TRIPLE TT Race winner Klaus Klaffenbock has announced he will be running his own sidecar race outfit at this year's TT.
The 2001 sidecar World Champion announced his retirement in September last year but will be back to run the new outfit called Cofain Racing by Klaffi.
Mansfield based brothers, and 2009 World Champions, Ben and Tom Birchall will be the drivers for this team – having first competed at the TT in 2009.
The pair missed the 2010 races but took part last year recording a seventh place finish in the first race and securing fifth place in the second where they also clocked their fastest lap at 111.622mph.
The brothers will also be joined by Sidecar World Champion Adolf Hann who won both of the sidecar races in 2010 and followed it up with a victory in 2011.
Adolf also won the World Sidecar Championship in 2001 but finished racing in the World Championships in 2003 and dedicated himself to winning at the TT from 2004.
Speaking about the new team Klaus 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.
"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."
The team will use a new LCR chassis - which has been specially made in Switzerland by sidecar engineer Louis Christen – and Honda engines from the Honda specialist UK tuner Chris Mehew.
Adolf 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."
Klaus added: "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."
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