The Auto-Cycle Union (ACU) has submitted a bid for Great Britain to host the FIM’s International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) event in 2027.
If the bid is successful, it would be the first time the Team World Championship competition has been run on British soil since 1983. After an absence of 44 years, an ISDE homecoming would mark a significant moment for the domestic enduro discipline.
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.
Based at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, the proposed event would be delivered by the highly-experienced ACU Mid Wales clubs, with support from other ACU clubs across the UK. Experienced enduro figure Steve Hall will lead this combined organising team.
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.
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 will share details of volunteering and commercial opportunities on its channels as the bid progresses.