Sam Bird (Photo Credit: Alastair Staley/LAT Photographic)
GP2 race winner Sam Bird will switch to Formula Renault 3.5 outfit ISR for the 2012 season.
The Briton, who finished 5th and 6th respectively in his two campaigns in GP2, has signed for the Czech team which took Daniel Ricciardo to victory in Monaco last season and ended 2011 third in the Team's Championship.
And ISR team principal Igor Salaquarda hopes the pairing of Bird and American Jake Rosenzweig and can guide them to their maiden title in the category.
He said: “I am very happy to have Sam in my team.”
“He has experience of both Formula One and GP2 and I feel confident that his talent will help us on the way to more success. We will do our maximum to prepare the best cars for both our drivers and dearly hope to win our first World Series by Renault Championship title with them.”
Bird will also continue his duties as the reserve driver for Mercedes on Grand Prix weekends and at their factory in Brackley.
“I am extremely pleased about this opportunity to drive for I.S.R. in World Series by Renault,” Bird said. “World Series is a great Championship in which numerous Formula One drivers have shone in the past, and this year's field seems to be particularly competitive.”
“ISR have a proven track record and I am really looking forward to joining forces with them.”
