14.09.2004 "Imola gave me an opportunity to gain more confidence with the car" AF Corse Maserati driver Fabrizio De Simone looks forward to Oschersleben

After a successful race debut in Imola, where the two non-Championship AF Corse Maserati MC 12 cars finished in second and third places in front of their home crowd, the team will be heading this weekend to a totally different track, Oschersleben.

Andrea Bertolini and Fabrizio De Simone, who both will drive MC12's in Germany, won the NGT class there paired together last year in a JMB Racing Ferrari 360 Modena. 

"Imola gave me an opportunity to gain more confidence with the car," De Simone explained.

"The Maserati is a beautiful car, both to drive and to look at. Imola was a very important event, being the return of Maserati to international competition, and I am proud to have been a part of that although I would have like to fight until the end for the NGT title, especially after missing out so narrowly last year. I really have to thank Giampaolo Coppi for his support."

With AF Corse, Fabrizio is teamed up with former Formula One star Johnny Herbert, for whom Imola was a first FIA GT experience. 

 "I am very happy with the relationship with Johnny," Fabrizio continued. "He is a big name, with plenty of experience and an impressive career record, so it is very interesting to work with him.

"But he is a very straightforward and friendly person, very easy to work with. It was a very good experience and I am really looking forward to Oschersleben.

"I have good knowledge of the circuit after winning last year and racing there in the FIA ETCC the year before, so it should be a good weekend."