BIRD FLIES TO MACAU PODIUM

Sam Bird took a superb third place in the Macau Grand Prix yesterday, after an impressive drive on the legendary Guia Circuit.

Having had to settle for 7th place in Saturday’s qualification race, after suffering a clutch issue at the start, the Noble Group supported driver made a good start to the Grand Prix.

Unfortunately, BRDC Rising Star Daniel Ricciardo hit the tyre barrier at the Solitude Esses and found himself stranded in the middle of the track. A pile-up of cars ensued, bringing out the safety car which put Sam into fifth place at the re-start.

On lap 12, Sam’s Mercedes-powered ART car got into Marcus Ericsson’s slipstream down the main straight before making a brave pass on him around the outside of Lisboa.

The next target on track was ART teammate, Valtteri Bottas, who in third place suffered damage to his rear left wheel, enabling Sam to storm past and take a hard fought and well deserved podium finish.

Sam, the only non-VW driver to break the 2:11.00 barrier, finished as the top Mercedes-powered driver, with a best lap of 2:10.995.