October 16, 2023

Frank Bird’s Team Wins GT World Challenge Championship

In what can only be described as one of the best ever weekends in the near thirty year history of Paul Bird Motorsport, Frank Bird helped secure the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Silver Cup Championship to the PBM bike team’s fantastic 1-2 in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship following a double victory at Zandvoort.

Once again driving for the German-based Haupt Racing Team in the Mercedes-AMG GT3, Penrith-born Frank helped Australian teammate Jordan Love secure the driver’s championship in the Silver Cup and in doing so, the pair claimed the team’s title on the final race weekend of the season at the Dutch track. 

After a successful season so far with two class wins and five further podium finishes, the team were just a single point behind the series leaders going into the final two races. Saturday's race started in unsettled weather conditions but on the rain-soaked track, Love started from second position in class. At the start of the race, he was able to move up a few places and handed the #77 car over to Bird as class leader leaving him to cross the line to win the Silver Cup, recording their third victory of the season, and claiming a remarkable sixth place in the overall standings.

Starting the final race day as the championship leader in the team’s class, Frank was able to take advantage of the difficult qualifying conditions and claim pole position in the Silver Cup to start the race from the second row of the grid. From there, the Cumbrian coped well with the difficult conditions in the race and handed over to Jordan who took another victory in the Silver Cup. 

At the end of an eventful race, the Haupt Racing Team secured its fourth class win of the season and a strong sixth place overall meaning the team from Drees was the strongest Mercedes-AMG in the field this weekend. They won the Silver Cup team championship with a 17-point lead whilst Love was crowned driver's champion in his class. 

As well as the team honours, Frank was able to secure fourth place in the driver's championship despite having to miss two recent races following the death of his instrumental father Paul last month.. 

Frank Bird, #77Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “Wow, what a weekend where to even start! Firstly from my side it was fantastic to finally be back in the car in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Silver Cup Championship. Overall I’m super happy with the weekend and it was great to finally piece everything together with P3 overall in qualifying and to lead the race outright in race two. Unfortunately the weather hit midway through the stint and we lost some time on slicks in the wet as it was a bit sketchy. It was fantastic that I could get my teammate over the line to win the Silver Cup Championship for him and help secure the team title too, which is a huge accomplishment and well deserved. Thanks to all the team for everything this year, it’s been a pleasure. Racing myself ultimately meant I couldn’t be present at Brands Hatch for the final British Superbike Championship round. That was left in great hands with my sister Jordan at the helm. Congratulations to our two riders, Tommy Bridewell and Glenn Irwin, for their outstanding seasons individually and to get our ninth BSB championship over the line and also a 1-2 in both races as well as in the championsip is the icing on the cake. They really did my dad proud! Thanks to all our sponsors for making this whole season happen.”
 
Pictures courtesy of www.gt-world-challenge-europe.com

For further information, please visit https://media.hauptracingteam.de

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI WRAP-UP SUCCESSFUL TESTING PROGRAMME

April 24, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team and rider Glenn Irwin have completed another successful R&G Official test at Oulton Park, with the opening round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship now just over a week away. Irwin and the team have spent the last two days at the Cheshire track, grabbing as much track time as possible in the final days on track before the season begins. After ending last weekend’s Donington Park test on top, the team was keen to continue to push in the final two days, working through a busy schedule and trying a host of new components and ideas. Irwin ended the test second quickest overall after clocking the best lap of Thursday afternoon’s final session, banking a 1min 33.313s lap on his last run. He leaves feeling confident about next weekend’s opening round and can’t wait to get back out. Glenn Irwin: “That’s us finished pre-season testing and I’m feeling good. We’ve been working, working, working and the bike felt better today but we still have a bit of work to do. “It’s been really, really enjoyable, we’ve tried a number of different things and I think now we’re finding a bit of a balance. Today we unlocked something in that middle session, I did a good few 33s in that run so I think we’re strong. “It’s definitely been very productive. We haven’t gone for lap times, we’ve been focussed on getting the bike right and when that happens, the lap times come. That’s what we’re starting to see and I think we’re in a good place to come back next week and start the season.” Frank Bird Jnr, Team Co-owner: “It’s a mega way to finish, this puts us in really good stead for the season and we’ve got a lot of boxes ticked off with the bike. All the boys are working well, we’ve got everyone back into the swing of things and Glenn seems to be riding well, so we’re in a good window for the first round. “It’s been a long winter but all the hard work seems to be paying off and we’re right in the mix. It means we can come here for Round One and we’re in a great place to start from.” The opening round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship roars into action at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend, May 3-5.

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.
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