ΤΑ-ΤΑ ΤΟ THE TT

The Audi TT is regrettably heading to the graveyard - and so it seems is the idea of a new TT-style island road race. Matt Prior considers what we will be missing out on

- Matt Prior

The Solent is reputedly the world's most expensive stretch of water to cross per mile. But if you take the hovercraft? What a way to travel. See our 2022 Christmas road test.

Ticket to Ryde: ferry goes from Portsmouth

They really did name it after the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, you know. The Audi TT turns 25 this year, and although the car obviously has never competed in the world's most famous motorcycle race, NSU, which was one of the firms that merged to create Audi in the 1960s, made motorbikes that did - including taking a one-two-three-four in 1953's 250cc race.

So the TT, Audi's TT, is a tribute, a homage, to the real thing, even if doesn't itself have the pedigree. Which leads me and a last-of-the-line model as the TT bows out of production onto a ferry bound for the Isle of Wight, where something else TT-inspired is afoot. No, dear reader, I'm not above wretched contrivance. Yes, the not-exactly-TT is going to do the not-exactly-TT.

The Isle of Man estimates that the TT races bring £39m to its economy each year.

The Isle of Wight Road Races are, as the name suggests, a proposed set of bike races on this island just off the south coast. A smaller isle than the Isle of Man and a shorter proposed circuit than the TT, but road races nonetheless. At least that's the hope.

Excellent fun to handle, even if it isn't a 718