August 29, 2021

Bird Victorious At Brands Hatch

The fourth round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup powered by AWS proved to be amemorable one as Cumbrian racing driver Frank Bird swept to victory at Brands Hatch.

At the Kent track where his father Paul’s British Superbike Championship team has had so much success over the years, 22-year-old Frank and Japanese teammate Ryuichiro Tomita took a magnificent third place overall in the opening race which they backed up with an impressive fifth overall in race two in the Team WRT Audi R8 LMS.

 

But as well as lifting the trophy for third overall in race one, Penrith-born Frank and Tomita-San won the Silver Cup class followed by a second place in class in the second outing to round off a fantastic weekend for the #31 car.

They added to the WRT team’s success as courtesy of a win in race one and second place in race two, Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts secured the Sprint Cup Drivers’ title, their second in a row, and so did Team WRT in the Teams’ standings, as, mathematically, they cannot be overtaken in the last round scheduled at Valencia.

 

Also, Team WRT crews netted the 2021 Pirelli Pit Stop Challenge.

 

Frank Bird: “What a fantastic weekend for my home race, I’m really very happy. I was a little bit nervous coming hereas I didn’t know what expect, but the car was very good and a real pleasure to drive. P1 and P2 in the Silver Cup and an overall podium has meant a really a great weekend for us at a track where PBM has had so much success in the past. Thanks to my dad, my team and our sponsors for making it a memorable weekend.”

 

GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup – Round 4

Brands Hatch, United Kingdom, 28-29 August 2021
Race 1 Result

1. Vanthoor-Weerts (Audi R8 LMS) 

2. Stolz-Engel (Mercedes AMG) 

3. Bird-Tomita (Audi R8 LMS) (1st Silver)

4. Pérez Companc-Breukers (Lamborghini Huracan) 

5. Panis-Vervisch (Audi R8 LMS) 

18. Goethe-van der Linde (Audi R8 LMS)

 

Race 2 Result

1. Stolz-Engel (Mercedes AMG) 

2. Vanthoor-Weerts (Audi R8 LMS) 

3. Umbrarescu-Gounon (Mercedes AMG) 

4. Puhakka-Tunjo (Mercedes AMG) 

5. Bird-Tomita (Audi R8 LMS) (2nd Silver)

9. Goethe-Mies (Audi R8 LMS)

 

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

ROUND TWO BECKONS FOR HAGER PBM DUCATI

May 14, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati squad is heading to Donington Park this weekend as the second round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship roars into action at the iconic track. The team and rider Glenn Irwin will be looking to build on their success at the opening round, where the Northern Irishman clinched two second place finishes, putting him third in the championship chase but equal on 32 points with his rivals sitting first and second. It’s been a tough fortnight where the racing community has mourned the loss of riders Owen Jenner and Shane Richardson – and the team has been particularly affected by the death of Owen, a close friend of owners Jordan, Frank and other team members. Now, hopes are high that the team and Irwin can deliver a string of podium finishes this weekend, with performances which both boys would be proud of. Glenn Irwin, rider: “Looking ahead to the weekend you almost feel a little bit guilty, because obviously we all want to continue to pay our respects to Owen and Shane’s families, and when we look back at Oulton Park, the whole event is overshadowed by this sadness. “But if I was to look just purely at the riding side of things and the teamwork, I felt we did a good job. We had some difficult moments but we did well to come from 14 th to second in Race One and particularly Race two, after four laps we were 3.3 off and eight laps later to only be 0.1 off the win was very pleasing. “I think as riders, we all know what we achieved in terms of race pace over the two races, we only ever took time out of Bradley (Ray) and Leon (Haslam) and for me that was confidence inspiring. I think we fired our own warning shots without winning races which is important for our own confidence and important to cement ourselves in the thoughts of our rivals as well. “This weekend and the whole championship in general is going to be close. The three of us who were in it at Oulton will be there, I expect Kyle (Ryde) to be there and Danny Kent to also join the party this weekend…it’s going to be a good one.” Jordan Bird, Team Co-owner: “As usual, we are ready for business this weekend - although this one is a little different. We race at Donington Park for Owen and Shane. “Of course, we have a job to do but our thoughts will never be far away from both of them and we continue to send our love and best wishes to their families. “We know it’s going to be a tough weekend in many ways for the team and for the paddock as a whole but we look forward to doing the best job we possibly can in memory of Owen and Shane.”  Round Two of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship gets underway at Donington Park this Friday, May 16 with two free practice sessions ahead of Qualifying and Race One on Saturday, followed by two further races on Sunday, May 18.

HAGER PBM DUCATI FIRED UP AHEAD OF OULTON PARK SEASON OPENER

May 1, 2025
HAGER PBM Ducati and rider Glenn Irwin are all set and ready for the start of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike season, as the championship roars into action this weekend at Oulton Park. The team will head to its local circuit in Cheshire for the May Bank Holiday weekend, keen to get a strong start to its 2025 campaign and looking to emulate its success from two visits there last year, when Irwin celebrated four victories from six race starts. The opening round follows a solid pre-season testing programme for the team, with Irwin topping the timesheets in two of the three R&G Official tests. Over the three events, the squad worked through a busy schedule, testing a host of new components for its Ducati Panigale V4R and while not specifically chasing lap times, were never far from the top the board. Now, as they prepare for the first round at one of their strongest tracks, the team and Irwin are feeling quietly confident they can hit the ground running and emerge from Oulton Park on Bank Holiday Monday with a strong haul of points to get their championship off to a flying start. Glenn Irwin: “It’s fantastic to be finally going into the opening round at Oulton Park – it’s almost seven months since the last season ended so it’s been a long wait. But now it’s time to go and put everything we’ve done, everything we’ve learnt over the off-season into practice. “We’ve had a great testing programme, there’s a new addition on my side with my rider spotter which has been a nice refresh and I’ve also made some small adjustments to my own riding style. “The team has brought some new items this year which have been nice, not performance parts but parts which can equate to performance…it’s not as simple as an extra 10 bhp or anything like that, but it’s nice to go racing with something new. “I can’t wait for the weekend and to get going. My motivation is high, so let’s go and kick-off the year with the best possible points haul for the Hager PBM Ducati team.” Frank Bird Jnr, Team Co-owner: “It’s finally time to get going. A lot of hard work has been put in over this winter, the team has had three solid tests so we should be right in the mix from the word go – that’s the plan, anyway. “It’s felt like a long wait so it’s mega that the first round is finally here. I’d like to thank all our sponsors for helping us get here and we’re all hoping we can put on a good show and bring back some trophies. “It’s fantastic to be starting the season at Oulton Park, particularly on a Bank Holiday weekend. A lot of our sponsors are north-based, it’s also our local round as a family too, so it’s obviously an important one for us. Here’s to a strong weekend and kicking-off the season with three great race results.” The 2025 Bennetts British Superbike action opens with free practice on Saturday, May 3 followed by Qualifying and Race One on Sunday, May 4. The weekend will draw to a close following two further races on Bank Holiday Monday, May 5.
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