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The last practice session took place yesterday in Sebring,
and today, at 10.45am, will start the 53rd edition of the 12
Hours of Sebring, one of the most famous endurance race in
the world and the first round of the 2005 American Le Mans
Series.
During the combined night practice session, which featured
heavy rain, the MC12 drivers obtained second position (fifth
overall). The team tested different tyres and found a good
set up on the wet. Rain has not been forecasted for
tomorrow, but just in case, Maserati engineers are prepared
to modify the set up of the car.
The combined night practice session has to be done by each
team, and every driver has to do at least three laps to be
allowed to start the race. In total, the Maserati team did
eighteen laps with the best time in 2.18.988.
In the morning for the warm up, the weather was good and the
team has been able to see the results of the efforts done
during the week. With a now dry track, the team found the
right balance and Bertolini obtained a best time of
1.59.430, in the seventh place.
The Maserati Corse MC12, entered in GT1, has to carry an
extra 130 pounds of weight to counter an aerodynamic
advantage, IMSA has ruled. As part of IMSA’s process of
monitoring the Maserati, the car will have sensors to gather
feedback on how it is performing in relation to other GT1
cars.
As the Thursday practice session was cancelled due to the
heavy rain, the starting grid has now been fixed on the
basis of the previous session, in which Maserati drivers set
the ninth fastest time.
Claudio Berro:
“We are satsfied by the job done today, always thinking tor
the race. We progressed day by day, also with rain. The race
is very long, and the most important thing is to be able to
keep the right pace. We are confident and we think we can
obtain a good result.”
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