BRENTWOOD, England – To celebrate the 500th win of his career, UK-based racing driver Rod Birley was recently given the opportunity to drive a classic Capri from Ford's heritage collection.
Kent-based Birley, who has achieved most of his track success driving Ford models, collected the keys to the iconic model from Ford of Britain's Heritage Centre Workshop in Dagenham. The Capri was prominent in weekend celebration marking 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.
“This car has seen over 200 chequered flags and is probably the most successful Escort Cosworth in motorsport," he said. "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 around the world. His race cars have included a Ford Escort, Capri, Anglia, Falcon, RS500 Sierra and a Caterham 7 fitted with a Ford BDA engine.
He has twice won 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.