Bird Claims Runner Up Spot In GT World Cup
Penrith driver Frank Bird endured a frustrating weekend at the fifth and final round of the Fanatec GT World Cup Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup in Valencia, but still managed to end the season as runner-up in the series.
The 21-year-old Cumbrian and Japanese teammate Ryuichiro Tomita struggled during qualifying in the Team WRT Audi R8 LMS on the technical Spanish track to end up 24th on the grid.
But in typical fashion, Bird made a cracking start in the opening race and was up to 12th place when contact with another car dropped him back down the order before Tomito took over and brought the car home in 14th overall and fourth in the Silver Cup class for lesser experienced drivers.
Race two saw both Bird and Tomito nurse the car home to 17th overall and sixth in the Silver Cup class to clinch the runner-up placing much to their delight.
Frank Bird: “We didn’t maximise qualifying and that made things difficult. In race one, we were lucky, given we had a slow puncture, and in race two, we could only finish sixth. Overall, it’s not been too bad as we finished second in the Silver Cup. It was a tough season, but we also had some good races so a big thanks to the team and our sponsors.”
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup – Round 5
Valencia, Spain - 24-26 September 2021
Race 1 Result
1. Engel-Stolz (Mercedes AMG)
2. Roussel-Haase (Audi R8 LMS)
3. Boguslavskiy-Marciello (Mercedes AMG)
4. Marschall-Aka (Audi R8 LMS)
5. Umbrarescu-Gounon (Mercedes AMG)
14. Bird-Tomita (Audi R8 LMS) (4th Silver)
Race 2 Result
1. Stolz-Engel (Mercedes AMG)
2. Umbrarescu-Gounon (Mercedes AMG)
3. Siedler-Costa (Lamborghini Huracan)
4. Bernicoat-Wilkinson (McLaren 720S)
5. De Leneer-Engelhart (Porsche 911 R)
17. Bird-Tomita (Audi R8 LMS) (6th Silver)
For further info, please contact Vincent Vosse vincent.vosse@w-racingteam.com or
Daria Marina (Media) daria.marina@w-racingteam.com. Mob: +41 76 405 90 52
