Former Lola boss Birrane dies, aged 82

The Irishman had a 50-year involvement in motorsport that spanned his own exploits behind the wheel, team ownership the rescue of the Mondello Park circuit and then British racing car constructor Lola. 

A successful property tycoon, he bought Lola Cars out of administration in 1997, renamed it Lola Cars International and remained at the helm until 2012. 

In that time it produced the first-generation A1 Grand Prix one-make racer and a line of successful LMP prototypes, including the factor MG LMP675 racers of 2001-02, as well as diversifying into the automotive sector and aerospace. 

The Lola name lived on under his direction after the company stopped manufacturing racing cars and offered technical services that included one of the most advanced wind tunnels in Europe. 

Birrane started racing in 1967 at the wheel of a Ford Anglia and went onto compete in the British Touring Car Championship, Formula 5000 and in sportscars. 

He competed at Le Mans 10 times between 1973 and '88, winning his class at the wheel of a BMW M1 in 1985, and continued to race historics into his 70s.

Birrane bought Mondello 1986, extended the circuit and brought the BTCC and the FIA Sportscar Championship to the venue. 

He briefly owned a NASCAR team in the early 1990s and even held the Irish Land Speed Record.