This Saturday’s round of the Ulster Cup at Nutts Corner Motorsports Centre is extra significant to kart racing drivers and motorsport in general.

Not only will the meeting feature all the regular classes competing for Ulster Cup points but it will feature the 160mph 250cc Superkarts and the equally spectacular 125cc Superkarts.

This is the first time that both have been at the circuit in four years.

The reason that all of this is possible will also become clear to drivers at the drivers briefings on Saturday morning when the Ulster Karting Club will confirm that the circuit now has new owners.

With past and potential British champions in the ranks of drivers from the province the meeting will be an extra special chance for the gearbox driven machines to show off everything that they bring to the sport.

With World Formula E champion Trevor Roberts from Lurgan, an ‘ambassador’ for the circuit , and past British champion Stephen McAdam from Richill amongst those that have helped forge their racing careers at the circuit then the gearbox drivers should have plenty to show off.

In the run up to this Saturday’s meeting, Gerry Magennis , the UKCs chairperson commented: “June 2008 may well go down in history as one of the most important months in local politics and also about the price of oil and petrol, but to kart racing fans throughout the UK this announcement is very significant and ends a frustrating five year long debate over the future of the circuit.

“Nutts Corner Circuit Ltd (NCC) has signed a deal with the Ulster Karting Club (UKC) that guarantees the club 25 racing / practice days per year for UKC organised and promoted events.”

John Eastwood, the director of NCC Ltd who has considerable family kart racing interests also commented: “Circuit infrastructure improvements are already well underway including a new roadway into the paddock, massively improved acoustic bunding, a new grid form up area and we hope to announce shortly our bigger plans for the circuit including corporate karting and a return to the circuit by other ‘lightweight’ forms of motorsport.”

John finished off the brief announcement by saying: “Our plan is to see the Nutts Corner Circuit developed into a centre of excellence for kart racing in the province and even get it up to European CIK standards. This wont be at the expense of drivers pockets though and circuit test sessions will still remain very competitive.”

Exciting times are ahead then for the sport and the circuit.

This Saturday will be all about gaining Ulster Cup points and judging by the recent close action the championship is shaping up well for another close summer of racing.

The gearbox classes will be spectacular though and worth focussing on, especially after the double header UK Cup and British Championship meeting recently at Bishopscourt.