On the occasion of the official presentation of the international FIA GT championship, Claudio Berro, Director of Maserati Corse, announced the race programme for the 2005 season.

As is already well known, Maserati Corse will field the number 35 MC12 in the remained North American ALMS series. The car will be crewed by Andrea Bertolini, Fabrizio De Simone and Fabio Babini, though Babini will only join up for the longer races. Maserati Corse will continue to enjoy the support of important partners such as Pirelli and Risi Competizione.

Two private teams, each lining up with two MC12s, will participate in the FIA GT Championship. The Vitaphone Racing Team will be comprise the no nine car with the German pairing of Michael Bartels and Timo Scheider, while Italians Fabio Babini and Thomas Biagi, will be driving car number ten. The German outfit got off to a strong start with their new cars by setting the best times in the free practice sessions held yesterday at Monza.

The second private team, JMB Racing, hail from Monaco. They will run cars number fifteen and sixteen, and have Andrea Bertolini, Philippe Peter and Karl Wendlinger already signed up. One driver is yet to be announced and the pairings will only be made when this fourth member is named. The team will take delivery of its cars next week.

As well as this, Team Racing Box will be running a single MC12 in the Italian GT Championship. Reigning champions Piergiuseppe Perazzini and Gabriele Matteuzzi will be in the driving seat.
 

The other sporting programmes relate to the gentleman drivers who will take part in the Trofeo Vodafone Maserati Europa, now in its third year.

A all new 2005-specification Trofeo GranSport will be used this year, a car that is derived from the standard version. However, the competition model is lighter and boasts better performance the old car. In the Trofeo Brasile, a modified 2004 model will be employed.

A number of Trofeo Lights will be fielded by private teams in the Italian GT championships and in the US Grand Am series. Some competing in the Italian series are considering driving in other countries, with Spain being a particular favourite.

Pirelli will be Maserati’s main partner in all its sporting activities. The MC12 to be used in the ALMS championship will be equipped with Racing P Zero Pirelli tyres. These will be also be used exclusively in the FIA GT Championship. This collaboration is further evidence of the success of the relationship between Maserati and Pirelli.