Frustration For Frank Bird In Abu Dhabi
Following on from two solid points scoring outings in the opening rounds of the 2023 Asian Le Mans Series in Dubai last weekend, young Cumbrian driver Frank Bird, after a great drive in race one, endured a disappointing final race in the final two rounds which took place at the YAS Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Once again driving for the German-based Haupt Racing Team, the Penrith-born driver was at the wheel of the team’s #6 Paul Bird Motorsport-backed Mercedes-AMG GT3 along with teammates Arjun Maini from India and Frenchman Michael Blanchemain for the pair of four-hour races.
The team got off to a good start by posting 12th fastest time in the opening Free Practice session which they bettered to tenth in FP2. Qualifying saw the team’s amateur driver Blanchemain place the car in 19th out of the 23 GT cars ready for Saturday’s opening four hour race.
Frank made a great start by setting fastest lap out of the three teammates, where they were challenging up the order when, after swapping drivers, the Frenchman damaged a wheel bearing meaning the team lost six laps in the pits. Despite the handicap, they crossed the line in 13th place, and had it not been for the delay in the pits, Bird and the team could have been challenging for a podium finish.
Starting Sunday’s race from a lowly 40th on the grid, Frank drove the first stint and courtesy of another fastest lap, he was soon up to second in class as the race progressed whereby he handed over to his teammates. Sadly, however, the team suffered a techical failure which led to them retiring after 79 laps.
Despite the disappointment, Frank finished the four-round series in a battling 15th place overall in the GT Drivers’ class.
Frank Bird: “Seeing the car retire was an unfortunate way to end the 2023 Asian Le Mans Series with a DNF. I had great fun at the start of the final race, going from 20th in the GT class up to second and finally showing what we could do. When swapping over to my teammate during the race, we encountered a technical problem which forced us to retire. It’s not how we had it planned out but nevertheless I loved my time out in the UAE so thanks to the team for a mega job over the two weeks and to my teammates and of course to our sponsors and my dad."
Frank will be back in rally action this forthcoming weekend in the PBM team’s Silkolene, Hager and Mac Tools-backed Ford Fiesta Rally 2 as he contests the Reed Group East Riding Stages Rally which comprises the opening round of the Protyre BTRDA Asphalt Rally Championship in association with Motorsport News.
Images: Frank Bird in action in the Asian Le Mans Series in Abu Dhabi
