News June 5 2006

Maserati maintains GT World Championship Lead

Maserati narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the second round of the World GT Championship last weekend (Sunday 28 May 2006), held in Brno but it has maintained its lead in the manufacturers' title chase.

At the end of the three-hour race, the MC12 driven by Michael Bartels-Andrea Bertolini (Vitaphone Racing Team) finished in fourth, just seven tenths off Gollin-Babini (third in the Aston Martin). In second came Deletraz-Piccini (Aston Martin) with Bert-Janis (Saleen) taking top spot. Jamie Davies-Thomas Biagi, in the other team Vitaphone Maserati, finished in sixth place.

These results were not a disappointment as they were obtained on a difficult track and in uncertain weather and surface conditions. Another factor why Bartels-Bertolini did not make the podium was that the lapped Bouchut-Walchofer-Kox Lamborghini held up the Italo-German MC12's effort for third.

The three-hour race started on a dry track after the morning rain. On the front row, Thomas Biagi was sucked into the group jostling for the leading places. Andrea Bertolini was less fortunate. He began well and climbed from seventh to third spot but was forced off the track on the second lap.

Luckily, he managed to come back on in ninth place. Biagi, meanwhile, held third until lap 11 when he lost time with an excursion into the sand. Both Vitaphone Racing Team MC12s had an uphill battle. After the first hour and the pit stop to switch drivers, Michael Bartels took the place of Bertolini and Biagi was substituted by Jamie Davies, finding themselves in fourth and ninth place, respectively.

These positions remained more or less unchanged into the second hour with Davies having upped a place to eighth before the second pit stop. In the final stages, Bertolini was the star as, lap after lap; he made up ground on Gollin-Babini's Aston Martin and closed to with a few tenths. However, Bouchut-Walchofer-Kox's Lamborghini slowed Bertolini's comeback for numerous laps.

The Vitaphone Racing Team still heads the team championship with 22 points. Bartels and Bertolini occupy second in the drivers' standings and are now only three points off the provisional leaders, Janis-Bert. Biagi-Davies are ninth.

"It went well", said Andrea Bertolini, "but it could have gone even better. The podium was within our reach and we would have overtaken Gollin-Babini's Aston Martin had the lapped Lamborghini not held us up for twelve laps. The championship is a long one but a few extra points would have been useful. My biggest regret is not making the podium".

"We did our best on a tough weekend. Starting from the front row, we hoped to score some precious points; very handy in a difficult championship like ours is this year".

The next round of the FIA GT championship will be held on 2 July at the German circuit of Oschersleben.

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Race Results:

Brno, Round Two of the FIA GT Championship

1. 1. Bert/Janis Zakspeed Racing Saleen S7R 3hrs 00mins 22.759secs GT1 88 laps
2. 2. Deletraz/Piccini Phoenix Racing Aston Martin DBR9 +1m 00.808s GT1
3. 3. Gollin/Babini Aston Martin Racing BMS Aston Martin DBR9 +1m 02.622s GT1
4. 4. Bartels/Bertolini Vitaphone Racing Maserati MC12 +1m 03.324s GT1
5. 5. Pescatori/Ramos Aston Martin Racing BMS Aston Martin DBR9 +1m 50.726s GT1
6. 6. Kox/Bouchut B-Racing RS Line Lamborghini Murcielago +1 lap GT1
7. 7. Davies/Biagi Vitaphone Racing Maserati MC12 +1 lap GT1
8. 8. Sugden/Alexander-David JMB Racing Ferrari 430 GT +4 laps GT2
9. 9. Collard/Riccitelli Ebimotors Porsche 996 GT3 RSR +4 laps GT2
10. 10. Bobbi/Melo AF Corse Ferrari 430 GT +4 laps GT2
11. 11. Bennet/Mullen Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari 430 GT +4 laps GT2
12. 12. Moccia/Busnelli Ebimotors Porsche 996 GT3 RSR +5 laps GT2
13. 13. Salo/Aguas AF Corse Ferrari 430 GT +5 laps GT2
14. 14. Longin/Kumpen/Hezemans GLPK-Carsport Corvette C6.R +7 laps GT1
15. 15. C.Ried/Felbermayr Jr Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 996 GT3 RSR +7 laps GT2
16. 16. Gosse/Kutemann JMB Racing Ferrari 430 GT +7 laps GT2
17. 17. Lichtner-Hoyer/Gruber Race Alliance Porsche 996 GT3 RSR +7 laps GT2
18. 18. Felbermayr/G.Ried Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 996 GT3 RSR +8 laps GT2
19. 19. Konopka/Rosina Autoracing Club Bratislava Porsche 996 GT3 RS +8 laps GT2
20. 20. Kinch/Kirkaldy Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari 430 GT +9 laps GT2
21. 21. Kaufmann/Moro Renauer Motorsport Porsche 996 GT3 RSR +9 laps GT2
22. 22. Knauss/Jurasz/Valek Renauer Motorsport Porsche 996 GT3 RSR +21 laps GT2
23. 23. Leinders/Kuppens Belgian Racing Gillet Vertigo +47 laps G2

Not Classified:

1. DNF. Balfe/Derbyshire Balfe Motorsport Saleen S7R 53 laps completed GT1
2. DNF. Wendlinger/Peter Race Alliance Aston Martin DBR9 41 laps completed GT1
3. Vonka/Model Vonka Racing Porsche 996 GT3 RS 0 laps completed GT2
4. Leinders/Kuppens Belgian Racing Gillet Vertigo 0 laps completed GT2

FIA GT championship team classification:

1. 1. Vitaphone Racing Team 22;
2. 2. Scuderia Italia and Zakspeed 18.

FIA GT championship drivers' classification:

1. 1. Janis-Bert 18;
2. 3. Bartels-Bertolini 15;
3. 5. Babini-Gollin 12;
4. 7. Piccini-Deletraz 11;
5. 9. Biagi-Davies, Bouchut 7.

05/06/06