Formula None: Rain Wipes Out Classic TT Race

After 10 days of almost-perfect racing conditions, the weather finally remembered it was the Isle of Man.

This morning brought lashings of rain and with it, a big soggy spanner in the Classic TT works.

What should have been a bumper three-race day has been reduced to a stripped-back evening programme.

Once the roads close at 6pm, there’s just enough daylight left to squeeze in a two-lap Lightweight race at 6.30pm, followed by a couple of parade laps! Not exactly the packed schedule fans had been hoping for.

And if you thought tomorrow might be better, think again.

The forecast looks just as grim, so organisers are going all-in on Friday with three races in a row.

One had to be sacrificed, though, and it’s the Formula One Classic that’s been cut entirely. The Historic Junior Classic has also been trimmed to two laps.

Friday now kicks off at 10.15am with the Historic Junior, followed by the Historic Senior Classic at midday.

Then it’s the big one, the four-lap Senior Classic TT at 1.45pm.

To top it all off, Michael Dunlop will take his uncle’s Formula One bike out for a special parade lap at 3.50pm, a fitting finale to the Classic TT that’s had to duck and dive around the weather (unlike the Manx Grand Prix, that had nice, lovely sun).

Explaining the reshuffle, organisers said the new timetable ensures every class still gets its chance on the Mountain Course.

Formula One riders will now slot into the Senior Classic grid, with any spare places handed to the quickest Lightweights.

Rain may have washed away part of the schedule, but Friday still looks set to be a blockbuster.