Thanks to his
second place in the latest round of the championship at
Valencia, Alberto Cerrai has won the Trofeo Vodafone
Maserati Europa at the third attempt.
For the record, the race was won by Maurizio Fabris. In
second came Cerrai and then Max Notter and Hans Cattori. The
championship victory was a deserved one for the Roman
driver. He scored wins at Barcelona, Silverstone and the
Nürburgring and also secured two second and two third
places. Cerrai notched his first pole position in the
Trident single-make series in Valencia. He finished second
overall in 2003 and third a year later. Thanks to Cerrai's
success, Samocar have collected the dealership title.
In the overall classification, the Swiss crew of Max Notter
and Hans Cattori end the season in second thanks to four
second spots, a third, one fourth and a fifth place. They
ended this year in the same position as last when they
enjoyed a tight duel with Andrea Palma until the very end.
Unfortunately, the pair have to be content with the silver
medal once again. Maurizio Fabris, the Italian who drives
with an English licence owing to his mother's nationality,
was the other main player in the Trofeo Vodafone Maserati
Europa. He was the only other driver to triumph on three
occasions: Imola, Spa and here at Valencia. He also finished
on the podium when he came third at Monza. Fabris was
unlucky at the Nürburgring otherwise he would have been in
with a chance of victory.
Emanuele and Stanislao Smurra remain fourth in the overall
classification after their retirement at Valencia. They were
one place ahead of the crew formed by Francesco Ravasio and
Diego Alessi. The result was in the balance right up until
the chequered flag. Diego Alessi took the lead at the start.
Just behind him was Marcel Costa, in the Pirelli VIP car,
and Alberto Cerrai. These two went all out for the lead and
Cerrai, with half an eye on the title, made way for Costa.
Behind them Fabris was waiting for his moment to strike.
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Maserati announced plans to hold a Trofeo
championship in the United States, as well as the
series in Europe and Brazil |
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Thanks to his second place in the latest round of
the championship at Valencia, Alberto Cerrai (above)
has won the Trofeo Vodafone Maserati Europa,
at the third attempt |
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Costa was forced to pull out of the race at the pit stop.
Fabris moved into the lead while Cerrai held second from
Ravasio and Alessi. In the end they would be overhauled by
Notter and Cattori, and Andrea De Megni. De Megni, in the
Pakelo VIP car, took the overall win in the Sponsor Drivers'
Classification. Ravasio and Alessi scored their best result
of the season to finish ahead of Alberto Vescovi in sixth.
Zenere and Harada (GFL23 VIP car second in the Sponsor
Drivers' table) were seventh and Fiata and Panacci came
eighth. Walter Forer crossed the line in ninth, just in
front of Armando Roggero. The other VIP cars had an
unfortunate time as Marcel Costa and Francesco De Beaumont
(Pirelli VIP car) had to retire and the Eurosport car with
David Serra Cervera and Fabio Francia on board twice left
the track. The Vitaphone VIP car driven by the young German
pairing of Katie Droste and Mario Kossmehl ended the race in
seventh bit were hit with a 25 second penalty for an
infringement during the rolling start. Thus, they were
classified thirteenth. The journalist crew of Victor Seara
and Jacobo Vega, despite going off the track at one point,
managed to finish the race.
The Trofeo Maserati still has another two dates in the
calendar. On 4 December the city circuit of Florianopolis in
Brazil will host the invitation-only Finals. On the day a
select group of drivers from the Trofeo Vodafone Maserati
Europa and the Trofeo Brasile (that ends on 20 November at
Interlagos) will be battling it out. The Trofeo will also be
making an appearance at the Bologna motor Show. Maserati
also announced plans to hold a Trofeo Maserati championship
in the United States.
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