Bird tops first day of Formula E test in Valencia

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Envision Virgin Racing's Sam Bird edged BMW's Maximilan Gunther on the first day of testing at Valencia for Formula E's 2019/20 season.

Gunther's morning session best of 1m15.926s was first topped by Nissan e.dams' Sebastien Buemi. The Swiss improved his benchmark but was ultimately beaten by Bird's 1m15.570.

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DS Techeetah's new recruit Antonio Felix da Costa concluded his afternoon third, while Jaguar's Mitch Evans and reigning Fe champion Jean-Eric Vergne rounded off the top five.

The top ten drivers formed a tight group, separated by just half a second.

Mercedes endured a difficult baptism of fire in Valencia, with Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries lingering near the bottom of the field, almost 2 seconds off Bird's pace, as the German squad dealt with technical issues.

Testing will resume on Wednesday morning for a second day of running.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.