27.10.2004 After an inaugural season of six races, Lico Kaesemodel has been crowned the first champion of the new South American single-make series, the Maserati Trofeo Brasil

On Sunday at Interlagos Lico Kaesemodel was crowned the first champion of the South American single-make series, the Maserati Trofeo Brasil.

The driver from Curitiba also triumphed in the final race which took place at Interlagos the same weekend as the Brazilian F1 GP. Kaesemodel finished before Antonio Hermann, a contender for the title right to the end, in the race as well as in the overall classification.

Kaesemodel’s victory was by no means a straightforward one. In front of over seventy thousand excited fans gathered for the Grand Prix, the Trofeo Brazil drivers disputed the most spectacular and hard fought race of the season. At the chequered flag only ten seconds separated the first placed driver from the fourteenth.

Third on the grid, the driver from Curitiba got off to a good start and had moved into the lead by the end of the first lap.

With Paulo de Tarso out of the race after an accident on the opening lap, the struggle for the title became a two horse race between Kaesemodel and Antonio Hermann, though the man from Curitiba held a 21 point championship lead over his rival.

Nonetheless, Kaesemodel did not hold back and pushed on to finish 0.468 up on Antonio Hermann and Marcelo Ometto.

Carlo Romani, with two years’ experience in the Trofeo Vodafone Maserati Europa behind him, performed well at Interlagos. Although he encountered some difficulties in qualifying, the engaging driver from Cesena finished 12.146 off first place, in fifteenth spot.

The Trofeo Brazil ended its first season having enjoyed widespread public success. The drivers too responded positively to the championship. Lico Kaesemodel, João Adibe and Francisco Longo will all appear at Monza for the Ferrari-Maserati World Finals.