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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">PRIVILEGE INSURANCE BRITISH GT CHAMPIONSHIP</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">02/10/2001</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">Birkin</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">Out Of Africa</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><img border="1" src="Storage/wldsptn15a.jpg"></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">What’s the connection between the 1928 Le Mans winner, the world’s only three seater Formula 1 Car, Africa’s only sportscar manufacturer and the Chamberlain Viper entered in the final round of the Privilege Insurance British GT Championship?<BR> <BR> Well, Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin won the 1928 Le Mans 24 hour race. Impressed by the flamboyant Englishman, the parents of a baby, John Watson (no, not THAT John Watson!) gave him the middle name Birkin. Young Mr Watson went on to found Birkin Cars in Durban, South Africa, Africa’s only sports car manufacturer - and happily had a son of his own, Stephen, who now pilots the Arrows three seater F1 car, as well as representing the Birkin marque in the UK. There, that’s all clear now!<BR> <BR> Why the connection with the Chamberlain Viper? Well, Stephen drove it (together with Xavier Pompidou) last weekend, the car carried Birkin sponsorship, and Chamberlain Racing Team Principal Jack Cunningham is now on board as a shareholder in the company, which imports the Birkin S3 into Europe.<BR> <BR> Throughout the race weekend, people gathered around three Birkins, displayed next to the Chamberlain Hospitality area. And very handsome they look too, beautifully finished, with the classic lines familiar to anyone who loves the Lotus Seven. Fitted with a choice of modern 1.4 or 2 litre engines, the cars are as quick as they look with handling to match - and the quality is outstanding.<BR> <BR> Anyone who hurls the accusation ‘kit-car’ at the Birkin will be given short shrift by Stephen Watson. “Birkins were only available as fully built up cars or rolling chassis until fairly recently,” he explains. “The ‘component car’ option is merely a response to customer demand, where buyers would like to buy components as they can afford them.”<BR> <BR> With a booming track-day market in the UK, this 'new', cost effective entrant should find a comfortable niche here. For details check out the Birkin website via this <A HREF="http://www.birkin.co.za">link</A> or call the UK office on 01327 855700. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>