The return of motorsport action to Sandown has been delayed until 2027, with organisers postponing this October’s planned sprint in a bid to secure the event’s long-term future following a funding shortfall.
The Isle of Wight Car Club has confirmed that the event, originally scheduled for October 2026, will now take place over the weekend of 17th-18th April 2027.
The high-octane event, formerly known as the Sandown Sprint, is being rebranded as the IOW Sprint and will continue to form part of the usual speed championships, with organisers encouraging other clubs to include it as a championship round.
Organisers were unable to close a funding gap ahead of this October’s planned event, prompting the decision to postpone rather than press ahead.
Instead, the sprint has been moved to the Spring, with organisers believing April offers a much better chance of warmer temperatures and more favourable weather. It is hoped the improved conditions will attract larger crowds, creating a stronger atmosphere for competitors while helping secure the event’s long-term financial viability.
The organisers had initially explored staging the event in March 2027, but the Isle of Wight Council approved a post-Easter date instead.
Working alongside new sponsors and a new events company, the sprint is being relaunched under its new branding. A dedicated website, social media channels and further announcements are expected in the coming weeks and months.
The latest development marks another chapter in the long-awaited return of sprint racing to Sandown. Plans for a 2025 event were shelved because of economic pressures and local challenges, before organisers announced in December that the event would return in October 2026 with free spectator entry.
That comeback has now been pushed back by 6 months, with engines instead set to roar into life in April 2027.
