Bishopscourt Racing Circuit
Bishopscourt Racing Circuit at a glance
- Location
- Downpatrick, County Down
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 3.438 km (2.136 mi)
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1962
- Owner
- Bishopscourt Racing Circuit Ltd
- Phone
- +44 28 4484 2202
- Website
- bishopscourt.org
Track map and layout
Bishopscourt sits on the flat farmland of a former Second World War RAF airfield a few miles outside Downpatrick, County Down, and is run today across three configurations built from the same perimeter roads. The International Circuit, at 2.136 miles, is the longest and fastest layout; the 1.83-mile National Circuit and 1.479-mile Intermediate Circuit cut out sections of it for shorter club and kart racing. Detailed corner-by-corner naming for the lap is not widely published, but the layout is generally described as a mix of fast straights and sweeping, largely flat corners typical of British and Irish airfield circuits. Bishopscourt is best known as the home of the Sunflower Trophy, Ireland's biggest short-circuit motorcycle race meeting.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| International Circuit | 3.44 km | Longest and fastest layout, used for headline race meetings including the Sunflower Trophy |
| National Circuit | 2.94 km | Shorter layout used for club racing |
| Intermediate Circuit | 2.38 km | Shortest circuit-racing configuration, also used for karting |
Events and race weekends
Bishopscourt's headline event is the Sunflower Trophy, held every October and regarded as Ireland's biggest short-circuit motorcycle showpiece, regularly drawing riders from the British Superbike Championship and past winners including Joey Dunlop, Steve Hislop and Jonathan Rea. The circuit also hosts the Enkalon Trophy meeting and the David Wood Trophy Races, run by the Motor Cycle Road Racing Club of Ireland (MCRRCI), alongside car, kart and club racing through the year.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower Trophy | Motorcycle road racing (MCRRCI) | October | Ireland's biggest short-circuit motorcycle meeting; past winners include Joey Dunlop, Steve Hislop and Jonathan Rea |
| Enkalon Trophy | Motorcycle road racing (MCRRCI) | April | Long-running spring motorcycle meeting; 50th running held in 2026 |
| David Wood Trophy Races | Motorcycle road racing (MCRRCI) | September | Annual race meeting on the circuit's autumn calendar |
Getting there and parking
Bishopscourt is a few miles north-east of Downpatrick in County Down, reached via the A22 and A25. George Best Belfast City Airport is the nearest airport with scheduled flights, with Belfast International Airport a wider option a little further away.
- George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) · about 40 min drive
- Belfast International Airport (BFS) · about 65 min drive
Parking
On-site spectator parking is available for race meetings; arrive early for the Sunflower Trophy weekend, the circuit's busiest date of the year.
Check the circuit's calendar before travelling, as many dates are closed track days, private hire or testing rather than public race meetings.
Hotels and camping near Bishopscourt Racing Circuit
Downpatrick, a few minutes away, has the closest choice of hotels and guesthouses, with Newcastle and Strangford adding coastal options within easy reach for visitors wanting to combine a trip with the surrounding County Down coastline. Belfast, around 40 minutes away, offers a much larger pool of hotels for those happy to stay further out. Book ahead for the Sunflower Trophy weekend in October, the circuit's busiest and best-attended fixture.
Where to look
Downpatrick (closest, widest local choice), Newcastle and Strangford (coastal options nearby), and Belfast for a much larger selection further afield.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Bishopscourt hosts car and motorcycle track days, private circuit hire and testing throughout the year, run by third-party organisers such as Ernie Coates Track Days as well as directly through the circuit. It's also home to a kart club running regular sessions on the Intermediate Circuit.
Who runs days here
Spectator guide
The flat, open former-airfield setting gives spectators clear sightlines across much of the lap, with modern facilities including a race control tower, scrutineering bay and updated toilet and shower blocks added in recent years. Being on the exposed County Down coastal plain, visitors should plan for wind and rain at any time of year.
Weather
- Oct: cool and often damp for the Sunflower Trophy weekend; pack for Irish autumn weather
- Apr: changeable spring conditions for the Enkalon Trophy meeting
History of Bishopscourt Racing Circuit
RAF airfield to race circuit
Bishopscourt began as an RAF airfield, commissioned in 1941 and fully operational within two years, serving as a training and operational base during the Second World War. Motor racing arrived relatively quickly in peacetime: the Ulster Automobile Club held its first race meeting on the airfield's runways and perimeter roads in 1962, and the circuit became a regular fixture on the Northern Irish motorsport calendar through the following decade.
Closure during the Troubles
By the early 1970s, Northern Ireland's deteriorating security situation was affecting the circuit directly, and a bombing at the site contributed to racing being suspended in 1973. The airfield remained under RAF control for a further period, with the military finally withdrawing from the site in 1990.
Revival in the 1990s
With the RAF gone, local enthusiasts moved quickly to bring motor racing back to Bishopscourt. New private ownership acquired the site, and the circuit reopened for racing in 1992, when the Motor Cycle Road Racing Club of Ireland held a club meeting on 14 March with Leslie McMaster taking the win in the first race back. The circuit was rebuilt into the multi-configuration layout used today, and quickly re-established itself as a leading motorcycle road racing venue, home to the Sunflower Trophy.
Present day
Bishopscourt continues to host a full calendar of motorcycle racing, car and kart events, track days and testing. The circuit was placed on the market for around £2 million in 2024, drawing reported interest from prospective buyers, but race meetings and track days have continued uninterrupted through the sale process, with events including the 50th Enkalon Trophy and the David Wood Trophy Races scheduled for 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Bishopscourt Racing Circuit?+
The International Circuit, the longest and fastest layout, is 2.136 miles (3.438km). Shorter National (1.83 miles/2.945km) and Intermediate (1.479 miles/2.38km) configurations are also used for club and kart racing.
What is the Sunflower Trophy?+
The Sunflower Trophy is Bishopscourt's headline event and Ireland's biggest short-circuit motorcycle race meeting, held every October and regularly attracting riders from the British Superbike Championship. Past winners include Joey Dunlop, Steve Hislop and Jonathan Rea.
Is Bishopscourt Racing Circuit still open?+
Yes. Despite being listed for sale in 2024, the circuit has continued to host race meetings, track days and testing, with events scheduled through 2026 including the Enkalon Trophy and David Wood Trophy Races.
Where are the best hotels near Bishopscourt Racing Circuit?+
Downpatrick, a few minutes away, has the closest choice of hotels and guesthouses. Newcastle and Strangford offer coastal options nearby, and Belfast has a much larger selection about 40 minutes away.
What is the nearest airport to Bishopscourt Racing Circuit?+
George Best Belfast City Airport is the nearest with scheduled flights, about a 40-minute drive. Belfast International Airport is a wider option a little further away.
Can the public drive or ride Bishopscourt Racing Circuit?+
Yes. Car and motorcycle track days, private circuit hire and testing are run at Bishopscourt through organisers such as Ernie Coates Track Days as well as directly through the circuit.
Other tracks nearby
- Kirkistown Race Circuit · 18 km · road course
- Dundrod Circuit (Ulster Grand Prix) · 35 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- St John's Short Course · 71 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Billown Circuit · 75 km · public road circuit
- Clypse Course · 82 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Isle of Man TT Mountain Course · 82 km · public road circuit
Facts checked against 6 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.