The Bayview Hotel Armoy Road Races will be filmed by leading motorsport media company, Greenlight TV.
Greenlight is responsible for filming the likes of the NW200 and UGP and although Armoy doesn’t have the budget to include helicopters, the final programme will be shown on BBC Northern Ireland, then across ITV4, Eurosport, MotorTrend USA, MtV Finland, CBS Sport and Fox Australia where it is hoped some 100 milion people will get to see Armoy and the Causeway Coast and Glens in all its glory.
Clerk of the Course, Bill Kennedy MBE said, “This is superb news for the Club and fans alike. It is important that we continue to highlight road racing through broadcast television.
“Coverage and television coverage, in particular, has become crucial in promoting our sport. In addition to the many fans around the world who can’t make it to Armoy, there are those of us at the race who appreciate reliving the experience and viewing it from a different perspective. As I’m pretty much on the start/finish line all day, I don’t see what happens in the village or around Church Bends. I’m very happy indeed that it will be viewed on Eurosport, ITV4 and other global channels, giving the races a much wider audience.
“It’s also important, as a Club, that we showcase not just the Armoy Road Races, but the wider Causeway Coast and Glens and indeed all of Northern Ireland Tourism as we are finding more and more of our fans not just coming for the races but staying the week, attending the events of Bike Week and travelling to other parts of our wee country.
“Just look at what The Open achieved last week, something that can make us all so proud of Northern Ireland and although Armoy Road Races are on a very different scale, I’m exceptionally proud of the tourism benefits it brings to this part of the world.
Trevor Kane, owner of the Bayview Hotel and title sponsor added, “I’ve been involved with these races since day one and I think that we are extremely lucky to live and work in this beautiful part of the world and to have events like the Armoy Road Races every year. I see visitors return year on year to Armoy. We are fully booked over the race days and I have to say it’s a real credit to the Club that they manage to achieve this.”
One of our other sponsors, Clyde Shanks, a planning consultancy which advised the R&A in securing planning permission for the infrastructural changes necessary for Royal Portrush to host the Open championship , said; “The Armoy Races typify all that is good about the North Coast and showcasing it. As a local man, I’m delighted to see that this event acts as a catalyst for tourism as well as community and sport and that my part in sponsoring the Supertwins races helps in some small way.”
Bill concluded; “The funding and support we receive from the Causeway Coast and Glens Council and Tourism Northern Ireland is crucial to our event and in return this year they have asked us to complete a spectator survey that best highlights the visitor’s experience at the Armoy Races 2019, this is where help is needed.
“We will have volunteers around the course asking those attending to fill in out the quick visitor survey. If the time can be spared to answer a few questions, it will be very much appreciated and valuable to the club’s future funding. You can participate in the small survey HERE from Friday 27th July. As they say, every little bit helps!”
This year, Bike Week runs from Saturday 20th July until Saturday 27th July with the races taking place on Friday 26th July and Saturday 27th July 2019 culminating in the Bayview Hotel ‘Race of Legends’. The Armoy Road Races are part funded by the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and Tourism Northern Ireland.
Please support the Armoy Road Races by buying a programme with a full list of entries inside. They are currently available from the AMRRC office and the Petrol Station in Armoy and cost £15.00 or €18.