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Wednesday, January 02, 2002
Martin Birrane . . . a self-made Mayo man!
"Not a lot of people know this" to coin a phrase from renowned British actor Michael Caine, but a Mayo man is at the head of the revival of one of the most famous names in motorsport. Less than three years after taking over Lola Cars, Knockmore-born Martin has transformed the once liquidated company into one of the worlds most successful racecar manufacturer. But the ownership of Lola is not the only string to his bow. Martin's extensive business interests include property development, security, leisure, contract cleaning, publishing and Mondello Park. One of his latest investment includes an involvement in the Phoenix consortium, which took over the Rover Group from BMW. Having graduated from the university of life through his extensive travels, Martin, a self made man, must be rated among the most successful business people ever to come from the heather county.
MARTIN B. BIRRANE
Born in 1935 and educated at St. Muredach's College, Ballina, Martin left North Mayo at the age of seventeen to seek fame and fortune. His extensive travels took him all over the world working in various jobs from hotel porter in London to butler in the Canadian Ambassadors residence in Turkey. Since his early days at home in Corroy, Martin has expressed a keen interest in cars. His earliest memories stem back to when he sat behind the steering wheel for the first time. "One of my fathers friends had left his little Ford unattended for a while. I leapt behind the wheel, pressed every button, flicked every switch, turned the wheel, made the engine noises and changed gear a lot! Too much in fact! The lever seized. I quickly hid behind a wall to witness the pantomime, as this poor chap had to get his toolbox out and mend the gear linkage. I was only 5 or 6 at the time and I've got better with gearboxes since then," reflected Martin. The mention of Michael Caine at the beginning of this article was no accident, as Martin and the Academy Award winner became good friends during his years as an entertainer and promoter in London. By 1958 Martin had settled in Canada and quickly established himself in the real estate business, which culminated with his own brokerage in 1961. A year later a move back to England was on the cards to set up an estate agency under the style of Birrane & Company and Birrane & Partners. Within six years his attentions directed towards property development. A substantial portfolio was built up which was disposed of during the late 1970s. During that period a keen interest in cars particularly motorsport was maintained. He raced saloons around the UK before progressing to sportscar racing. In all, eight attempts were made to complete the world57;s famous endurance race 51; the Le Mans 24 hours with success coming on three occasions. A class win at La Sarthe in 1980 was the highlight of his motorsport career until 2000 that is. A period running a NASCAR team in the US was another notable achievement during his time in the sport. He became a Director of Peer Properties Limited in 1983 after taking a major shareholding in the London based company. Five years later, restructuring took place, which led to the changing of its name to the Peer Group. The company, which deals in property investment and development, has come a long way since then as its net assets have grown from ú283,000 to approximately ú30m. In 1986, Martin invested in the future of Irish Motorsport by purchasing Mondello Park. The County Kildare racing circuit is currently undergoing a second phase of redevelopment. To date over ú5m has been invested by Martin in Ireland's only International Motor Racing venue. But Martin's finest hour must surely be his acquisition of Lola Cars International. The once proud name in motor racing is now a force to be reckoned with once again. He resides in Killiney, County Dublin and commutes to the UK on a regular basis.
LOLA ON A ROLL
Motorsport is one of the most technical, competitive and financially challenging sports in the world. To succeed requires constant creativity and innovation 51; something Lola has achieved since its foundation in 1958. Lola57;s past and present record speaks for itself. They have produced racing cars that have competed and won in virtually every category worldwide. Lola's first major on track achievement was in 1966 when Formula One world champion Graham Hill won the Indianapolis 500 in a Lola T90 and in the same year John Surtees took victory in the inaugural North American CanAm Championship in the Lola T70 MKII. Since then Lola has gone on to be hugely successful in the U.S. based IndyCar Championship (now named CART Champ Cars) winning four in a row titles from 1990-1993 with Al Unser Jr., Mario Andretti, Bobby Rahal and Nigel Mansell respectively. Success was achieved further afield too, with eight Japanese Formula 3000 Championship wins in a decade from 1987 51; 1997.
