Formula E: Sam Bird ready to take down Jean-Eric Vergne in Paris to take control of the championship race

Bird is ready to chase down his former teammate in the quest for glory

Sam Bird won last time out in Rome (Getty)

Sam Bird has admitted he feels he has what it takes to become the first ever British champion as the battle for the Formula E Championship heats up with former teammate Jean-Eric Vergne.

Bird is closing in fast on ex-F1 man Vergne following his second E-Prix win of the season two weeks ago in Rome, but will have to continue his pursuit in front of a partisan crowd in the Frenchman’s home city of Paris.

Vergne remains 18 points clear at the top of the Championship having finished fifth in Rome, his joint lowest finish of the season, but Bird will be looking to keep up the pressure on the former Toro Rosso man and capitalise on any mistakes by driver or team.

Bird is having his best ever season in Formula E, scoring podium finishes in more than half of his races, and the battle for the title looks to be coming down to the two former teammates as the season enters the business end.

Sam Bird in action (Getty)

Their time together at Virgin in Season 2 was rocked by in-fighting but Bird insisted there was no bad blood between the pair – with their time separated having helped rebuild their professional and personal relationship.

Bird said: “He is leading the Championship and I am second because we’ve both done an excellent job and I speak for both of us when I say we would like to leave what happened that year in the past because we’ve been really good at rebuilding our friendship both on and off the track over the last few seasons.

“I have the upmost respect for the man and he absolutely deserves the success. Internally I think it was a difficult time in JEV’s personal situation but the way he has come back from that is outstanding. He has become a better driver, a faster driver and, dare I say, a better person and personally I would not want to bring old skeletons out the closet.

“I think I’ve had some spectacular results in winning my home race in London, twice in New York and then this year both in Hong Kong and Rome but I‘ve found myself in a position thinking maybe I can mount a more serious challenge this year than I have ever done before.”

Jean-Eric Vergne on the podium after victory in Santiago earlier this season (Getty)

The 1.9km Circuit Des Invalides is the second shortest track of the Season Four ABB FIA Formula E calendar and drivers will have to negotiate 14 turns on the temporary tarmac covering Paris’ famous cobbled streets.

With the Eiffel Tower creating an iconic backdrop, the drivers will travel around the Musée de l'Armée and the tomb of Napoleon at speeds in excess of 200kph on the right Parisian roads.

You can watch the Paris E-Prix live on 5Spike this Saturday April 28 at 2.30pm.