Reigning GP2 Champions ART Grand Prix have completed their 2010 driver line-up by signing Britain’s Sam Bird to partner Jules Bianchi. Following some impressive performances with the French team during his maiden GP2 event in Abu Dhabi, including a front row grid slot in qualifying and a fastest lap, as well as scoring a podium for ART at the Macau Grand Prix last week, Bird was given the nod for the coveted seat where he will participate in the entire GP2 Asia and GP2 Main Series championships.
Sam Bird: “I’m obviously very pleased to be joining ART Grand Prix. Their success speaks for itself and having spent quite a bit of time with the team over the past couple of months, I can say that they are a brilliant group of people. Driving for ART is a dream for any single-seater driver and I would like to thank Frederic Vasseur, in particular, for handing me this opportunity.”
Frederic Vasseur (CEO, ART Grand Prix): “I am delighted that Sam is joining us for the entire GP2 season. I have followed him closely for several years and always felt that circumstances had not always enabled him to express what I believe is a great talent. When we gave him the chance to prove himself in Abu Dhabi, he took the opportunity and impressed us. At the Paul Ricard test, with our Main Series car, again, he was consistently quick and remained a front-runner with other teams in the subsequent days. I think that Jules and Sam make a very competitive and exciting line-up. They are both rookies, but the top drivers have the ability to make a big impact immediately, as we have seen in the past. I am confident that Sam will have a very good season with us and I expect success for him in GP2 and beyond.”