31.03.2004 MASERATI MAKE A WINNING RETURN TO ITALIAN RACING IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE ITALIAN CSAI TROFEO

Maserati returned to racing with an opening day win in the first meeting of the Italian GT (Trofeo Coppa CSAI).

The Trofeo Light, driven by Giudici, dominated the second race at Imola after suffering some technical problems in the first race. The second Maserati, the Trofeo of Cipolli, also fared well coming third in race 1 and fourth in race 2.

Race 1

Sada in the Porsche led off in the CSAI Trofeo with Raimodi’s Maserati and the Ferrari 355 of Emiliani coming next. Spatafora, in a 355, dropped out almost immediately, shortly followed by Raimodi whose Maserati still needed some running in.

The Sada-Sala pairing in the Porsche had an undisturbed lead while the real battle was for second spot between Emiliani in the Ferrari 355 and Corradi’s Maserati Trofeo. Braking late into a chicane, Emiliani went into the back of the Maserati causing it to spin and lose ground.

The driver change saw Massimiliano Ferrari climb aboard the 355 and Cipolli the Trofeo but the race order remained unchanged and Porsche took the chequered flag from Ferrari, with Maserati in third.

Race 2

Race 2 was an immense fight in the CSAI Trofeo between Porsche, Maserati and Ferrari. Merzario hounded Giudici’s Maserati early on before being forced to retire his Ferrari 355. With his Maserati now working well, Giudici soon overtook Sala’s Porsche.

Maserati still held the lead after the change of drivers. Raimodi led Sada’s Porsche by a few seconds with Emiliani’s Ferrari a little further back.

The event was a gripping one with the Giudici-Raimodi team securing the first Trofeo race for Maserati. Porsche, with Sada-Sala driving, came in second and the Ferrari 355 team of Emiliani-Ferrari took third. Maserati also placed fourth courtesy of a consistent drive by Cipolli-Corradi, bringing home some precious championship points for the pairing.

The next race will take place at Monza circuit on 18 April.

by Simone Spataro ( www.gtitalia.net )