The list below is an extensive but by no means exhaustive list of some of the famous and significant drivers who have competed in arguably the world's greatest club motorsport event:
Birkett Racers who participated in a Formula One World Championship Grand Prix:
Peter Ashdown, Richard Attwood, Jim Clark, Chris Craft, Paul Emery, Frank Gardner, Keith Greene, Brian Hart, Graham Hill, Innes Ireland, Chris Lawrence, Leslie Marr, John Miles, Brian Redman, Stephen South, Mike Thackwell, Mike Wilds.
Birkett Racers who participated the Le Mans 24 Hour Race:
Peter Ashdown, Richard Attwood, Duncan Bain, Jonathan Baker, Berwyn Baxter, John Beasley, John Bekaert, Mike Beckwith, Ray Bellm, Gerry Birrell, Peter Blond, Ian Bracey, Dave Brodie, Oliver Bryant, Michael Caine, Robin Carnegie, Maurice Charles, Anthony Charnell, Jim Clark, Peter Clark, Richard Cleare, Evan Clements, John Cooper, Chris Craft, Neil Cunningham, John Dalton, John Dashwood, Alain de Cadenet, Tony Dron, Francois Duret, Paul Emery, Gareth Evans, Nick Faure, John Fitzpatrick, Mike Franey, Frank Gardner, Keith Greene, Nigel Greensall, Betty Haig, Robin Hamilton, Ian Harrower, John Hartshorne, Tim Harvey, Paul Hawkins, Graham Hill, John Hine, Innes Ireland, Charles Ivey, Mike Jordan, Mike Knight, Tony Lanfranchi, Chris Lawrence, Calum Lockie, Peter Lovett, Peter Lumsden, Ted Lund, Ray Mallock, Nick Mason, Roger Nathan, Robert Nearn, John Nicholson, Eugene O’Brien, Steve O’Rourke, Win Percy, Simon Phillips, Colin Pool, David Preece, Brian Redman, John Rhodes, Kenneth Richardson, Barry Robinson, Michael Salmon, Peter Sargent, Rob Schirle, Adam Sharpe, Martin Short, Craig Simmiss, Steve Soper, Ernest Stapleton, Dickie Stoop, Mike Thackwell, Edgar Wadsworth, John Wagstaff, James Weaver, Sir John Whitmore, Mike Wilds, Dudley Wood, John Woolfe, Hon. Richard Wrottesley, Mike Youles.
Birkett Racers who have won the British Touring Car Championship:
Jim Clark, Frank Gardner, Tim Harvey, Richard Longman, Bill McGovern, Win Percy, Roy Pierpoint, Frank Sytner, Jeff Uren, Sir John Whitmore.
In addition to the above, British racing legends seen at the Birkett over the years include:
Archie Scott-Brown, Barrie Williams, Gerry Marshall, Peter Baldwin and Ian Flux. Denis Jenkinson who famously navigated Stirling Moss to his 1955 Mille Miglia victory was a regular in the early days whilst more recently we have seen 2012 FIA Formula 2 Champion, Luciano Bachetta and 2016 British GT Champion, Flick Haigh. From other four-wheeled disciplines luminaries include Roger Clark (Britain’s first winner of a World Championship Rally), former Ladies World Rally Champion Louise Aitken-Walker and John Button, Rallycross star and father of Jenson, whilst two-wheeled drivers of note include 2014 World Superbike Champion Sylvain Guintoli.
Several prominent marque founders have used the Birkett in order to demonstrate their early designs:
These include Colin Chapman (Lotus), Trevor Wilkinson (TVR), Jem Marsh (Marcos), Arthur Mallock (Mallock), Lee Noble (Noble & Ultima) and Phil Abbott (Radical.) Whilst from the word of Grand Prix motor racing, Cosworth founder Mike Costin, successful designer Tony Southgate and former Lotus Team Manager Peter Warr have all participated.
Celebrities with a passion for motorsport have also been drawn to the event:
Hollywood star and 'King of Cool,' Steve McQueen took part in a Mini Cooper back in 1962 whilst Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason and Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler were regulars back in the 1980’s. Singer-songwriter Chris Rea also took part on several occasions and more recently fellow North-Eastener and AC/DC front man Brian Johnson took a turn behind the wheel filming an episode of his 'Cars that Rock' television show. A few years later Neil Primrose (drummer for the Scottish band Travis) joined the Birkett alumni, and famously the race took centre stage as part of an episode of BBC’s Top Gear programme with former 'Friends' star Matt Le Blanc along with co-presenters Chris Harris and Rory Reid entering a team of unlikely luxury cars in the event. Watch the episode here.