Martin_Birrane

Martin Birrane

Martin Birrane

Irish racing driver and businessman (1935–2018)

Martin Brendan Birrane (19 August 1935 – 9 June 2018) was an Irish businessman and former racing driver. Born in Ballina, County Mayo and educated at St Muredach's College, Birrane made his money in property development, with his company Peer Group.

Martin Birrane prior to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1986
Birrane's blue racing car

He was the owner of the Mondello Park racetrack in County Kildare, which is the only FIA 3 1/2 kilometre track in Ireland. It hosts domestic and international events.

He competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours ten times as a driver, winning the GT class in 1985. In 1990, he set the then Irish land speed record of 176 mph (283 km/h) on the then-unopened Westlink, now known as the M50, in Dublin.[1]

Birrane owned Team Ireland, a NASCAR Winston Cup Series car racing team from 1991 to 1992.[2] He was the owner of racing car manufacturer Lola Cars from 1997 until the company was closed down in 2012. The Sunday Times Rich List 2011 valued his assets at €85 million.

Birrane died in June 2018 at the age of 82.[3]

Racing record

Complete British Saloon Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

More information Year, Team ...

† Events with 2 races staged for the different classes.

Complete World Sportscar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

More information Year, Entrant ...
Footnotes
  1. [N 1]
    No drivers' Championship.
  2. [N 2]
    In 1976 and 1977 the World Championship was divided into two series that ran simultaneously but separately: The World Sportscar Championship and the World Championship for Makes.

Complete European F5000 Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

More information Year, Entrant ...

Complete Shellsport International Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

More information Year, Entrant ...

24 Hours of Le Mans results

More information Year, Team ...

References

  1. [1]
    Irish Times, 9 November 1990 [full citation needed]
  2. [2]
    Stout, Harold (3 May 1992). "Aiming High". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, AL. p. C1. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  3. [3]
    "Martin Birrane dies aged 82". RTE.ie. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  4. [4]
    de Jong, Frank. "British Saloon Car Championship". History of Touring Car Racing 1952-1993. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  5. [5]
    "All Results of Martin Birrane". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 11 June 2018.


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