Frank Bird (racing driver)

Frank "Frankie" Bird Jr. (born 20 August 1999) is a British racing driver.[1] He is part of the Mercedes-AMG driver lineup, having been introduced to the programme as a junior driver in 2024.[2][3][4]

Frank Bird
Bird in 2022
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Born (1999-08-20) 20 August 1999 (age 24)
Nassington, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup career
Debut season2020
Current team2 Seas Motorsport
Racing licence FIA Silver
Car number60
Starts12 (12 entries)
Wins0
Podiums1
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finish11th (Silver Cup) in 2021

After starting out his career in 2015 racing in the Ginetta Junior Championship, Bird switched to single-seaters, competing in British F4 and the Formula Renault Eurocup without much success. He raced in the Eurocup until 2019 before moving into GT3 competition, having previously competed in several GT4 races and taken a Renault Clio Cup class win at the 2018 Dubai 24 Hour.[5]

In 2020, Bird entered the Silver Cup class of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup with Team Parker Racing as part of Bentley's academy programme.[6] The following year, Bird moved to the GTWC Sprint Cup, finishing second in class after taking two Silver Cup wins alongside Ryuichiro Tomita.[7] Bird then entered the ADAC GT Masters in 2022 with Team Landgraf, though he would end up 21st in the overall standings. He returned to the Sprint Cup in 2023 and won three races in class, helping teammate Jordan Love to the Silver Cup title as Bird had missed two events due to the death of his father Paul Bird, a former rally driver who owned the Paul Bird Motorsport team.[8][9] In addition, Bird won that year's 24 Hours of Nürburgring in the two-car SPX category, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT2.[10]

Racing record

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Racing career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2015 Ginetta Junior Championship R & J Motorsport 20 0 0 0 0 69 22nd
Ginetta Junior Winter Series 4 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2016 F4 British Championship Fortec Motorsports[11][12] 30 0 0 0 0 3 19th
Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
2017 Formula Renault Eurocup Fortec Motorsports[13][14] 23 0 0 0 0 0 32nd
Formula Renault Northern European Cup 2 0 0 0 0 26 20th
2018 Formula Renault Eurocup Tech 1 Racing[15][16] 20 0 0 0 0 6 18th
Formula Renault Northern European Cup 12 0 0 0 0 52 10th
24H TCE Series - Continents' - A2 Ciceley Motorsport 1 1 0 0 1 0 NC†
Gulf 12 Hours - GT4 2 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
2019 Formula Renault Eurocup Arden[17] 20 0 0 0 0 14 18th
24H GT Series - Continents' - GT4 Ciceley Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
2020 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Team Parker Racing 4 0 0 0 0 0 NC
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Silver 0 0 0 0 23 17th
Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
BRDC British Formula 3 Championship Fortec Motorsports 3 0 0 0 0 13 24th
2021 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Belgian Audi Club Team WRT[18] 5 0 0 0 0 4 28th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Silver 0 0 0 1 51 11th
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup 10 0 0 0 1 33.5 8th
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup - Silver 2 0 0 5 85.5 2nd
Intercontinental GT Challenge Team WRT 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24H GT Series - GT3 Pro 1 0 0 0 1 26 NC†
2022 Asian Le Mans Series - GT Garage 59[19] 4 0 0 0 1 29.5 7th
ADAC GT Masters Mann-Filter Team Landgraf[20] 13 0 0 0 0 52 21st
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Haupt Racing Team[21][22] 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Silver 0 0 0 0 19 18th
International GT Open 1 0 0 0 0 24 14th
2023 Asian Le Mans Series - GT Haupt Racing Team[23][24][25] 4 0 0 0 0 6 15th
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup 6 0 0 0 0 9 15th
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup - Silver 3 1 2 5 80.5 4th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Pro-Am 0 0 0 0 11 18th
Intercontinental GT Challenge Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing 1 0 0 0 0 12 23rd
Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - VT2-FWD SRS Team Sorg Rennsport 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - V4 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - VT3 Team Mathol Racing e.V. 2 2 2 2 2 0 NC†
Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - SP9 Haupt Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SPX Mercedes-AMG Team HRT 1 1 ? ? 1 N/A 1st
2024 Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - SP9 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT 2 0 0 0 0 * *
Mercedes-AMG Team Bilstein by HRT[26] 2 0 0 0 0
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 11th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup 2 Seas Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Gold 0 0 0 0 27* 8th*

As Bird was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.* Season still in progress.

