Fife round next up for Lauder sidecar-racer Steve Kershaw
Lauder sidecar-racer Steve Kershaw and passenger Rhys Gibbons are now shifting their attention back to this year’s British Formula One Sidecar Championship after an enforced early exit from the Isle of Man’s latest Tourist Trophy races.
This month and last’s TT meeting was Kershaw and Gibbons’ second after managing a seventh-placed finish first time round in 2025.
They’d been targeting improving on that showing this year on their Louis Christen Racing Honda but didn’t get the chance as the event’s sidecar competition was abandoned following an accident in qualifying involving last year’s winners, Manx brothers Ryan and Callum Crowe, leaving them with multiple injuries including broken bones.
Undeterred by that call-off after three qualifying rounds, Kershaw is already hoping to get third time lucky in 2027, saying: “We were more than happy with the improvements to the machine from last year, and although we had some niggling problems, the speed was there.
“It being our second year as a team, Rhys and I knew where to improve and we were steadily building our pace towards the Saturday’s race one and I think a top-six placing was achievable.
“The incident in qualifying shocked everybody but we never thought it would lead to the cancelling of the class for the rest of the event as everyone was complying with the rules and passing scrutineering as expected.
“No one is sure what happens next, but discussions between the organisers and teams need to happen sooner rather than later to try and get back on track for 2027.”
Round two of seven making up the British championship is next for the pair and it’s the only one this side of the border, taking place at Knockhill in Fife from Friday, June 19, to Sunday, June 21.
They resume their championship challenge sitting fourth on the competition’s leaderboard, with 34 points, after round one at Leicestershire’s Donington Park in May.
Lancashire’s Lewis Blackstock and Oscar Lawrence lead the way with 75.