Discover more
From being the first Jaguar driver to achieve a podium in GEN3, doing so in just the second round, to clashing with his teammate Mitch Evans on two separate occasions.
Rome proved to be a whirlwind of a weekend for the Brit. First he caused a crash that wiped out himself and five other competitors out of Saturday’s race, required his garage to do a full rebuild of his car overnight, to standing proud on the podium just 24 hours later.
Speaking after his third place result in Rome, Bird opened up about his recent struggle in form and how he’s managed to bring himself back to collecting silverware again.
“All credit to everyone at Jaguar TCS Racing for making me a new car because there was absolutely nothing left of the other one,” he said after his crash in Round 13. “There’s been a lot of times recently where I have looked in the mirror and seen a very mediocre racing driver and yesterday was one of those. It’s been very difficult to pick myself up.
“But it’s more relief than anything else today. I’ve tried my best, I’ve made a lot of mistakes this year, I can’t shy away from them, but I’ve always given my best.
“I haven’t necessarily shown bad speed this year, I’m normally quite quick, but too many mistakes, too many errors and that’s cost me dearly.”
For Bird, the London finale this week marks another opportunity to race on home soil. He’s won here before, back at Battersea Park in season one and will want to end Season 9 on a high.
“Racing on home soil will always be special for me and I’m looking forward to seeing how the Jaguar I-TYPE 6 performs on this track,” Bird stated. “I’m going into this weekend feeling determined to do my best for the team in our quest for the team championship.”
Now hosted at the ExCel - a half indoor and half outdoor circuit - London has its fair share of challenges.
“London is a unique track,” Jaguar TCS Racing’s Technical Manager Phil Charles said about the venue. “It has the shortest length of the season at just over 2km, but it packs 20 corners into that lap which weaves indoors and outdoors.
“The indoor section has the highest grip of the year with the special grip-paint on the surface there. The outdoor section is made up of tight and twisty cornering and there are kerbs at several of the apexes of medium speed chicanes.
“As a result, the London circuit is a very technical challenge for the teams. The drivers need to get in a rhythm and blend attacking hard at some of those kerbed chicanes but be smooth in the twisty sections. The revisions in the last sector also give a bit of a reset there, so that will be interesting to see how all the teams adapt to the new turns 15 to 18. We expect an exciting weekend with the backdrop of the two Championships being decided, adding extra spice!”