# PODIUM FOR BIRD IN PUNTA DEL ESTE TO MAINTAIN TITLE BID

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/03/podium-for-bird-in-punta-del-este-to-maintain-title-bid/
- Published: 2018-03-17T22:14:46-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

17/03/2018

 * Sam Bird secures third place during thrilling Punta del Este E-Prix
 * Best ever result for fellow British team-mate Alex Lynn with sixth
 * [DS Virgin Racing](https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/01/formula-e-rookie-test-for-ds-virgin-racing/)
   move to third in both drivers’ and teams’ standings as series reaches halfway
   point

![sam bird secures third place during thrilling punta del este e prix   best ever
result for fellow british team mate alex lynn with sixth   ds virgin racing move
to third in both drivers and teams standings as series reaches halfway point](https://
i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/image-192.jpg?resize=780%
2C520&quality=52&ssl=1 "PODIUM FOR BIRD IN PUNTA DEL ESTE TO MAINTAIN TITLE BID -
The Green Living Guy")

DS Virgin Racing’s Sam [Bird](https://greenlivingguy.com/2026/07/ds-formula-e-race-recap-a-lesson-in-momentum/)
made up six places to secure his 12th career podium during today’s thrilling Formula
E race in Punta del Este, with team-mate Alex Lynn producing his best ever finish
with sixth. The result by the two British drivers moves the team into third position
in the manufacturer standings – with Bird also third in the drivers’ championship–
as the all-electric series reaches its halfway stage.

In beautiful, sunny conditions, the Uruguayan [beach resort](https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/09/ideal-destinations-for-eco-conscious-adventurers/)
played host to the third and final race in the championship’s Latin American leg,
with both Bird and Lynn showing strong pace from the off and never running outside
the top 10 during the morning’s practice sessions.

![sam bird secures third place during thrilling punta del este e prix   best ever
result for fellow british team mate alex lynn with sixth   ds virgin racing move
to third in both drivers and teams standings as series reaches halfway point](https://
i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/image-191.jpg?resize=217%
2C166&quality=52&ssl=1 "image-191 - The Green Living Guy")

Their strong pace continued into qualifying where Lynn yet again made it into the
Superpole (top five) shootout and would go on to start the race third, with Bird
a little further back in 9th.

As the 37-lap race got underway, Lynn held onto third place with Bird already moving
up the field to lie seventh in the early stages. After a brief safety car period,
both drivers looked racy heading towards the pit stop window on lap 20.

However, running with less energy, Lynn had a slower in-lap combined with a tricky
pit stop to allow team-mate Bird, and others, to get the jump on him with the two
re-joining the race in fourth and fifth. This allowed Bird to start to pull away
and chase after the leading duo of Lucas di Grassi and Jean-Eric Vergne, whilst 
Lynn has working hard to keep a pressing Felix Rosenqvist and Mitch Evans at bay.

In the closing stages, Lynn was forced to settle for sixth, whilst Bird had now 
joined the battle for the lead pressing both leaders hard, but sadly ran out of 
laps before he could mount his challenge.

Sam Bird, who dedicated his podium to the late journalist Henry Hope-Frost, said:“
We were slightly fortunate with drivers around us having issues, but the pace was
good today and we really wanted to fight for the lead at the end; but it wasn’t 
to be. Overall, it was a strong race for us and nice to get another podium, as well
as a great result for the team and also to help keep our title bid going.”

Alex Lynn said: “For sure today has been a positive race for us and I’m really pleased
to come away with sixth and my strongest result to date. The pace was good as we
were once again in Superpole, but things didn’t quite go our way during the race,
but it’s still a great result for me and the team.”

Team Principal Alex Tai commented: “We’ve previously not had the results at this
track so it’s even better to come away with such a strong finish and I’m delighted
for both Sam and Alex. Formula E has such a competitive field so to be in third 
position in both the drivers’ and the teams’ championship at the halfway point is
really a testament to the hard work and dedication of the whole team. We will continue
to bring our strong performance to the upcoming European races and will fight for
both driver and team championship.”

DS Performance Director Xavier Mestelan Pinon added: “We’ve scored big points here
in Punta del Este, allowing us to recover third place in the team standings. We’ve
just crossed the halfway mark of season four and being third in both championships
offers us great opportunities moving forward for the second half of the season.”

The series now heads to Europe with the next round of the 2017/2018 ABB FIA Formula
E Championship taking place for the first time in Rome, Italy on April 14. For more
information on the [DS Virgin Racing Formula E](https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/12/ds-virgin-racing-formula-e-team-launches-race-against-climate-change-initiative/)
Team, visit: [http://map.ds-virginracing.com/](http://map.ds-virginracing.com/)

2018 ABB FIA Formula E Championship
 Punta del Este E-Prix (Rd 6) – Race results(
37 laps):

 1. Jean Eric Vergne, Techeetah (P)

 * Lucas di Grassi, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler

**3. Sam Bird, DS Virgin Racing**

 1. Mitch Evans, Panasonic Jaguar Racing

 * Felix Rosenqvist, Mahindra Racing

**6. Alex Lynn, DS Virgin Racing**

 1. Oliver Turvey, NIO Formula E

 * Jose Maria Lopez, Dragon (FL)
 * Jerome D’Ambrosio, Dragon
 * Maro Engel, Venturi Formula E

Drivers’ standings (after Rd 6):

 1. Jean Eric Vergne, 109pts

 * Felix Rosenqvist, 79pts

**3. Sam Bird, 76pts**

 1. Sebastien Buemi, 52pts

 * Nelson Piquet Jr, 45pts

**13. Alex Lynn, 17pts**

Teams’ standings (after Rd 6):

 1. Techeetah, 127pts

 * Mahindra Racing, 100pts

**3. DS Virgin Racing, 93pts**

 1. Panasonic Jaguar Racing, 86pts

 * Renault e.dams, 59pts

-ENDS-

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
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