The Virgin Racing Team were one of the first to sign up to the Formula E series. Backed by Richard Branson, the team employed former Mercedes F1 reserve Sam Bird and Red Bull reject Jamie Alguersuari for a young, yet oddly experienced duo.
The first qualifying session of the season was not the most thrilling with Sam Bird lining up twelfth and his Spanish team-mate in front in seventh. The race proved promising, although gave the team a mixed result to celebrate. Sam Bird clawed his way up to finish an excellent third on the podium after keeping his racing clean while Alguersuari struggled and could only bring the car home in eleventh.
In Putrajaya, qualifying had improved with Bird on the third row, but Alguersuari crashed out in qualifying, leaving him near the back of the grid as the lights went out. However, the race proved much better for the team with Bird able to fight for the lead and pull off a classic move on Dragon’s Oriol Servia to move into the lead of the race, which is where he finished. Celebrations all round then as his team-mate recovered to pick up two vital points with ninth and two more for setting the fastest lap. Things were certainly on the up.
Roles were reversed in Punta del Este with Bird failing to set a time in qualifying while Alguersuari secured a stonking fifth on the grid. The race proved to be a frustrating one however, with Bird crashing out and forced to retire and Alguersuari maintaining his fifth position to the very end; a solid effort from the Spaniard who was under pressure to put in some decent performances.
Buenos Aires seemed to provide the catalyst for the team who finally got their act together in qualifying. Alguersuari lined up second on the grid with Bird in fourth. Although Bird ultimately lost ground and came home seventh, Alguersuari was fighting for the lead throughout and it was only after he sustained damage caused by Daniel Abt making an unrealistic move on the Spaniard that he dropped back, but he maintained his composure to finish fourth.
The team lie second in the Constructors’, yet are eleven points back from leaders e.Dams. Things certainly look to be improving however, with both drivers currently in the top ten; Bird in second and Alguesuari climbing up the order recently to place seventh.
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