MASERATI REPARTO CORSE

09.07.2007 MASERATI CLAIM A 1-2 RESULT AT OSCHERSLEBEN

Following the disqualification of Kumpen/Longin's Corvette C5R and the Lamborghini Murciélago driven by Mücke/Bouchut, which finished first and third respectively in the FIA GT race at Oschersleben, the Maserati MC12s have secured a great one-two.

The new classification is headed by Bartels/Biagi (Vitaphone Racing Team), with Bertolini/Piccini in the Scuderia Playteam Sarafree car in second. Pier Guidi/Giannoccaro in the other Playteam Sarafree MC12 move up to fourth with 13th now filled by Montanari/Ramos, in the second Vitaphone Racing Team car (that enters the points zone). The winners of the Citation Cup, Aucott/Macari in the JMB Racing MC12, climb to eighth overall, with their team mates, Kutemann/Gosse, fifteenth.

In the Drivers' standings, Thomas Biagi heads things once again with 31 points. Next come Andrea Bertolini and Andrea Piccini on 23; Miguel Ramos and Christian Montanari are third on 20, while Michael Bartels is now in fifth on 15 points. In eighth is the Giambattista Giannoccaro-Alessandro Pier Guidi crew with 6 points. The Vitaphone Racing Team has consolidated its advantage in the Teams' championship and now has 51 points, heading the Scuderia Playteam Sarafree. In the revised standings, Maserati now has a 29 point lead in the Manufacturers' Cup.

Race report. From ninth on the grid, the Italo-German crew raced consistently and were up to second by the halfway stage. The Maserati MC12’s second place was the result of a well thought-out strategy as Bartels, who qualified the car yesterday, made only one long pit stop. This one-stop tactic meant that he overhauled many other drivers. Bartels got back behind the wheel forty-five minutes from the end and finished on the same lap as Kumpen and Longin's Corvette C5-R.
 


In the FIA GT Drivers' standings, Thomas Biagi heads things once again with 31 points. Next come Andrea Bertolini and Andrea Piccini on 23; Miguel Ramos and Christian Montanari are third on 20, while Michael Bartels is now in fifth on 15 points.


Maserati were able to claim a 1-2 result in the fourth round of the FIA GT Championship at Oschersleben on Sunday after the first and third placed finishing cars in the race were disqualified.


The team's work on the balance of the MC12 car in qualifying, together with a very solid warm up session on Sunday morning (with a time just 0"089 off the fastest), paid off and allowed Bartels and Biagi to play starring roles.

The fourth place taken by Andrea Bertolini and Andrea Piccini, in the Scuderia Playteam Sarafree Maserati MC12, also stood out. Bertolini and Piccini confirmed their qualifying performance to scoop valuable championship points. The MC12 fielded by Scuderia Playteam Sarafree did very well throughout, partly thanks to the Pirelli tyres on a track were it is crucial to settle into a rhythm. Midway through the race, the Italian team’s MC12 was in seventh, ahead of Pier Guidi and Giannoccaro in the twin car that eventually crossed the line in sixth.

The other Vitaphone Racing Team MC12, driven by Miguel Ramos and Christian Montanari, came home in 15th spot. A clash with Bouchut’s Lamborghini Murcielago forced Miguel Ramos – who had just substituted Montanari – to make a lengthy pit stop to replace part of the suspension. Even so, the MC12 stormed back to set a series of quick lap times despite have an extra 50kg imposed by the Federation on board. Joe Macari and Ben Aucott also did well in the JMB Racing MC12 to take tenth overall and win the Citation Cup. With today’s result in the bag, the English pairing move to the top of the classification reserved to non-professional drivers. Antoine Gosse and Peter Kutemann, in the second JMB Racing MC12, closed out the race in 17th place.
 

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Five Maserati MC12s took part in the official test day at Spa this week as the Trident brand prepares to defend its unbeaten and impressive record in the FIA GT Championship's flagship 24 hour race

Report & Photos: Maserati Corse / © 2007 Interfuture Media/Italiaspeed