September 1, 2023

Frank Bird In Search Of Another Win At Hockenheim

The 2023 Fanatec GT Europe season resumes this weekend when the series travels to Hockenheim for the third round of the Sprint Cup campaign. 

In amongst a 41-car field which will tackle a pair of 60-minute races at the 4.6km circuit in Baden-Württemberg is Cumbrian driver Frank Bird who will again be in action for the German-based Haupt Racing Team in the PBM and Hager-backed Mercedes-AMG GT3.
 
It follows a five-week summer break whereby Penrith-born Bird, and Australian teammate Jordan Love, will be hoping to continue where they left off in Misano last month when they scorched to victory in the Silver Cup class.

The pair also took a double podium in the opening round at Brands Hatch earlier in the season so hold second place in the Silver Cup standings as a result, just three points behind the leaders Lorenzo Patrese and Alex Aka (#99 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi) ahead of the two races which take place at the German track over the weekend.
 
Free Practice gets underway tomorrow (Friday) at 09:30 CET with Pre-Qualifying at 14:20. Saturday sees Qualifying 1 take place at 09:50 for the opening race which starts at 14:00. Sunday’s Qualifying 2 gets underway ay 09:55 with the second race scheduled for 14:35. 
Frank Bird, #77Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “It will be good to get back racing and to blow the cobwebs off as it’s been a long break since Misano and it’s important we carry that momentum forward. I’m looking forward to teaming up with Jordan again and hopefully we can keep the pressure on the leaders as there’s only a couple of rounds of the Sprint Cup to go after this weekend. Hockenheim is a track that has suited the Mercedes in the past so the plan is to be competitive from the start and to give ourselves the best chance in the races with a decent qualifying position and hopefully we can get a pair of good results. The PBM BeerMonster Ducati team did well at Cadwell Park in BSB last weekend so I’m hoping to carry that form on.” 
 
For further information including a live stream, please visit https://www.gt-world-challenge-europe.com/watch-live.  Pictures courtesy of www.gt-world-challenge-europe.com

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!”

SUCCESSFUL OPENING TEST AS IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI TOP NAVARRA TIMESHEETS

April 8, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team is heading home from the first official Bennetts British Superbike test of the year feeling confident about the season ahead following a strong two days on track in Spain. The team and rider Glenn Irwin joined the class of 2025 at the first of the R&G Official BSB tests at Circuito de Navarra in Northern Spain, ending the event fastest overall, with a best lap of 1min 44.537secs. The team used the two days on track to work on a number of areas, with a particular focus on a new, updated lower seat unit and the new 2025 Pirelli tyre. And despite not putting any pressure on themselves to chase lap times, Irwin still clocked the best lap of the event, sticking in his best lap time during in Monday morning’s session to top the overall timesheets. Glenn Irwin: “We came to Navarra with the objective of just working with the guys again which has been fun. The layout here has improved a lot, it’s a really, really good track now, hopefully we can return. “We had quite a lot of things to try, my Ducati from last year to this is a very different bike but it’s been enjoyable to ride, I feel really comfortable on the bike. “We ended the test fastest which isn’t so important, but we were low into the’45s with 20-plus laps on the tyres every time we exited the pits. No new tyres this afternoon and lots of really good race pace. “The guys adapted the bike to the new tyre and I adapted my riding style a little bit and we’ve had a great, enjoyable couple of days. Roll on Donington!” Frank Bird, Team Co-owner: “It’s mega to finally get the 2025 season underway - it sounds a little bit cliched but it’s been a really long winter! There’s been a lot of hard work and stress in the build up but it’s good to finally get to a track and put all the hard work to the test. “A big thanks to the boys and of course thanks to all our sponsors. It’s been a really productive three days, I like to think we’ve ticked off all the boxes that we had before coming to the test so hats off to the whole team. “Everything ran smoothly, it’s like we’ve never been away but it’s great to finally get going and to be fastest on day one and fastest overall at the end. It seemed to come quite easily so we’re all looking forward to the next couple of tests.”  The team will now head home to the UK and the workshop for some further work, before the next R&G Official Test at Donington Park on April 18 and 19.
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