Bridger's Sudbury-based Fluid Motorsport Development team celebrated after the second race, where he finished third again, with team-mate Stefan Wilson taking his fourth class win of the season.

"I wouldn't have been able to do it if the team hadn't given me a car that could do the job," Bridger said. "At the beginning of the year we did struggle a bit.

"But I've got the easy part. I just have to drive the car. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes. I'm delighted for everyone."

Consistency has been the secret of Bridger's success. He has recorded four wins in 19 starts, but has been on the podium 15 times, 12 of those podium placings coming in his last 12 races.

The team had a four-day road trip to Bucharest after the Silverstone meeting, and the temperature was 100C+ for qualifying on Friday. Bridger qualified in pole position, his sixth class pole of the season, with Wilson, after spinning out, in sixth.

Bridger got away well in the first race on Saturday, closely pursued by championship rival Steven Guerrero. Both ran wide at the second corner, and were overtaken by two other cars.

At the same corner Wilson sustained front end damage after a collision with an International Class car, and was forced to retire.

Four laps under the safety car followed, and Bridger pushed hard in third place until another incident saw waved red flags, leaving him third and champion, with three races left on the calendar.

On Sunday qualifying was incident-packed, but Bridger qualified in pole with Wilson fourth. Bridger dropped to fourth after a poor start, but Wilson and was soon battling for the lead.

The safety car had to come out again, and when the race started again Wilson was neck-and-neck with Hywel Lloyd, finally taking the lead on lap 13.

Bridger, battling hard after the bad start, managed to pass Guerrero to take third.

Bridger hopes to step up to International Class F3 next season.

For more information about Fluid Motorsport and the drivers, log on to www.fluidmd.com.

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