BIRCHALL BROTHERS WIN AN AWARD F1 sidecar world championship contenders Ben and Tom Birchall from Mansfield have been awarded “Team of the Year” by Nottinghamshire County Council. After being voted runners up in 2009 the Mitchells of Mansfield supported brothers were picked as worthy winners for their 2010 campaign when they clinched third place in the world championship and were runners up in the Battle of Britain F1 British championship. Ben commented: “We are delighted that Nottinghamshire County Council chose us as team of the year and we will be going all out in 2011 to try and regain our world title for the county plus mount a serious challenge for the British title.” The Birchalls have been burning the midnight oil in an effort to get both machines – F1 and F2 prepared for the forthcoming season and will take part in a week of pre-season testing in France ahead of the new campaign when their first race will be at Brands Hatch over the Easter weekend of April 22-25 in the British Championship which will run as a support to the British Superbike series. The first round of the world series takes place at Schleiz in Germany on May 15 and the Isle of Man TT festival runs from May 30 with a week of practice prior to the two sidecar races on June 4 and June 8. Meanwhile everyone is invited to attend the official launch of the 2011 Birchall Racing campaign on April 15. The event is to take place at the John Fretwell Sporting Complex, Sookholme, Mansfield where there will be a live band and a bar until midnight plus a pie and peas supper. There is also to be a memorabilia auction and raffle plus a question and answer session with Ben and Tom during the evening. Tickets are available, priced at £15 each from the venue on 01623 847468 or Ben Birchall on 07843 286295 Seating plan is 10 to each table For directions to the venue please check ~http://www.w-s-t.co.uk/~ 2011 SIDECAR DATES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP R1 MAY 15 SCHLEIZ R2 JUNE 19 HUNGARORING R3 JUNE 26 RIJEKA R4 JULY 17 SACHSENRING R5 AUG 21 DONINGTON R6 AUG 28 OSCHERSLEBEN R7 SEPT 24 LE MANS F1 BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP R1 APRIL 24/25 BRANDS HATCH BSB R2 MAY 21/22 BRANDS HATCH BMCRC R3 JUNE 18/19 KNOCKHILL BSB R4 JULY 9/10 SNETTERTON BMCRC R5 AUG 13/14 CADWELL BMCRC R6 SEPT 10/11 DONINGTON BSB R7 SEPT 24/25 SILVERSTONE R8 OCT 1 MONDELLO PARK ISLE OF MAN TT FESTIVAL Monday May 30th to Friday June 3rd Practice Saturday June 4th Sidecar Race 1 Wednesday June 8th Sidecar Race 2