New Sidecar team for 2012 TT boasts true World Championship status
Friday 10 February 2012
TT
Klaus Klaffenbock, three-times a TT Sidecar race winner and the 2001 Sidecar World Champion, will run his own team at the 2012 Isle of Man TT.
Klaffenbock, who announced his retirement in September last year, will head the Cofain Racing by Klaffi team this year.
The team will use a brand new LCR chassis, which has been especially made in Switzerland by sidecar engineer Louis Christen, and with Honda engines from Honda specialist UK tuner Chris Mehew.
The team will be further strengthened by the involvement of another Sidecar World Champion, two-times sidecar passenger champion Adolf Hanni.
Adding to the World Champion status of the team, Klaffenbock has secured the services of 2009 World Champions Ben and Tom Birchall to crew the outfit.
The Mansfield-based brothers first competed at the TT in 2009, performing creditably with a fastest lap of 110.659mph, the second fastest newcomers ever after Tim Reeves in 2008, although they didn’t finish the only race held that year.
The pair were forced to miss the 2010 TT, but came back last year to finish their first race on the Mountain course, recording a 7th place in the first race before topping it with 5th in the second. They also clocked their fastest lap at 111.622mph in the second sidecar race last year.
Klaffenbock said:
“We watched Ben and Tom in 2009 at their first TT and again in 2011. These two guys really have the potential to win.”
“I will share with them everything I learnt about this special race and I am sure they can win soon, if not in this year then next year.”
Ben Birchall added:
“Both Tom and I are honoured to have been asked to join Klaus in his new venture.”
“Klaus and his team's reputation for professionalism and determination to win, along with Adolf Hanni’s unrivalled commitment and experience in sidecar racing, made the decision to join the team very easy for us.”
“With the continued support of our existing team and sponsors in my opinion Cofain Racing by Klaffi will become one of the strongest sidecar teams in the history of the TT.”
He continued:
“Ever since Tom and I decided to compete at the TT in 2009 it has been our desire to be successful and our ultimate aim is to win there. Joining this team will give us the best opportunity to achieve our goal and with the bike preparation now nearing completion we can’t wait to begin our pre-season testing.”
Adolf Hanni said:
“I have known Klaus for a long time, I was World Champion runner-up with him in 1998, 1999 and 2000. I know that everything he does is successful therefore when he asked for my help I immediately agreed and am happy to be involved in such a professional organised sidecar team.”
Popular Austrian Klaiff, who won both of the sidecar races in 2010 and followed it up with a victory in 2011, finished racing in the World Championships in 2003 and dedicated himself to winning at the TT from 2004. Until his 2010 campaign, his highest place was 5th in 2008.
Klaffenbock believes the TT is the ultimate test, explaining:
“The best teams in the world compete at the Isle of Man TT and for this reason I just had to remain involved with it.”
“After we stopped racing in 2011, my friend Andy Faragher and I decided to start a competitive Sidecar team at the TT and before long had everything organised – sponsors and a team that are capable of winning.”
Isle of Man Government TT and Motorsport Manager Paul Phillips said:
“The Birchall brothers are definitely one of the strongest teams at this year’s event and with Klaus’s support are likely to be even more competitive.”