- Hickman will ride the WRS 588cc Rotary in the Formula 1 Classic TT Race
- He succeeds Michael Dunlop, who set the fastest-ever lap by a rotary-engined motorcycle on the Mountain Course in 2025 at 123.505 mph (198.8 km/h)
- The race is scheduled for Wednesday, 26 August 2026, over three laps
The announcement came on 24 July 2026. WizNorton Racing returns to the Classic TT once again, this time with a rider who knows the Snaefell Mountain Course better than almost anyone. Hickman holds the outright lap record on the 37.73-mile (60.72 km) course at 136.358 mph (219.4 km/h). For him, it will be his first Classic TT since 2019, as he did not take part when the event returned in 2025.
Why Is This Ride More Than Just a Guest Appearance for Peter Hickman?
Hickman is riding a machine whose origins involved his own father. Dave Hickman was a fixture of the British racing scene throughout the 1970s and 1980s, first as a rider, later as a technician. The man from Burton upon Trent won the Lightweight Manx Grand Prix in 1977 and later returned to the Island as a member of the Norton and Honda works teams.
He played a key role in Norton’s original Rotary project. A police-spec motorcycle became the basis for the race machine that later evolved into the John Player Special-backed Norton team. Peter Hickman’s first ride on the Norton Rotary therefore falls almost exactly on the fiftieth anniversary of his father’s first involvement with the project.
Hickman himself says that although he has ridden many extraordinary motorcycles over the years, this one is different. Every TT fan knows the Norton Rotary, and its significance to the event’s history is hard to overstate. On the family connection, he said: “It’s even more special because of my Dad’s involvement with the original project.”
What Makes the WRS 588cc Rotary So Special?
The machine runs a rotary engine, a design fundamentally different from a conventional piston engine. That produces a sound unlike anything else in road racing. Add to that the reputation the works-backed Norton race bikes built in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The best-known moment came from Steve Hislop, who won the 1992 Senior TT aboard a rotary-engined Norton. His record stood for more than 30 years. It was Michael Dunlop who finally beat it in 2025 with an unofficially timed lap of 123.505 mph (198.8 km/h) on the WizNorton machine.
Who Rode the WRS 588cc Rotary Before Hickman?
Three well-known names rode the machine before Hickman. Josh Brookes raced it in 2017 and 2018, Shaun Anderson in 2023 and 2024, and Michael Dunlop in 2025. Dunlop, too, has a family link to the motorcycle, as his father Robert Dunlop rode comparable machinery in that era, including at the 1992 Senior TT.
WizNorton Racing has competed at the Classic TT since 2014 and has kept the Norton Rotary on the Mountain Course ever since. According to the team, the machine has been continuously developed over these twelve years, with progress accelerating recently thanks in part to feedback from Brookes, Anderson and Dunlop.
When Does the 2026 Formula 1 Classic TT Race Start?
The Formula 1 Classic TT Race is scheduled for Wednesday, 26 August 2026, at 10:15 am, and runs over three laps. The Classic TT and the Manx Grand Prix share twelve days on the Snaefell Mountain Course this year, from Sunday, 16 August, to Friday, 28 August. The first six days are reserved for qualifying sessions.
The same Wednesday also features the combined Lightweight Classic TT and Ultra Lightweight Classic TT races, as well as the Junior 600 Race. All times are subject to road closures being approved by the relevant ministry and may change depending on conditions.
What the Team Expects From the Ride
Andy Wilson of WizNorton Racing calls it an honour to have the fastest rider in TT course history aboard the team’s machine. Hickman’s close personal connection to the Norton Rotary’s history makes it even more special. Preparing a rotary-engined Norton for the demands of the Mountain Course is never the easiest task, but the team is convinced the current specification is the best yet. Combined with Dave Hickman’s knowledge, they believe they can spring a surprise or two.
How the Ride Fits Into the 2026 Road Racing Season
For Hickman, it is the next date in a busy road racing season. He recently stood on the podium at the Chimay Open Trophy and won the feature race at Cock O’ The North at Oliver’s Mount. According to one report, he is set to ride the Norton Rotary for the first time this week at the Jack’s Casino Racing Day in Assen, where races for Isle of Man Classic Superbikes are on the schedule. The official announcement gives no details on this and names the Classic TT as his first outing on the machine.
That places the date within a summer in which the classic road courses once again follow closely on each other’s heels. The Classic TT marks the close of the 2026 Isle of Man season, after the TT in June and the Southern 100 in July.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Which motorcycle is Peter Hickman riding at the 2026 Classic TT?
Hickman is riding the WRS 588cc Rotary from WizNorton Racing in the Formula 1 Classic TT Race. It is his first outing on the Norton Rotary, a motorcycle powered by a rotary engine.
-
When does the 2026 Formula 1 Classic TT Race start?
The race is scheduled for Wednesday, 26 August 2026, at 10:15 am, and runs over three laps. The Classic TT takes place from 16 to 28 August together with the Manx Grand Prix.
-
How fast was the Norton Rotary most recently around the Mountain Course?
Michael Dunlop set an unofficially timed lap of 123.505 mph (198.8 km/h) in 2025, beating Steve Hislop’s record from the 1992 Senior TT.
-
What connection does the Hickman family have to Norton?
Dave Hickman, Peter Hickman’s father, was a member of the Norton works team and was involved in developing the original Rotary project. A police-spec motorcycle became the basis for the later race machine.
➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: Isle of Man TT 2026: The Complete Overview – Schedule, Riders, Teams & Results. Find all key information on this topic in one place.
