11.10.2004 In the hands of Nicola Larini AND Gianni Guidici the Maserati Trofeo Light made a successful debut in the Spanish GT Championship at Jerez, mixing it with more powerful cars before winning its class

The Maserati Trofeo Light driven by Nicola Larini and Gianni Giudici starred in the fifth round of the Spanish Gran Turismo championship disputed yesterday at Jerez.

The Trident car, with a super-quick Nicola Larini on board, was able to trouble much more powerful vehicles in maintaining second spot overall for much of the race, before finishing in fifth. Race 2 could have also resulted in another superb placing but Gianni Giudici was forced to pull out after clashing with another car.

The Maserati Trofeo Light competed in a higher category, the GTS. It was agreed with the organisers before Saturday’s qualifying session that it would not score any points.|

Nonetheless, the car participated fully in the first race against cars that can be considered its direct competitors: from the GTB class. This was the category in which the number 34 Light was originally entered.

Nicola Larini started race 1 in ninth place. The Tuscan driver immediately set out climbing through the pack to an excellent second place. “I really enjoyed myself. Straight away I made up a lot of places and once I was in second I managed to hold on without any problem. Each lap was almost like qualifying and, in fact, my fastest lap set during the race was quicker than my time set on Saturday”, commented Larini.

Larini then pulled into the pits for the driver change after performing well in a hard fought phase of the race. His Milanese team mate Gianni Giudici took the wheel and got off to a good start but could not maintain a high tempo and closed out the race in fifth.

Gianni Giudici got off to a great start in race two but was hit with a ‘drive-through’ a few laps later. According to the race officials, Gianni had overtaken another driver during Saturday qualifying when the yellow flag was displayed.

Strangely though, the organisers decided to make the Maserati Light team serve the penalty during the race and not add time to his qualifying lap.

Once back on the track Gianni tried to make a comeback but on lap five he clipped another car while overtaking and bent a suspension arm. With his car damaged, the man from Milan had to retire to the garage.

The next appointment is programmed for 14 November in Barcelona for the sixth round of the season. Together with Gianni Giudici in Catalonia will be the ex-F1 and DTM driver, Alessandro Nannini, making his comeback in a Trident car.

Spanish GT Championship, Jerez – Race 1 RESULT

 1 - Shaun Balfe/Nigel Taylor (Mosler MT900R) GTA 24 laps in 48:31.879
 2 - De Castro/Burgueno (Marcos LM600) GTA +0.537
 3 - Villalba/Gutierrez (Porsche 996 GT3-RS) GTA +7.337
 4 - M. Mello Breyner/P.Mello Breyner (Porsche 911 GT2) GTA +12.573
 5 - Larini/Giudici (Maserati Trofeo Light) GTS +41.413
 6 - Bastos/Paes (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup) GTB +51.044
 7 - Saez Merino (Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge) GTB +52.040
 8 - Terenas/Peres (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup) GTB +52.718
 9 - Maury-Laribiere/Cartenet (Porsche 996 GT3-RS) GTA +1:00.888
10 - Puig-Vinyes (Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge) GTB +1 lap
11 - F.Gallego/B.Gallego (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup) GTB +1 lap
12 - Llobet/Fernandez Roca (Seat Toledo GT) GTA +1 lap
13 - Robert/Roger (Porsche 996 Cup) GTC +1 lap
14 - Van Puttem/Van Zuylem (Marcos Mantis) GTB +1 lap
15 - Cerqueda/Perez Sala (Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge) GTB +1 lap
16 - Banus (Audi TT) GTC +1 lap
17 - De Castro/Krieger (Marcos Mantis) GTB +1 lap
18 - Torres/Sainz de Baranda (Ferrari F355 Challenge) GTC +2 laps
19 - Condrey/Romero (Ferrari F355 Challenge) GTC +3 laps
20 - Watson/De Mollinedo (Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge) GTB +6 laps

Spanish GT Championship, Jerez – Race 2 RESULT

 1 - Luis Monzon/Jai Diaz (Ferrari 360 Modena) GTA 24 laps in 45:16.547
 2 - De Castro/Burgueno (Marcos LM600) GTA Class +17.748
 3 - Amaral/Couceiro (Porsche 996 GT3-RS) GTA +25.690
 4 - Shaun Balfe/Nigel Taylor (Mosler MT900R) GTA +25.690
 5 - Nevoa/Ermolli (Ferrari 360 Modena) GTA +55.287
 6 - M.Mello Breyner/P.Mello Breyner (Porsche 911 GT2) GTA +1:01.022
 7 - Vivancos/Bulto (Seat Cupra GT) GTA +1:01.772
 8 - Villalba/Gutierrez (Porsche 996 GT3-RS) GTA +1:01.990
 9 - Serra (Seat Toledo GT) GTA +1 lap
10 - Llobet/Fernandez Roca (Seat Toledo GT) GTA +1 lap
11 - Puig-Vinyes (Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge) GTB Class +1 lap
12 - F. Gallego/B. Gallego (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup) GTB +1 lap
13 - Saez Merino (Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge) GTB +1 lap
14 - Bastos/Paes (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup) GTB +1 lap
15 - Maury-Laribiere/Cartenet (Porsche 996 GT3-RS) GTA +1 lap
16 - Van Puttem/Van Zuylem (Marcos Mantis) GTB +1 lap
17 - Terenas/Peres (Porsche 996 Gt3 Cup) GTB +2 laps
18 - Robert/Roger (Porsche 996 Cup) GTC +2 laps
19 - Condrey/Romero (Ferrari F355 Challenge) GTC +2 laps
20 - Watson/De Mollinedo (Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge) GTB +3 laps
21 - Banus (Audi TT) GTC +4 laps