Ben Birchall began racing as a sidecar passenger in 1999 before transitioning to the driver's seat in 2003. Tom Birchall started racing as a passenger in 2003. Their partnership developed through the British and World Championship circuits before the duo established themselves as consistent frontrunners at the Isle of Man TT.
The Birchalls won the F1 Sidecar World Championship in 2009, their first world title together. Further success followed as they adapted to changing regulations: they won the F2 Sidecar World Trophy in 2016 and again in 2017 — the latter year also seeing them win both Isle of Man TT sidecar races, making them the first team in the sport's history to win both prestigious titles in a single season. They claimed the F1 World Championship again in 2018 at the final round at Oschersleben, Germany.
During the 2015 F1 World Championship at Donington Park, a collision caused by a competitor disabled their outfit, and the brothers publicly withdrew from that championship season.
The Birchalls' TT record is remarkable. Their 14 wins came in 2013, 2015 (twice), 2016, 2017 (twice), 2018 (twice), 2019 (twice), 2022 (twice), and 2023 (twice). In 2018 they became the first sidecar team ever to lap the TT circuit in under 19 minutes, also setting the outright race and lap records. By 2019, with ten TT victories, Ben had become the second most successful TT sidecar driver of all time, behind only Dave Molyneux.
A serious crash during 2012 TT practice at Brandywell — running off the course at around 120 mph — saw both brothers airlifted to hospital. After recovery and a rebuilt machine, they returned to take second and third places in the two race legs that same event.
In 2014, a crash near Black Dub injured Tom (bruised lung, cuts, and severe bruising) and severely damaged Ben's right hand, requiring surgery with metal plates and wires that successfully saved his injured finger.
The Birchalls have raced using LCR chassis — both the long F1 variant and the shorter F2 configuration required at the TT — with engines from Yamaha and Honda at various points in their career. In 2012 they joined a team with former World Champion Klaus Klaffenböck and former passenger Adolf Hanni, racing under the Cofain Racing by Klaffi banner.
In February 2011 the brothers were named Nottinghamshire County Council's Sports Team of the Year following a public online vote, and were awarded the Freedom of Mansfield by the town's then-Mayor Tony Egginton. In September 2024 they jointly received the Segrave Trophy for outstanding skill, courage, and initiative, recognising their 2023 achievements.
Ben Birchall was elected to Mansfield District Council in the Kings Walk ward in May 2019, representing the Mansfield Independent Forum.
Tom Birchall announced his retirement from racing on 19 December 2023. Ben planned to continue racing with a new passenger; experienced French racer Kevin Rousseau was confirmed as his teammate for upcoming TT campaigns in 2024.