The Auto-Cycle Union (ACU) officially submits a bid for Great Britain to host the 101st edition of the FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) in 2027.

When we learned the future ISDEs (2026 and 2027) would likely be in Portugal and UK (announced last October by the FIM President, Jorge Viegas) the UK governing body of motorcycle sport, the Auto Cycle Union, has official submitted a bid. 

Were it successful, and it looks highly likely, the historically significant 2027 ISDE would be the first time the team competition has been run on British soil since 1983 and also mark the 101st edition of the historic event which was first staged in Carlisle, UK, back in 1913. 

After a return Team GB taking an historic World and Women’s Trophy at the 2023 edition in France, followed by the return of the EnduroGP World Championship to the UK in 2024, an ISDE homecoming would mark a significant moment for enduro in Great Britain. 

Based in Builth Wells

The proposed event would see experienced enduro figure Steve Hall leading a combined organising team with a base for the event at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells. The experienced Mid Wales clubs, who partly responsible for events like the EnduroGP of Wales, Welsh 2-Day Enduro, British Enduro Championship rounds and hugely popular Welsh Open Sprint Enduro Championship, will form the organisation with support from other ACU clubs across the UK. 

The ACU’s bid is being supported in principle by Event Wales – the Welsh Government’s event support body – and the projected economic impact of a British ISDE event is estimated to be worth more than £3 million to the local economy.

ACU President Tim Lightfoot said: “The ISDE is the biggest standalone event in the FIM calendar and was first hosted by the UK in Carlisle just before the First World War. With such strong historical ties, we’re proud to put forward a bid that reflects the passion and capability of Britain’s off-road community. Hosting the ISDE in 2027 would be a powerful way to bring the sport together and deliver a world-class event that lives long in the memory.”

The six-day competition would welcome world-class enduro teams and riders from more than 30 countries including Australia, France, the USA, and Italy. The capacity field of 500 entries (competing in Men, Women and Junior classes) would tackle some of the best terrain Mid Wales has to offer.

Matthew Edwards-Wear, ACU Secretary General, said: “Hosting the 2027 ISDE is a fantastic prospect. It gives us an opportunity to celebrate the success of our domestic enduro scene and to raise the profile of British riders on the world stage. And as a not-for-profit event, any surplus funds will be directly reinvested back into the enduro discipline as part of our legacy planning initiative.

“Now that our bid has been formally submitted to the FIM, we’ll be continuing our discussions with local councils and other key stakeholders to put as many building blocks in place ahead of a formal FIM selection decision later this year.”

The ACU say they will share details of volunteering and commercial opportunities on its channels as the bid progresses.

Photo Credit: Future7Media