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Ben and Tom Birchall

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For the Australian cricketer, see Tom Birchall (cricketer).

Ben Birchall (driver) with Tom (passenger) racing at Donington Park in 2015 using a long (F1) chassis with rear-engine behind the driver

Ben Birchall (born 21 January 1977)[1] and Tom Birchall, (born 23 December 1986),[1] from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, are English motorcycle-with-sidecar road race World Championship-winning competitors in both F1 category (2009 and 2018 seasons) and F2 category (2016, officially known as F2 Sidecar World Trophy, using 600 engines running concurrently with 1000-engined outfits) and again in the 2017 season – when all competitors used 600 engines.[2]

The brothers are nine-time TT winners in 2013, 2015 (twice), 2016, 2017 (twice), 2018 (twice) and 2019.[3][4] and absolute lap and race record holders set in 2018, 2017 and 2015 respectively.

During the 2017 season the reigning F2 sidecar champions campaigned in the World championship and British championship (600 Cup) as Team Mansfield with IEG Racing, using an LCR F1 outfit powered by a Yamaha R6 600 cc engine.[5] For the 2017 Isle of Man TT races in June and the island's Southern 100 races in July they used a smaller (F2) LCR short chassis, as required by regulations, powered by a Honda 600 cc engine.[6][7]

In May 2019, Ben was elected as a Mansfield District Council Councillor in the Kings Walk ward for the Mansfield Independent Forum.

Racing history

Ben Birchall started racing as a sidecar passenger in 1999, and became a driver in 2003. Tom Birchall started racing as a sidecar passenger in 2003.[1]

2009

In 2009 they were F1 World Champions

2010

In 2010 a new LCR long (F2) Louis Christen chassis with Yamaha R1 engine was tested in France, before debuting in April at Pembrey for the first round of the British Championship, followed by the first round of the World Championship at Le Mans, France, held as a support race to the FIM Endurance World Championship.[8]

The short (F2) chassis needed to comply with Isle of Man TT regulations was not ready in time to test thoroughly before the May/June event, meaning the brothers cancelled their race plans due to unproven safety and performance reasons.[8]

Ben Birchall suffered back injuries in a practice crash at the Croatia world championship round needing skin grafts.[9]

2011

In February 2011 the Birchalls were accoladed as Nottinghamshire County Council's Sports Team of the Year after an online public vote.[9] The brothers were awarded the freedom of their hometown of Mansfield by then-Mayor Tony Egginton in 2011, who also awarded the accolade to Olympic multiple gold medal swimmer Rebecca Adlington in 2008.[10]

2012

In 2012 the Birchalls joined with former World Champion sidecar racer and TT winner Klaus Klaffenböck and former passenger Adolf Hanni in a new team called Cofain Racing by Klaffi, using long (F1) and short (F2) LCR chassis with Honda engines prepared by Chris Mehew. The team was presented to the press with a photo-call at Creg-ny-Baa, a famous corner on the Isle of Man TT course.[9][11]

During practice for the 2012 TT in June, they ran off the course at high speed close to Brandywell:[12]

"It is a 120mph corner and I knew we were going to leave the road. It is straight down and I had a split second to make a decision. I decided to go off head first rather than risk rolling all the way down. I turned round and saw Tom stuck in a sheep fence." – Ben Birchall, Sidecar driver

Both brothers were airlifted to hospital suffering from severe bruising and discharged after observation. The machine was extensively damaged needing a new chassis and bodywork, but after the team's rebuild practicing was resumed and the actual races resulted in second and third places in the two-leg event.[12]

After the two TT race legs, they immediately left for their debut at Hungaroring race track in Hungary, the second round of the FIM World Championship where they finished in fourth place after a two-part race interrupted by rain. Back on the Isle of Man, in their absence, their Spirit of TT Award was received on their behalf by father John Birchall and Klaus Klaffenbock.[13]

They entered their first Southern 100 short-length road races in July 2012 and were the first newcomers to debut as winners of the sidecar championship,[14] also receiving their Spirit of TT award on their return to the island.[15]

2013

In 2013 they won their first TT race.[16]

2014

In 2014 they experienced a TT crash near to Black Dub. Both were initially treated at Noble's hospital in Douglas town. Tom suffered a bruised lung, cuts and severe bruising, whilst Ben had a seriously damaged right hand, being later transferred to Wigan where an orthopaedic surgeon, helped by a plastic surgeon, rebuilt his hand with metal plates and wires, successfully saving his injured little finger.[17]

2015

In 2015, the Birchalls withdrew from F1 World Championship after the opening round at Donington Park, citing a host of reasons but mainly the dangerous driving of Tim Reeves in causing a collision that disabled the Birchalls outfit, for which he was disqualified from the race result. A lengthy public statement was issued.[18]

2016

In August 2016, before the season's end, the brothers had already amassed a points tally to become F1 (600) champions in August[19] running along with the F1 1000 cc competitors

2017

In 2017, the brothers again won the World Championship after the September round in Croatia,[20] using the same 600 cc engine as all other competitors.[21] With their two 2017 Isle of Man TT race wins, this was the first time in history of the sport that both prestigious titles were won in the same year.[22]

References

  1. ^ a b c Birchall Racing official website Retrieved 19 December 2017
  2. ^ FIM Sidecar World Championship & F2 Sidecar World Trophy FIM (www.fim-live.com) Retrieved 19 December 2017
  3. ^ BBC Sport, Retrieved 19 December 2017
  4. ^ Competitor Profile, IoM TT official site Retrieved 19 December 2017
  5. ^ LCR sidecar official website, F1. Retrieved 19 December 2017
  6. ^ LCR sidecar official website, F2. 19 December 2017
  7. ^ Birchall Racing official website Retrieved 19 December 2017
  8. ^ a b World Champions ready to defend title. Chad, Mansfield local newspaper, 7 April 2010, p.83 Accessed 1 March 2018
  9. ^ a b c Chad, Mansfield local newspaper, 2 March 2011, p.91 Accessed 19 December 2017
  10. ^ Chad, Mansfield local newspaper, 8 August 2012, p.11 Accessed 19 December 2017
  11. ^ Birchall brothers join Cofain Racing by Klaffi Phil Morris Racing Retrieved 19 December 2017
  12. ^ a b Birchall Brothers win Spirit of TT Award BBC Sport 13 June 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2017
  13. ^ "Birchalls brothers just miss out on podium place", Chad, Mansfield local newspaper, 20 June 2012, p.97 Accessed 21 January 2018
  14. ^ "Birchalls become the first newcomers to win title", Chad, Mansfield local newspaper, 18 July 2012, p.103 Accessed 19 December 2017
  15. ^ Chad, Mansfield local newspaper, 15 February 2012, p.91 Accessed 19 December 2017
  16. ^ Isle of Man TT: Ben and Tom Birchall secure first win BBC Sport, 5 June 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2017
  17. ^ Birchall brothers to resume sidecar World Championship campaign BBC Sport, 20 June 2014 Retrieved 19 December 2017
  18. ^ Furious Birchalls withdraw from World Sidecar Championship Chad, Mansfield local newspaper, 31 August 2016, Retrieved 19 December 2017
  19. ^ Mansfield’s Birchall brothers clinch world sidecar title Chad, Mansfield local newspaper, 31 August 2016, Retrieved 19 December 2017
  20. ^ Birchall brothers take third World Sidecar crown BikeSportNews, 13 September 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017
  21. ^ Ben Birchall & Thomas Birchall FIM Awards 2017 Retrieved 19 December 2017
  22. ^ Local sidecar racing champions celebrate at civic event Mansfield District Council, 4 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017
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