Claygate motor racer Sam Bird is confident he and GP2 team ART can achieve greatness after securing his first podium finish at Bahrain’s Sakhir Circuit on Sunday.

Bird had knocked on the door of honours at his very first ever GP2 event in Abu Dhabi late last year, with a front row qualifying result and a fastest lap of the race, before a brake failure robbed him of silverware.

But he was not to be denied at the weekend when an impressive performance - which again included securing the race’s fastest lap - that saw him control second place from lights-to-flag as ART ended its Asia campaign in style.

“I’m slightly disappointed I couldn’t quite go for the win today but a podium finish is satisfactory. My pace was on a par with the winner, but I didn’t quite have enough rubber left at the end to make a move,” he said.

“For us it’s all about preparing for the main series and this has been an ideal testing and learning ground for the forthcoming European season and I feel I have really bonded with the team.

“I want to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone at ART. They gave me a great car and have given me awesome support throughout this Asia series.

“I’m looking forward to continuing working with them and I believe we can achieve great things together.”

GP2 Main Series will begin in Barcelona on May 7th to 9th, as the support races to Formula One’s first European race.