Hersham racing driver Sam Bird saw his GP2 Series title hopes dashed in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, but recovered to drive his team to glory 24 hours later.
The 26-year-old, who had qualified second on the grid, finished a disappointing 10th in the first race of the weekend as rival Fabio Leimer came in fourth to claim the drivers’ championship crown.
But Bird’s thrilling fourth placed finish in race two on Sunday at the Yas Marina circuit, proved crucial in landing Russian Time the team championship on countback after finishing level on 273 points with Carlin.
The Roehampton-born star, pictured right, ended the campaign with five race wins and 181 points – 20 adrift of the champion Leimer – from the 22-race season, Russian Time’s first year in the series.
“We did it!!! Team champions,” he said on Twitter on Sunday.
“What an amazing story for a new team. I’m so happy for everyone at the @RTGP2offical.”
Bird’s emotions came in stark contrast to 24 hours earlier, when an overheating clutch cost him a shot at glory, having started the weekend on the front row of the grid.
“I tried my best everyone,” he tweeted on Saturday.
“Absolutely gutted, but I gave it my best shot all year long.”
Bird did get his hands on one piece of silverware at the weekend – the Pirelli Trophy for best use of tyres in this year’s championship.
Bird now turns his attention to landing a Formula One drive for 2014.
Winners: Bird, left, with Russian Time team boss Igor Mazepa
All smiles in the end: Sam Bird missed out on the GP2 Series drivers’ title, but played a key role in landing the team crown with a fourth place finish on Sunday
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