This year’s Classic TT has drawn a whopping 329 entries for the three races to be held in August and bosses will have to whittle it down to just 270 over the four classes.

The Motorsport Merchandise Formula 1/Formula 2 Race leads the way with 144 entries while both the Bennetts 500cc Race with 101 registrations and the Okells 350cc Race with 84 are also up on last year's numbers.

The event will again see many of the leading TT competitors competing against Classic Racing specialists while the event's global interest is reflected in entries from Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Holland, France, the USA as well as the British Isles and of course the Isle of Man.

Following a week of practice and qualifying which starts on Saturday 16th August, the race programme begins with the Bennetts 500cc Classic TT Race on Saturday 23rd August. The second and final day of racing takes place on Bank Holiday Monday 25th August with the Okells 350cc Classic TT Race being followed by the combined Motorsport Merchandise Formula 1 and Formula 2 Classic TT Races.

The Classic TT Races form part of a four-day festival of motorcycle nostalgia from the 22nd to 25th August, which also includes a Paddock Carnival, classic racing machinery displays, photographic exhibitions, the Festival of Jurby and a whole host of social events.

The Classic TT is one of the events that make up the 2014 Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling, which runs from August 16th to August 31. The festival also includes the Manx Grand Prix (25th to 29th August), Manx 2-Day Trial (23rd and 24th August), Manx Classic Trial (30th and 31st August) and the VMCC rally and The Festival of Jurby (24th August).