2019. It's probably one of the biggest years ever because we've got four full major events, we've got two two-day hill climbs and we've got a round of the British Supermoto Championship coming in August as well. So, and we've also, because it's the 80th anniversary Gold Cup in September, the council have agreed to let us have an extra day for that as well. So we've actually got a total of 15 days racing and if you look back in recent seasons that's sometimes been down to two or three. So, so we're really back where we should be and we've got a a great program for everyone to enjoy this year."
With fifteen days of racing officially confirmed, the eightieth anniversary year promises to be a landmark season for Oliver's Mount. The extensive calendar of events will celebrate the rich legacy of the circuit, cementing its status as a premier destination for motorsport on the Yorkshire Coast.
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