The Department of Economic Development has secured a number of long-term commercial contracts for the Manx Grand Prix Festival.

The Department created the newly branded festival in 2010 to develop the commercial rights for the Manx Grand Prix Races and supporting events. The revised festival now also features the Classic Trial, the Two Day Trial and the Vintage Motor Cycle Club’s rally and meeting at Jurby that attracted over 12,000 visitors in 2010.

The contract for the Official MGP Festival programme has been awarded to Mannin Media following a tender process. Mannin Media has produced the TT Races programme for the last four years. The company’s plans include fascinating behind the scenes features, MGP facts and analysis as well as race guide and spectator information.

Steve Brown, Managing Director, Mannin Media commented:

“The Manx Grand Prix Festival has a passionate group of followers and we are looking forward to the challenge of creating a high quality programme that engages and interests them. The programme will be a real source of information for fans that will encompass and bring together the whole festival fortnight.”

Motorsport Merchandise, who already operates as the official supplier of TT merchandise, has joined the MGPF commercial portfolio as event sponsors and licensee for official MGPF merchandise.

They will develop a range of clothing and memorabilia for the Manx Grand Prix Festival, featuring the official logo that was created in 2010, including a wide range of T-shirt designs as well as jackets, fleeces and shirts. Manx Grand Prix Festival fans will also be able to buy Motorsport Merchandise’s extensive collection of Manx Grand Prix Festival caps.

As an official event sponsor Motorsport Merchandise will also receive a branding package across all areas of the event as well as the naming rights to the 350cc and 250cc Classic GP Races.


Roy Wilson, Managing Director, Motorsport Merchandise, commented:

“We are really pleased to be on board and will use our extensive experience of producing great quality merchandise for the TT to offer Manx Grand Prix festival fans a range that they are happy to wear.”

Other agreements secured include Mylchreest Motors, who have a multi-year deal to be the official car partner and Official Motorcycle Partner Yamaha, who will provide bikes for the Travelling Marshals in their 50th year of racing on the Isle of Man.

Morton’s Media are the official event media partner and will run a series of editorial features and advertising promoting the revised event in their range of classic titles that includes Classic Racer, Classic Dirt Bike, Classic Bike Guide and The Classic Motorcycle. The Manx Grand Prix Supporters Club also receives official sponsor status and a package of benefits around the event in recognition of the financial contribution that it makes.

All of the sponsors receive a package of high profile benefits including trackside advertising, on-line advertising on the official mpgfestival.com website, race title sponsorship, programme ads and the right to use the official Manx Grand Prix Festival logo in their marketing collateral.

The Department of Economic Development’s Motorsport Team is also talking to a number of other blue chip companies about becoming sponsors in the event and more announcements will be made ahead of the event in September 2011.


Hon Allan Bell, MHK, Minister for Department of Economic Development, Isle of Man Government, commented:

“We are really pleased to welcome all of the partners on board to help us to deliver the commercial objectives that we have set for the development of the Manx Grand Prix Festival. These partnerships are the first evidence of our long-term strategy to develop the Manx Grand Prix Festival to generate more commercial income and more visitors for the benefit of the Island’s economy. It is particularly pleasing to see so many local companies playing such important roles.”