There’s a major buzz around 2024 Sidecar TT action, as a who’s who of three wheeling roads scene alumni take to the Mountain Course.
Having won thirteen of the last twelve Sidecar TT’s, Ben Birchall (Hager/Wyckham Blackwell) has already established himself as an all-time TT great.
With brother, the most successful Sidecar TT passenger in history, Tom Birchall, calling time on IOM road racing voyages, the Mansfield Honda powered driver has a new sidekick in the form of French ace Kevin Rousseau.
Although relatively new to TT racing, Rousseau’s pedigree is stern, alongside Harry Payne he claimed victory in this year’s World Championship season opener at Le Mans.
Will the Birchall winning streak continue with his new passenger? There are lots who believe times are changing.
Notching up a 120-mph lap last year, FHO Racing’s Pete Founds/Jevan Walmsley, start for certain racing insiders, favourites for at least one race win during TT 2024.
Commenting about expectations for his latest TT competition foray, driver Founds stated:
“The bottom line is that I could make a strong case for five or six crews winning in 2024.
That’s how competitive the Sidecar races are now at the TT, so we’ll just focus on ourselves and look to get into our rhythm as early as we can in practice week.
You can’t force things at the TT, but we went faster in each session last year so hopefully that’ll be the case again this year and we can challenge for the victories once more.”
Expectations are also high for the Crowe brothers Ryan & Callum (Kel Properties – LCR Honda).
Southern 100 lap record holders, they claimed in 2022 maiden emotional podium finishes, emulating their dad, Nick Crowe.
Confident they have the package, tools at their disposal to excel, it wouldn’t at all be a surprise to hear the Manx national anthem serenading the Grandstand next month.
Additional crews with sights set on race winning, rostrum finishing pursuits include eight times World Champion Tim Reeves/Mark Wilkes (Bonovo Action Racing), legendary driver Dave Molyneux/new passenger Jake Roberts (DMR Kawasaki).
Retirement u-turner John Holden/Frank Claeys (Carl Cox Motorsport), British Championship front-runners Lewis Blackstock/Patrick Rosney (Dave Holden Racing), Oliver’s Mount Champions Steve Ramsden/Matty Ramsden, Lee Crawford/Scott Hardie (ARC Newton Aycliffe – SJH Bodyworks).
Former overall Sidecar TT Champion Conrad Harrison/Ashley Moore, Daryl Gibson/Tom Christie (Gibson Racing), Alan Founds linking up with newcomer, nephew Rhys Gibbons, have the acumen, tenacious, clever race craft to score top finishes.
The 101st Anniversary Sidecar TT field also features to name but a few, versatile racing all-rounder Michael ‘Jack’ Russell/Vicky Cooke (Frog Vehicle Developments), Gary Gibson/Justin Sharp, Bruce Moore/Mark Gash (Lane Building Services Racing).
Dan Knight/Ben Hughes (Green Ant Racing), Darren Hope/Lenny Bumfrey, John Saunders/James Saunders.
Wayne Lockey/Matty Rostron, Greg Lambert/Andrew Haynes, Maria Costello MBE/Gary Wheeler, Alun Thomas/Jody James.
Newcomers, most notably reigning World Champions Todd Ellis/Emmanuelle Clement, the Flying Dutchmen team of Wiggert Kranenburg/Jermain Van Middegaal, Manx GP podium finisher turned three wheeling driver Renzo Van Der Donckt/Vale Van Der Donckt, Robert Dawson/Matthew Sims, and Chris Schofield/Tom Dawkins (SSR).
All in all, quite the entry-list for the 3wheeling.media Sidecar races of TT 2024.
It’s disappointing though to report again, that entry numbers are let’s be honest low (32 teams entered).
Sidecar racing around the unparalleled Mountain Course, provides something different from the norm, mixing specialist engineering, proper old school racing with moments of absolute motorsport brilliance. Long may it continue.
Quotes courtesy of TT Races press team.
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler, Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou


