Alencar Jr triumphed in the Trofeo Maserati World Finals disputed on Sunday at the Jacarepaguà circuit in Rio de Janeiro. The local driver made up for his second place in the Trofeo Brasile when he was beaten by Joao Adibe at the last race, held at Sao Paolo on 20 November. He missed out by only six points: 281 to 287. Thanks to the two second places in the two legs, Alencar Jr won this battle of the Brazilian drivers and competitors in the Trofeo Maserati Vodafone Europa.

The first race seemed perfect for the European drivers. Under a clear sky and in high temperatures, Diego Alessi dominated the race. He took the lead and maintained it majestically. Behind him the other drivers tried, in vain, to keep up. Alessi was first across the line, Alencar Jr was 12”250 down and the ex-F1 driver Chico Serra (who paired Francisco Longo) 16”442 off the winning pace. Cesar Unrhani, Joao Adibe and Paulo de Tarso tracked home next. The first European driver after Alessi was the 2005 Trofeo Vodafone Maserati Europa champion, Alberto Cerrai, in seventh. Maurizio Fabris was forced to retire after clashing with de Tarso. He could not take part in the second leg. Burti was another driver to pull out, this time for technical reasons.
 

The eagerness to perform well caused too many accidents in the second leg. Francesco Ravasio was one driver to suffer. Again crewed with Diego Alessi, he was clipped by a fellow competitor and ended up off the track. The pair's chances of victory thus disappeared. The same fate befell Max Cattori, teamed with Hans Notter, while mechanical problems forced Alberto Cerrai out. Alencar Jr took an immediate lead and behind him Rafael Derani, de Tarso, Andolfato, Vescovi, Longo and Rossete were fighting it out. Derani managed to edge past Alencar Jr and went on to win by 12 seconds. Antonio Andolfato took a fine third, 21” down. Then came Rossete, 30” down, Alberto Vescovi, 42” down, Longo 56” down and Alberto Pizzicannella, 59” seconds off the pace.

The overall classification was based on the total points claimed in the two legs. This saw Alencar Jr win from Rafael Derani and Ricardo Mauricio (the ex-F3 driver), Francisco Longo and Chico Serra, while Francesco Ravasio and Diego Alessi were placed fourth. All the drivers raced at the wheel of the Maserati Trofeo Coupé Cambiocorsa which is used in the Brazilian series.