1997 was a year of hard lessons for Lola. An abortive entry into Formula One caused severe financial difficulties, while in CART the T97/00 proved uncompetitive. Before the end of the season Lola Cars Limited went into receivership. Enter Martin Birrane. In renaming the company Lola Cars International and investing heavily in equipment, facilities and people, Martin has injected a new vitality in the Huntington, Cambridgeshire based company. His five year plan to re-establish Lola as the leading race car constructor has already brought rich tidings. Lola is once again the leading light in open wheel racing. Seven victories were recorded in the 2000 CART FedEx Championship with two of the top teams 51; Newman/Haas and Ganassi Racing triumphant in this chassis. Despite running with just 22 per cent of the CART field, Lola led nearly 50 per cent of all the laps in the 20 race Series. Colombian Juan Montoya, competing in the Toyota powered Target Chip Ganassi Racing Lola in his final Champ Car season before joining the ranks of Formula One with BMW-Williams, was at the head of the pack for a massive 820 laps, more than double the total of anyone else. Lola also ran its nearest rival Reynard close in the Constructor's Championship finishing second, just 82 points adrift although it entered less than half the number of cars. The statistics add up to Lola's mostsuccessful year in Champ Car racing since 1993. In the 2002 World Series, Lola has recorded nine victories. The Lola logo can also be seen in Sportscar racing around the world with its SR2 and B2K/10 SR1 models in championships such as the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and the Grand American Road Racing Championship. Success achieved to date in this particular category of motorsport include seven Class wins with the SR1 (including one at Le Mans 24 Hours) and an ALMS pole position and fastest lap with the B2K/10 SR1. Lola also supplies all the chassis for the FIA Formula 3000 Championship, which supports Formula One and the Indy Lights Series, the feeder formula to CART. At the end of August 2000, in an exciting development, Lola was chosen to design and build a MG Sportscar for the Rover Group to compete at 2001 Le Mans 24 Hours. With its state of the art technical facility now in place, which includes a 50% wind tunnel, seven post dynamic rig and composite manufacturing facility, Lola is continually striving towards the forefront in the motor racing industry offering customers the best service and products available in today's markets.
MONDELLO FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM
Eventhough most of his time and energy was taken up with ongoing developments at Lola, Martin still found a moment or two to focus his attentions on the re-development of Mondello Park, Ireland';s only permanent international race track. The fruits of his labour are now plain to be seen with new Pit Garages, paddock and control tower now constructed together with the now obligatory medical and media centres. The next phase will include the completion of grandstands and a 50 car museum. The new Mondello for the new millennium will soon be in a position to host all categories of international racing bar Formula One. On non-race days a fleet of new Rover saloons and single seater race cars will be seen driven around the newly resurfaced race track by enthusiasts participating in the Performance Driving Centre. Away from the wave of the chequered flag, the venue will play host to a number of product launches and trade exhibitions throughout the year. Martin's midas touch in business and his contribution to motorsport have not gone un-noticed. The British Motor Industry Association (MIA) awarded Lola Business of the Year 1999; and Ballina Motor Club (now known as Mayo & District Motorsport Club) paid tribute to their native son bestowing him with the title of Honorary Life President last year. In June, SIMI nominated Martin as their Person of the Month for the Maxol Irish Motor Industry Awards.
CONCLUSION
Up to now, Mayo motorsport enthusiasts have admired the success of Louisburgh's Austin McHale, 5 times Irish Tarmac Rally Champion and the achievements of Derek Daly (whose mother hails from Westport) at the highest level of Formula One, Indy Car and Sportscar racing. The green and red county has a new hero to follow in the 21st century; Martin Birrane in the shape of Lola Cars International ever improving track record and Mondello Parks rise to International status.
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