After claiming the FIA GT Constructors’ Cup in Istanbul, Maserati added the team title with the Vitaphone Racing Team in Dubai, yesterday. The German squad have now scored four wins and five second place finishes in a well deserved victory. All four pilots performed extremely well and the consistent results and excellent organisation has increased their chances of taking the drivers' title. One of the highlights was the win in the Spa 24 Hour, the first time that Maserati has won a day-long race. Other triumphs came in Oschersleben, Istanbul and Silverstone.

Michael Bartels and Timo Scheider came close to taking their fifth win, in Dubai, this despite being handicapped by having an extra 150kg on board (50kg of which were assigned by the FIA). Unfortunately, they could not hold off Lamy and Gardel’s Ferrari 550 Maranello challenge over the closing stages. They latter duo were helped by having only 30kg of ballast. The Trident company’s success in the team championship was confirmed by JMB Racing taking second spot. JMB earned this position with a win at Magny Cours and four second places.

Bertolini and Wendlinger always finished the races they competed in. It is a pity that Philippe Peter was not joined by another expert driver in the team’s other MC12, otherwise they could also have been in with a chance of claiming the team title. JMB Racing are still in the running for the drivers’ championship with Andrea Bertolini and Karl Wendlinger, though their lead has been reduced.

Yesterday’s race saw the Aston Martin DBR9 and the Corvette C5-R move into the lead. They were closely tracked by the four MC12s. In the meantime, Lamy’s Ferrari 550 Maranello was making a comeback that saw it climb to the first few positions at around the twenty lap stage. The pit stops had a clear effect on the race order as Babini and Biagi took the chance to move into top spot. After the second pit stops and the entry of the safety car when a GT2 left the track, the order reverted to what it had been at the start.
 

The Aston Martin led from the Chevrolet. Next came Bartels and Scheider, Bertolini and Wendlinger and Babini and Biagi in Maseratis. Behind them came the Ferrari of Lamy and Gardel. The DBR9 retired after lap 88 as Scheider overtook Kumpen. A win seemed on the cards until Lamy, lapping some two seconds faster per lap, closed in and then edged past Scheider one lap from the end. The final race order saw Lamy and Gardel (550), head Bartels and Scheider (MC12), Hezemans, Kumpen and Longin (Corvette), Bertolini and Wendlinger, and Babini and Biagi (MC12). This result modifies the drivers’ standings as Bertolini and Wendlinger still lead but by only a point from Bartels, Scheider and Gardel. Whoever comes home in the lead in Bahrain will take the title.

Michael Bartels: “Considering the ballast we had on board, I am pleased with the result. I didn’t think that it would be possible to finish on the podium. The car performed very well. Pirelli and Maserati provided impeccable support. Today we now hold both the Constructors’ and the Team titles. For a team making its debut, in its first year of racing, it is a great result. Timo Scheider came very close to winning after driving two stints. He will be competing in another race in the A1 series in Malaysia and this says everything about his commitment to driving. Now we will head to Bahrain to try to take the drivers’ crown. We will be going for it even though we will again have 150kg on board.”

Karl Wendlinger: “We did our best. We had some problems with the set up and this meant that we were not as quick as we could have been. Nonetheless, we still hold the overall lead. We will be going all out in the last race of the season next Friday.”