Bird keeps in touch with GP2 leaders (From Croydon Guardian)

Bird keeps in touch with GP2 leaders

3:36pm Thursday 14th July 2011 in Motorsport

Claygate racer Sam Bird kept pace with the GP2 Championship leaders with two points scoring race finishes at Silverstone on Sunday.

The 24-year-old finished fifth and sixth to remain third in the driver’s championship - the traditional breeding ground for Formula One drivers - with eight races to go.

It could have been better for the Roehampton-born star, but for torrential rain during qualifying and mechanical problems on raceday.

Yet Bird, who is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Lewis Hamilton by winning the title and has three podium finishes to his name this term, remained philosophical.

“Driving at Silverstone is always such a pleasure, with the home fans cheering me on, although it was a strange weekend with the weather changing from one end of the circuit to the other,” he added.

“It's important to keep scoring points even when things don't quite work out in your favour and we've done that here. The main thing going forward is that we definitely have the speed to keep challenging for wins.”