TCR UK racer and former British Touring Car Championship team owner Dan Kirby has passed away suddenly yesterday.
Kirby competed in the opening two rounds of this year’s TCR UK championship, before leaving the championship ahead of the third event in June.
Prior to this, Kirby made his début in TCR UK in 2020, when the championship was known as the Touring Car Trophy, and became a race winner at Brands Hatch in 2021.
Kirby, 37, had previously been the owner of the Trade Price Cars racing team in the 2019 and 2020 BTCC seasons, running Jake Hill, Mark Blundell, Bobby Thompson, James Gornall, Ethan Hammerton and Paul Rivett.
His company then switched to a partnership with EXCELR8 Motorsport, with whom it continued to work for the following two seasons.
The father-of-two died on 19 September 2023, six days after the appointment of liquidators at his Trade Price Cars Ltd. business.
A spokesman for the BTCC said on social media: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former BTCC driver and team owner, Dan Kirby.
“A hugely popular figure in the paddock, Dan will be sorely missed.
“The BTCC community sends condolences to Dan’s wife Beth, his two daughters, wider family, friends and colleagues.”
Tributes also came in from those who had worked closely with Kirby, including Jake Hill’s father, Simon.
“Dan Kirby and I sat down on 6th December 2018 in a pub in Essex and we worked out a deal to get Jake Hill racing for TradePriceCars.com Racing in 2019…We won together.
“Thank You for making it happen. Heartbroken for your lovely girls. A passionate, lovely man. I’m so very sad you’re gone mate.”
TouringCars.Net sends its condolences to Dan Kirby’s family, friends and acquaintances.