Birley broke Gerry Marshall’s record in 2017 by claiming his 626th win at Brands Hatch; he grabbed his 700th win at the same circuit on Sunday. All pictures: Simon Hildrew
He has continued to add to his tally ever since and reached his latest milestone by scoring two Super Saloons victories at his home circuit.
The Ford Escort WRC driver had lost out to Longfield's Nick Sutton in the second encounter but was promoted to top spot after the race when the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 pilot was penalised for passing before the startline at a safety car restart.
Birley, who runs an engineering supply company, says he was not expecting to hit 700 wins this year.
"I'm really glad it happened at Brands Hatch – it feels great and was a bit surprising," he said.
"It was a shame the second race ended like it did as up until the last lap it was really close.
Birley has now scored 374 wins with his trusty Ford Escort WRC. He's pictured leading Nick Sutton in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 in Sunday's second Super Saloons raceBirley plans to use his BMW E36 more next seasonBMW M3 E46 driver Dave Cox, from Gravesend, finished third in class and fifth and sixth overall in the two Britcar night races at Brands Hatch at the weekendFormer BTCC champion Andrew Jordan (88) took three wins in the Mini Se7en class in the Dunlop Mini Winter Challenge. He's pictured overtaking his former touring car team-mate Jeff Smith around the outside of DruidsFord pilot Danny Hunn, from Paddock Wood, finished second and fourth in the two Intermarque Silhouette racesDartford's Steve Rothery won the second Britcar night race on Sunday in his TCR-spec Peugeot 308Nick Wall, from Sevenoaks, finished third and fourth overall and took two class wins in the Super Saloons races aboard his Renault ClioBen Johnson (721), from Tunbridge Wells, finished a best of fifth in class in the Dunlop Mini Winter Challenge in his Mini Se7enIan Humphris and Benji Hetherington won the first Britcar night race in their Porsche 718 GT4 ClubsportEdward Simmonds, from Tonbridge, grabbed a best result of sixth overall in the Dunlop Mini Winter ChallengeChris Burley, from Ashford, twice finished third in class in the Super Saloons races in his Ford Fiesta STMercedes SLK driver John Steward, from Paddock Wood, finished 12th and 16th in the two Intermarque Silhouette racesPeugeot 306 racer Chris Bassett, from New Ash Green, finished first and second in class in the Super Saloons racesWith his dad Mike watching on from Druids and Paddock Hill Bend, Andrew Jordan took three class wins in the Dunlop Mini Winter ChallengePeter Seldon, from Sevenoaks, claimed two class wins in the Super Saloons races in his BMW E36 M3Josh Rowledge won two races and claimed the Ginetta Junior Winter SeriesMatthew Page, from Cranbrook, finished a best of second in class in the Dunlop Mini Winter Challenge in his Mini Se7enUsing an engine built by St Michaels-based Swiftune Engineering, Andrew Jordan enjoyed three battles with Jeff SmithVW Golf driver Mark Cripps, from Lympne, claimed a first and second in class in the Super Saloons racesChris Lovett, (62), from Whitstable, finished a best of fourth overall in the Dunlop Mini Winter ChallengeMaidstone's Steve Dann finished second and third overall and first in class in the two Super Saloons races in his VW Scirocco
"I have no real target now – I will keep going for a couple more years as long as I enjoy it."
Birley, who started racing when he was 17, says he may use his BMW E36 more next season.
The 2021 season concludes at Brands Hatch this weekend with a MotorSport Vision Racing meeting featuring the IndyKA 500 event on Sunday.
nline
