Ultra successful racer Rod Birley will return to the wheel of the famous Honda Prelude which he raced in the Thundersaloon Championship at the Oulton Park Gold Cup next weekend (25-27 July). The club racing legend will drive the machine in the weekend’s CSCC Special Saloons and Modsports races.

Birley’s Prelude was one of the famous cars during a fire-breathing era of saloon car racing, built by Jim Morgan and John Freeman at the JTM Racing Services team in 1992 and ’93. From then, it was an instant winner, winning the Thundersaloon title in 1993 with Birley and Richard Piper at the wheel.

Birley retained the championship a year later with Ian Cantwell slotting alongside as his ne co-driver. Thereafter, Birley continued to campaign the car for the rest of the decade, competing in other series including Formula Saloons until he sold the machine to Peter Thurston in 2003. The Honda spent some time after this contesting hill climbs in Guernsey before finding its way to current owner David Beatty.

For the experienced campaigner, the return to Oulton Park comes decades after his last appearance at the Cheshire circuit. But he still has some form at the venue, having won both Thundersaloon races there in the summer of 1994. And whilst he’s not raced at Oulton Park for some time, he’s been very successful in the years since, bringing his tally of outright and class victories to 752.

Birley said: “It’s a bit of fun and a bit of nostalgia. A treat to be reunited with the old girl. It’s 22 years since I last raced her and 31 since I last raced at Oulton Park. I hope I can remember the track!”

For more information about the event and for tickets, click here.