'Birdcage' is uncaged again

Following its major accident at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last year, Tony Smith raced his rebuilt Maserati Birdcage in the BRDC Historic Sports Car race at Silverstone in May.

George Fowles Racing spent over 700 man-hours straightening the bent chassis of the T61, which was sold to America when new and was later owned by Lord Hesketh.

“We had to rebuild it,” said Fowles. “The intricate assembly of fine chassis tubes presented a huge challenge after the accident that badly damaged the front. Ironically, sourcing a distributor for the car proved one of the biggest hurdles during the rebuild.”

Now immaculate once more, the car was tested in the week prior to the Silverstone race by Smith, who also competes in the Thoroughbred GP Championship.