The seventh and last round of the 2006 Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europa series was run today – Sunday 8 October – at the Spanish circuit of Valencia. In the end it was Maurizio Fabris who emerged victorious and so claimed the fourth title awarded in the spectacular single-make championship.

Previous winners have been Emanuele Smurra (2003), Andrea Palma (2004) and Alberto Cerrai (2005). Cerrai also played a major role this time around and battled for the crown with Fabris until the very last race. Cerrai triumphed over the new champion and the quick, young pairing of Niccolò Oddi and Giacomo Ricci. Cerrai can take consolation from having won the most races, five out of seven: Monza, Silverstone, Spa, Mugello and Valencia. Fabris was consistent throughout the season and scored two wins (Brno and Oschersleben) and four second places (Monza, Silverstone, Spa and Valencia) that were enough to give him the title by two points. The two young Trofeo Maserati drivers, Oddi and Ricci, thanks to their third place in Valencia, took third and fourth, respectively, overall.

On pole, Cerrai made a clean start tracked by Oddi-Ricci, Ferrero-Alessi and Fabris. The Valencia race was exciting from the start as Ricci and Alessi made their way to the front of the field from lap one. Halfway through, the tussles began that saw the drivers swap positions. The closest duels were between Cerrai and Reyes for third and Maggi, De Martini, Burgan and Andruet for places eight to eleven. Following the pit stops, from lap 21 on, Cerrai launched an attack from fourth spot on Oddi, Juan Carlos Ferrero (the Spanish tennis star who is in the world’s top 20) and his direct adversary, Fabris.
 

Until that point, Fabris had coolly administered the race and, with Cerrai leading, held onto the second place that would bring him the title.

The traditional motor show which is held annually at Bologna (7-17 December) will see seven Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europa 2006 drivers taking up the challenge in the GranSport. Those who will appear are: Alberto Cerrai, Maurizio Fabris, Alberto Vescovi, Andrea De Megni, Carlo Romani, Giorgio Manuzzi and Englishman Eward Barry-Walsh.

Maurizio Fabris: “It is true that second would have been good enough here at Valencia, and this is how it turned out. I am very pleased as it was a tough race, just as the entire championship has been. We all know that Cerrai is very fast but I was rewarded for my consistency.”

Alberto Cerrai: “I am very happy for Fabris because he is quick on the track and always handles himself correctly when racing. I gave my all and never gave up. I had to win and this I did and could not have done any more. There were some clashes at the start and this is where I, perhaps, lost a little time. It has been a great championship. I did not win but am satisfied at having won five races out of seven."