On Saturday Scuderia Playteam Sarafree, will make its first ever appearance at Spa for the longest race of the  FIA GT season. The MC12 nr 11 will be driven by Bertolini, Piccini, Pier Guidi and De Simone, and the MC12 driven by Giannoccaro, Busnelli, Mueller and Lambert.

Giambattista Giannoccaro, team owner, Scuderia Playteam Sarafree explains the strategy: "This is Scuderia Playteam Sarafree's first ever experience of the 24-hour race. The closest we came to this long race was our experience in the 11-hour race at Interlagos. We know it is the hardest and toughest race of the season. It is difficult for the cars and for the drivers. The team prepared the whole season for this unique race, a full 24 hours of racing around one of the most challenging circuits in the world.

"Scuderia Playteam Sarafree has lined up eight drivers with serious and solid experience: 45 cars are due to take part but the winner from last year's 24 hours Spa race, Andrea Bertolini will be driving in car nr 11 and the second driver on last year’s  podium is also with the team: Andrea Piccini. This race is a come back for Fabrizio De Simone in GT1 after his experience in the MC12 in the FIA GT (2004) and in the USA, ALMS Championship (2005). In car nr 11, only Alessandro Pier Guidi has never been part of the Spa challenge, but he knows the car well. He is fast and reliable and he is used to the team working style.

"In car nr 12, I will be one of the drivers. Massimiliano Busnelli, is one of our drivers in the International GT Open, and will also be in the car as well as German Alex Mueller who was recommended to me by Pier Carlo Ghinzhani for his excellent experience in endurance racing. Yvan already participated in Spa in 2004. We tested with him in Monza and in Spa in order to make him familiar with the car. Our fourth driver on the MC12 will be Belgian Yves Lambert who has a lot of wide ranging experience in Le Mans in 2005/2006, in the LMS championship and in the Belcar (national GT3 championship), with a Mosler MT900. He is very close to Fabrizio De Simone, and has good experience in different endurance championships and also has also useful experience this very difficult race.
 

"All eight drivers in the team  followed a very strict physical preparation and we have worked closely with Maserati who have a consecutive winning experience in the Spa race. The machines have  been set-up and the race should be very smooth. We know that this race is the leading event reserved for GT cars only and winning the event  gives a considerable advantage of  20 points towards the 2007 FIA GT Championship.

"For us, at Scuderia Playteam Sarafree,  the event, will start early Wednesday morning with the visit of young guests selected by the  Service de Prévention Local Zone de police Stavelot-Malmedy, to meet our team and drivers and discuss road safety, one of the priorities of our sponsor, insurance company SaraFree."

Scuderia Playteam Sarafree heads to Spa for the fourth  staging of it’s young driver safety course, backed by principal sponsor Sara Assicurazioni. The team's driver line-up will all be in attendance at the circuit on Wednesday to share their knowledge and experience with aspiring young drivers selected by the Stavelot-Malmedy police officials. From 9am on Wednesday the Team motorhome at the circuit will be transformed into an exciting environment where young drivers will be able to interact with the  Scuderia Playteam stars. The event is made possible thanks to the efforts of the Spa circuit 24 hours officials. The teaching project aims to teach young drivers everything they need to know to drive “well”. It will focus on youngsters aged 18-26 and teach them safe and responsible driving and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. "The idea behind the project is to show professional racing drivers in a different light and demonstrate to young drivers that they should not treat public roads as a race track, instead show them ways of driving safely and responsibly.”