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DAF Trucks goes off-road with Chris Bird

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  • DAF Trucks in sponsorship deal with All Wheel Drive rally car champion
  • Well known Welsh DAF haulier seen at Goodwood with Milner R5 off-road race car
  • 2014 Hill Rally champion and current 2015 leader
  • One of the UK’s first Euro-6 DAF XF operators

Chris Bird, managing director of high profile South-Wales haulier, CJ Bird, has secured a sponsorship deal with DAF Trucks to support his highly successful foray into off-road car racing. Motor racing enthusiasts at last week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed saw Chris Bird in his Milner R5 off road car.

Competing in the All Wheel Drive Club (AWDC) championship, Chris Bird is current leader in the 2015 championship on the back of huge success in 2014; winning the AWDC championship, the Welsh Hillrally and the Scottish Hillrally.

A family-run haulage company based in Llantrisant, South Wales, CJ Bird was one of the UK’s first hauliers to take delivery of a Euro-6 DAF XF tractor unit. The company now has five DAF XF Super Space Cabs and 15 DAF rigids from 18 to 26 tonnes – all supplied by local DAF dealer Watts Truck & Van Cardiff. CJ Bird’s heavy truck fleet is made up of DAF XF tractor units, many with Super Space Cabs, and CF rigids at various weights. The company’s distribution services focus on the food packaging sector, medical supplies and exhibition equipment – in the UK, and overseas where it relies on DAF’s renowned European back-up service, ITS.

“I’m absolutely delighted to have DAF Trucks on board,” said Chris Bird, “Watts Truck & Van have been brilliant too, both in respect of my off road racing ambitions and especially in supporting my truck fleet.

“Every haulier knows how good DAFaid is,” he said, “and it’s certainly a well-oiled machine. But it’s the people at dealer level, and the service support I receive from Watts Truck & Van, that make sure my trucks are on the road earning money – and which allows me the luxury of racing around the countryside in my Milner R5! This sport needs big name sponsors and to have DAF Trucks behind me is also a positive step for the AWDC.”

Chris Bird’s Milner R5 is powered by a 5-litre, 400bhp ‘V8’ Ford Coyote engine with a Cosworth Pectel ECU. A Maktrak 6-speed sequential gearbox and Milner differential complete the driveline. Chris and is Milner R5 were at the Goodwood Festival of Speed from the 25th to 28th June.

ENDS

For further details please contact:

Paul O’Malley, Torque                                      
020 7952 1070
pomalley@torqueagencygroup.com

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