January 30, 2023

Frank Bird And HRT To Compete In The Asian Le Mans Series In 2023

Haupt Racing Team will once again compete in the Asian Le Mans Series in the 2023 season in a team which will include promising young Cumbrian driver, Frank Bird.

The team from Meuspath in Germany will tackle all four rounds of the series, which will be held on two consecutive weekends, with two Mercedes-AMG GT3s and will rely on an experienced driver line-up.
 
The black #7 Mercedes-AMG GT3 will be driven by Al Faisal Al Zubair (OMA), Luca Stolz (GER) and Martin Konrad (AUT). The experienced driver trio will contest the races in the Asian Le Mans Series with the entry Al Manar Racing by HRT.

Arjun Maini (IND) and Michael Blanchemain (FRA) will be accompanied by Penrith-born Bird to compete in the yellow and blue sister car with the starting number #6 and the HRT entry, with backing from Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM).
 
The calendar of the compact Asian Le Mans Series comprises a total of four rounds. On the first race weekend (11-12 February 2023), the participating teams will compete in a pair of four-hour races in Dubai. One week later (18-19 February 2023), the series will make a guest appearance at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi for two more rounds, which will also run over a race duration of four hours each.
 
47 cars, 24 of them in the GT class, will fight for the championship in the Asian Le Mans Series. All class winners also receive a starting place for the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
 
Frank Bird, HRT #6: "I did a few races in the GT World Challenge with HRT and Arjun last season and had a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to working with HRT again this year and sharing the cockpit with Arjun and Michael."
 
Sean Paul Breslin, Team Principal Haupt Racing Team: "It is our second participation in the Asian Le Mans Series and in the GT class we will be competing against strong competition. Nevertheless, we are going into the race with ambition, especially as we have already been able to achieve many successes at the Dubai Autodrome in the past. We will work very hard to ensure that we can build on this."
 
For further information, please visit https://media.hauptracingteam.de with the new Paul Bird Paul Bird Motorsport website due to be launched soon

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI END SUCCESSFUL SECOND TEST ON TOP

April 19, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team continued its strong testing form at Donington Park as rider Glenn Irwin once again ended the two days fastest overall. Although the team is still not concentrating on lap times, Irwin picked up where he left off at Circuito de Navarra earlier this month as he led the way on Friday before going even quicker on Day Two with an impressive fastest lap of 1min 27.015s in the final session. After a strong first test where he topped the timesheets at Navarra, the team headed to the second R&G Official test at Donington Park looking to work on a number of different things. Irwin was consistently quick across the opening day, ending Friday fastest overall with a 1:27.022sec lap in the final session to end the day at the top of the timesheets with what was the fastest ever BSB lap of the iconic track. Along with most of the pack, he opted to sit out of Saturday morning’s first session due to track conditions, heading out for the second to work through a few more things. He again shot to the top of the timesheets with a lap of 1:27.468, before later going one better in the final session to clock his new fastest ever lap. Glenn Irwin: “It’s been really good, like Navarra, we’ve continued with a plan. Yesterday we had a really, really strong bike here and conditions were a little better. Today conditions were tougher with the wind but everyone still finds a way to go fast. “We probably persevered with a bike which is suited to the final sector, perhaps Turn One as well. As the day went on I realised we were losing a bit in some places but we stuck with it. “It’s pleasing because I would say that isn’t the bike of choice for here, perhaps maybe yesterday's bike was better, but to top today feeling like that, to do a lot of laps in the 27s with improved pace on old tyres is good. The test has definitely been a success.” John Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “I think it’s been a positive test where we’ve confirmed a number of test items over the two days. We had slightly better conditions yesterday than today but I think we’ve ticked a lot of boxes, gone fairly quick so it’s all positive – roll on Oulton Park. “The plan there is more of the same, just keep trying to understand the new tyre, try and work with it. I think longevity is going to be the key now for Oulton Park, we’ll do a couple of race runs, see how the tyre lasts and then get ready for Round One.” The team will now prepare for the final test at Oulton Park next Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 and 24 which will be the last chance to get everything ready ahead of the first round of the 2025 season at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI READY FOR DONINGTON PARK TEST

April 17, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team and rider Glenn Irwin head to Donington Park this week for the second Bennetts British Superbike Championship R&G Official Test. After a strong run at Circuito de Navarra earlier this month, the team is looking forward to getting back on track in the UK, as the countdown to the start the 2025 season continues.  The iconic Donington Park will play host to the second pre-season test on Good Friday and Saturday, before the class of 2025 heads to Oulton Park next Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 and 24, for the final test before the season begins over the May Bank Holiday weekend. The team is looking to build on the success of the Navarra test, where Irwin was consistently quick, setting the pace on the first day before topping the timesheets at the end of the event with a best lap of 1min 44:527s. But keen not to get caught up focusing on lap times yet, Irwin is more concerned about getting through as much work as possible during the two days and making sure the important boxes are ticked. Glenn Irwin: “We’re all looking forward to it. At Navarra, it was important we worked through a number of things which are different this year and it was a great test – but it’s important that we don’t get complacent. “At Donington we’ve more new items to try and we’ve got a list of work to get through, which will be our priority. Once we’ve done all that and have a good feeling, I think we can show up well on the timesheets, but more so in race rhythm than in one-off fast laps. “At Navarra, we found areas where I was weak last year but not this year so we were able to use this as a reference. At Donington, we know the track well and have an idea of where we need to be but for me it’s about continuing to evaluate what we have and understanding the feeling of everything rather than get too hung up on what the timesheet says. If it feels good and we’re good, we’re happy!” Jordan Bird, Team Co-owner: The whole Hager PBM Ducati team is looking forward to being back on home soil for the first time this year. Navarra was a really productive test for us so the team and Glenn are heading into our UK testing program in great spirits! “We are looking forward to seeing plenty of BSB fans trackside at Donington Park. Let’s hope the sun is shining for us!”
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