Cumbrian driver Frank Bird had to overcome the odds in an incident-packed race in Germany.

Bird was back in action to contest the opening round of the ADAC GT Masters series at Oschersleben.

And he was left up against it after an incident in Saturday’s qualifying meant the team couldn’t get the car ready for the opening race. In the second race on Sunday, team-mate Elias Seppanen was involved in a collision, leaving Bird the job of battling through to an 18th-placed finish.

Penith’s Bird, driving for the MANN-FILTER Team LANDGRAF organisation in the Mercedes AMG-GT3, said: “I’d never been to the track before and it was my first proper go in the car in a series I’d never raced in before so I didn’t underestimate the challenge.

“Unfortunately, we had an off in qualifying and couldn’t get out in the first race and then in race two, my teammate got hit by a Porsche and left us to battle back from the middle of the pack.

“The track was very technical and it was a hard race with a high fuel load and old tyres but I’m pleased to get a finish and look forward to the next round.”