Complete F4 British Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 DC Points
2016 Fortec Motorsports BHI
1

18
BHI
2

Ret
BHI
3

17
DON
1

15
DON
2

11
DON
3

16
THR
1

14
THR
2

Ret
THR
3

15
OUL
1

15
OUL
2

14
OUL
3

Ret
CRO
1

10
CRO
2

Ret
CRO
3

15
SNE
1

13
SNE
2

10
SNE
3

14
KNO
1

12
KNO
2

10
KNO
3

14
ROC
1

14
ROC
2

NC
ROC
3

17
SIL
1

15
SIL
2

16
SIL
3

13
BHGP
1

12
BHGP
2

Ret
BHGP
3

16
19th 3

Complete Formula Renault Eurocup results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Pos Points
2016 Fortec Motorsports ALC
1
ALC
2
ALC
3
MON
1
MNZ
1
MNZ
2
MNZ
1
RBR
1
RBR
2
LEC
1
LEC
2
SPA
1
SPA
2
EST
1

15
EST
2

20
NC† 0
2017 Fortec Motorsports MNZ
1

19
MNZ
2

17
SIL
1

17
SIL
2

22
PAU
1

20
PAU
2

17
MON
1

Ret
MON
2

Ret
HUN
1

23
HUN
2

22
HUN
3

27
NÜR
1

29
NÜR
2

24
RBR
1

25
RBR
2

23
LEC
1

22
LEC
2

25
SPA
1

32
SPA
2

27
SPA
3

20
CAT
1

24
CAT
2

Ret
CAT
3

20
32nd 0
2018 Tech 1 Racing LEC
1

17
LEC
2

18
MNZ
1

13
MNZ
2

8
SIL
1

Ret
SIL
2

21
MON
1

22
MON
2

20
RBR
1

13
RBR
2

10
SPA
1

14
SPA
2

11
HUN
1

12
HUN
2

13
NÜR
1

Ret
NÜR
2

21
HOC
1

20
HOC
2

13
CAT
1

10
CAT
2

17
18th 6
2019 Arden MNZ
1

8
MNZ
2

14
SIL
1

15
SIL
2

20
MON
1

13
MON
2

15
LEC
1

10
LEC
2

12
SPA
1

17
SPA
2

11
NÜR
1

13
NÜR
2

10
HUN
1

6
HUN
2

Ret
CAT
1

15
CAT
2

16
HOC
1

9
HOC
2

16
YMC
1

17
YMC
2

15
18th 14

As Bird was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points

Complete GT World Challenge results

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GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup

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(Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pos. Points
2020 Team Parker Racing Bentley Continental GT3 Silver IMO
37
NÜR
37
SPA
6H

37
SPA
12H

30
SPA
24H

28
LEC
Ret
17th 23
2021 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 LMS Evo Silver MNZ
8
LEC
Ret
SPA
6H

37
SPA
12H

16
SPA
24H

24
NÜR
16
CAT
12
11th 51
2022 Haupt Racing Team Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Silver IMO LEC SPA
6H

20
SPA
12H

12
SPA
24H

Ret
HOC CAT 18th 19
2023 Haupt Racing Team Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Pro-Am MNZ LEC SPA
6H

50
SPA
12H

47
SPA
24H

Ret
NÜR CAT 18th 11
2024 2 Seas Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Gold LEC SPA
6H

20
SPA
12H

53
SPA
24H

42
NÜR
MNZ
JED
8th* 27*

*Season still in progress.

GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pos. Points
2021 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 LMS Evo Silver MAG
1

24
MAG
2

11
ZAN
1

4
ZAN
2

7
MIS
1

26
MIS
2

4
BRH
1

3
BRH
2

5
VAL
1

14
VAL
2

16
2nd 85.5
2023 Haupt Racing Team Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Silver BRH
1

20
BRH
2

16
MIS
1

12
MIS
2

16
HOC
1
HOC
2
VAL
1
VAL
2
ZAN
1

6
ZAN
2

6
4th 80.5

Complete ADAC GT Masters results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 DC Points
2022 Mann-Filter Team Landgraf Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo OSC
1

DNS
OSC
2

19
RBR
1

20
RBR
2

18
ZAN
1

17
ZAN
2

9
NÜR
1

6
NÜR
2

4
LAU
1

16
LAU
2

Ret
SAC
1

7
SAC
2

10
HOC
1

10
HOC
2

Ret
21st 52

References

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  1. ^ "Pirelli Paddock Pass: Frank Bird". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  2. ^ Thukral, Rachit (1 February 2024). "Mercedes reveals 19-driver factory roster for GT racing in 2024". Autosport. Motorsport Network.
  3. ^ Euwema, Davey (1 February 2024). "Maini Promoted to Mercedes-AMG Factory Driver – Sportscar365". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Mercedes-AMG Motorsport presents its 2024 driver line-up". Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing. 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Result of the 24H - Race" (PDF). getraceresults.com. 24H Series. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  6. ^ Kilshaw, Jake (4 February 2020). "Bentley Names Academy Drivers for Team Parker Entry". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  7. ^ Brandworks.be. "WRT | GTWCE OVERALL TEAMS' TITLE CONQUERED AT VALENCIA". w-racingteam.com. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  8. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2 September 2023). "Pepper Puts VSR Lamborghini on Hockenheim Race 1 Pole". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Jordan Love crowned Silver Cup champion in thrilling weekend at Zandvoort". MBP Agency. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  10. ^ Goodwin, Graham (11 May 2023). "Mercedes-AMG To Unveil Art Car During N24 Meeting". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  11. ^ Allen, Peter (19 February 2016). "Fortec completes MSA Formula quartet with Frank Bird". Paddock Scout. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  12. ^ "RETURN TO ESTORIL FOR THE EUROCUP FORMULA RENAULT 2.0 FINALE!". Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0. Renault Sport. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  13. ^ "Frank Bird Moves to 2017 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 with Fortec Motorsports". 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  14. ^ "Provisional Entry-list" (PDF). necup.com. Renault Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  15. ^ Hensby, Paul (17 January 2018). "Frank Bird joins Tech 1 Racing for second Eurocup season". thecheckeredflag.co.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  16. ^ Meaden, Damian (13 April 2018). "TECH1 RACING TO ENTER EUROCUP QUARTET AT PAU AND MONZA". necup.com. Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  17. ^ "Frank Bird Joins Arden Motorsport for 2019 Formula Renault Eurocup Campaign". 12 March 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  18. ^ "WRT Announce 2021 GT World Challenge Europe Line-ups". Dailysportscar. 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  19. ^ Goodwin, Graham (31 January 2022). "Garage 59 Confirm Asian Le Mans Series Line-Ups For First McLaren 720S GT3 Effort". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  20. ^ Plümer, Jonas (21 April 2022). "ADAC GT Masters: Nachwuchsfahrer steuern zweiten Landgraf Mercedes" [ADAC GT Masters: Young drivers drive second Landgraf Mercedes]. gt-place.com (in German). Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  21. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (21 June 2022). "SRO Reveals 65-Car Entry list for 24H Spa Next Month". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Haupt Racing Team to debut in the GT Open at Spa with Bird-Love". www.gtopen.net. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  23. ^ Goodwin, Graham (30 January 2023). "Haupt Racing Team Announces 2023 Asian Le Mans Series Drivers". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  24. ^ Goodwin, Graham (12 April 2023). "HRT World Challenge Europe Driver Line-Up Confirmed". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  25. ^ Goodwin, Graham (15 June 2023). "Mercedes Reveals Full Spa 24 Line-Up & Liveries". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  26. ^ Tassel, Pierre (8 May 2024). "24H. du Nürburgring - Mercedes-AMG officialise ses équipages". Endurance-Info (in French). Retrieved 8 May 2024.
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