Paul Bird Gateshead summary

Birdy Takes Third in Kielder

MonsterMob Ducati Superbike team boss Paul Bird romped to his best ever international rally result with a superb third place overall on this weekend's Pirelli International Rally based in Gateshead.

Driving the VK Vodka Kick sponsored and SEEMEE.co.uk backed Ford Focus WRC on the opening round of the British Rally Championship, Bird and co driver Andrew Bargery held fourth place overnight after Friday evening's three stages in the legendary Kielder forest, before moving up to third on Saturday morning.

However, their progress was threatened by a puncture on SS4 and despite catching a slower car and dust problems with the unseasonably warm weather, the Penrith driver maintained his third position throughout the day to claim a superb rostrum placing as the cars returned to the Gateshead Quayside on Saturday evening.

Having followed home world championship competitors David Higgins (Hyundai) and Alistair Ginley (Subaru), Bird led home a trio of M-Sport Ford Focuses in the hands of Steve Perez and Matthew Wilson in his Risbridger Motorsport Solutions car, much to his delight:

"I've had a great day and the car was faultless" said Bird as he crossed the finish ramp. "It's a pity I can't stay to drink the bottle of champagne that Steve (Perez) has had to buy me for beating him but I need to be with my team at Snetterton! This is a dream result and to be honest, I couldn't have hoped for anything better".

Results - Top Six 1 David Higgins/Chris Wood Hyundai Accent WRC
2 Alistair Ginley/Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza WRC
3 Paul Bird/Andrew Bargery Ford Focus WRC
4 Steve Perez/Daniel Barritt Ford Focus WRC
5 Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin Ford Focus WRC
6 Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry Subaru Impreza WRC

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