BRENTWOOD, Essex, 04 November, 2009 – Ford is toasting the success of Kent-based racer, Rod Birley, who has just scored his 500th career win, most of which have been in Ford-powered cars.
To mark the occasion, Rod was welcomed to Ford of Britain’s Heritage Workshop in Dagenham and handed the keys to a Ford Capri – the car he chose from Ford’s heritage collection for a weekend celebration of his racing milestone.
The 54-year-old, who lives close to the Brands Hatch circuit, has for the past 10 years raced a black, 1994 Ford Escort Cosworth. The car has taken him to almost half of his 500 race victories and made him something of a legend in the process.
He said: “This car has seen over 200 chequered flags and is probably the most successful Escort Cosworth in motorsport. The 500th win is a major milestone but I reckon there’s plenty more still left in me and the Escort!”
Rod scored his first win in 1973 and he has raced at tracks from the Nurburgring in Germany to Pukekohe in New Zealand. His race cars have included a Ford Escort, Capri, Anglia, Falcon, RS500 Sierra and a Caterham 7 fitted with a Ford BDA engine.
Rod is twice a winner of the Thundersaloon Championship and has also claimed two BARC Dunlop Motorsport News Saloon Car Championship titles. Both the saloon car titles were won in his trusty Escort Cosworth, setting a class lap record at Brands Hatch along the way.
Ford of Britain’s corporate communications manager, Brian Bennett, said: “It is a pleasure to congratulate Rod on his magnificent achievement, a testament to his skill and the enduring popularity of Ford cars in British motorsport.”
Rod Birley Accepts Ford Capri Keys from Brian Bennett (