Killalane Road Races will go ahead this year as planned after a newly-formed club stepped in to run it under the East Coast Racing Festival banner.

Last year, the Loughshinny MCSC had vowed to run both Skerries and Killalane but the 100 per cent hike in insurance premiums meant it was not possible, and the future of Killalane looked bleak.

Yesterday it was announced that the Carole Nash-backed East Coast Club will run the event on September 9-10. “Following a meeting with the residents of the track, we have their full support and East Coast Motorcycle Club are delighted to announce Carole Nash as the title sponsor for this event, the final round of the 2017 Irish National Championship road racing season,” said club founder Francis Everard.

“My team have been working very hard on the return of the final race of the season for some time and have already secured seven race sponsors. However for the success of this event we will need the full support of all true road racing supporters.”