Toyota South Africa Motor Sport Chris Birkin

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PROFILE: CHRIS BIRKIN Chris Birkin started his motor sport career in 1982 together with his brother Andrew by contesting regional rallies before graduating to national events. Between 1982 and 1992 the brothers won numerous regional championships and completed six Castrol Rallies. In 1994 Chris moved to the South African Off Road Championship in class E…

Chirs BirkinPROFILE: CHRIS BIRKIN

Chris Birkin started his motor sport career in 1982 together with his brother Andrew by contesting regional rallies before graduating to national events. Between 1982 and 1992 the brothers won numerous regional championships and completed six Castrol Rallies.

In 1994 Chris moved to the South African Off Road Championship in class E and then class D with his brother. During a seven year stint in this discipline he won numerous class championships and achieved a number of podium finishes. Highlights were second places in twoToyota1000 Desert Races and two Roof of Africa events.

Although not a competitor in 2002, Chris was a member of the Off-Road Racing Commission and received an award for his contribution to Off-Road Racing.

The following year Chris joined Toyota Motorsport as navigator to Mark Cronje in the Off Road Championship. The pair finished every event and won the class E championship that year and were runners-up in the Production Vehicle Championship. The following year Chris graduated to class D and ended the year runner-up in the class by just one point,

For the years 2006 through 2008 Chris remained with Cronje competing in a Hilux SP. Several podium finishes and two overall wins were achieved.

The successful pairing with Cronje carried over into national championship rallies where he won the co-drivers’ championship in class A6 in 2006 and then repeated that success in 2007 in class A7.

For the 2009 Off Road Championship Chris teamed up with Hein Lategan in a Castrol Team Toyota Hilux SP. The pair scored a number of podium finishes during the year.

Chris navigated for Anthony Taylor in the 2011 ABSA Off Road Championship.  Although they were invariably the pace setters, a win eluded them and they had to settle for a pair of runner-up finishes.

Chris is a competitive mountain biker and a regular winner and podium finisher in the Masters Class. He has competed in five Sabie Experience Stage races on his mountain bike.


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