20.02.2004 POOR CONDITIONS HAMPER MASERATI AS THE MCC SPORTSCAR WRAPS UP A FOUR DAY TEST AT FIORANO TODAY

The new Maserati GT racer, currently known by the codename MCC, hit the track again on Tuesday as its development program continues to gather pace. The car, based on the MC 12 which will be officially presented at the Geneva Motor Show next month, kicked off its third on-track development program at Fiorano, with official test driver Andrea Bertolini again taking to the wheel.

On a cold but dry day, the Italian completed a total of 88 laps, with a quickest in time of 1:11.711. Development work on the car continued into Wednesday with Bertolini completing 121 laps, his best in a time of 1:11.875, being a shade slower than the previous day.

Yesterday, in a session affected by bad weather including rain and snow, Fabio Babini took over driving duties from Bertolini, completing a total of 84 laps, with his best time of 1:19.162 well away from the opening two day's pace.

With temperatures continuing to hover around the zero mark, and rain falling once again, Bertolini wrapped up the four day test today. The Italian driver completed 88 laps, posting a fastest time of 1:19.807, broadly the same as he was able to run yesterday.

Circuit: Fiorano track, 2.976 km – short course 1.413 km; Driver: Andrea Bertolini; Car: MCC; Weather: Tuesday: air temperature 4/10°C, track 7/15°C; partly cloudy. Wednesday: air temperature 3/7°C, track 4/9°C; cloudy. Yesterday: air temperature 1/4°C, track 1/5°C; rain and snow. Today: air temperature 0/1°C, track 3/4°C. Rain.