Rod Birley has started the season fire in the Quaife Motorsport News Saloon Car Championship.

So far Rod has won the opening four rounds of the season but as he reflects that doesn’t tell the whole story of what is a competitive series.

Speaking to Kent Sports News about the season so far and the last races at the Brands Hatch rounds, Rod said: “Each race has had its fair share of drama. The first two I had to battle with Rick May in a similar Escort Cosworth WRC and Dale Gent in his Subaru.

“They are both hard but fair drivers. The latest two races had other issues like oil spilt on the track and spinning back markers.

“It is great to have a full grid of cars. The variety means that there is action aplenty throughout the field.”

At Brands Hatch Rod expected to see Dale Gent as one of his strongest challengers and that he will be back at the next round at Brands Hatch at the end of the month.

He added: “That’s correct, I expected Dale to be my biggest threat, but his vibration problems and then a high speed spin dented his challenge.” 

Whilst winning the opening four races of the season Rod isn’t running away with the Championship due to the point’s structure, which keeps the series entertaining and it helps keeping the series local.

“It certainly does as each of the five classes are awarded the same number of points at every race. The only difference is if you are in a class with at least five other starters, you can earn five extra bonus points if you beat them all.

“Most of the drivers live in the south east and they voted to stay local with the odd “away” day during the summer. This means there are four meetings on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit, one on the Grand Prix circuit, two at Lydden Hill, near Canterbury, and this year’s away day is at Snetterton in Norfolk in July.”

The series is back on track at Brands Hatch as part of the support races for the Masters Race day on the 26^th May and Rod is very much looking forward to it.

He added: “It certainly should be, especially as the potent Holden Commodore V8 belonging to Alex Sidwell from Borough Green is set to re-join the championship. We might even see Rick May back on track, if he has sorted his engine problem with his Escort Cosworth.

“It is becoming an iconic event, particular with the historic Formula One cars making a rare appearance. We were invited to this meeting last year, and our drivers enjoyed the event, plus we delivered some exciting racing.

“With the variety of cars now competing in the Quaife Motorsport News championship it is generating a lot of popular support particularly in the local area.”

We will also be running a competition with Rod to win tickets to the Masters Race day over the Bank Holiday, so keep an eye on the website for the competition which will start shortly.