Maserati has started the defence of its team and drivers’ titles in the FIA GT Championship with a podium finish in the opening round at the weekend (3 May 2009) with the Vitaphone Racing entered Maserati MC12 of Michael Bartels and Andrea Bertolini finishing less than six seconds behind race winners Karl Wendlinger and Ryan Sharp (Saleen) at the UK’s Silverstone race track.

Wendlinger and Ryan, in a new car for a new team, pulled out a lead during the early stages of the race, before losing their advantage during a mid-race safety car period. They were fighting throughout with the number one Vitaphone Racing Maserati MC12, which emerged in the race lead after an extremely fast final pit stop and driver change. However, Wendlinger kept the pressure on, overtaking the Maserati when they caught up with a gaggle of backmarkers, and maintaining their lead to cross the finish line 5.499 seconds ahead of the chasing Maserati.

The crew of the Maserati MC12 was pleased to start the season off with a podium position, but admitted they could not catch the Saleen, which they considered to be in another class thanks to their larger air restrictors. However, the team’s skill ensured a podium finish. “It's been a really good start and we delivered our best today and it still feels like a victory for us. We did a perfect stint and had a good strategy, but honestly for us it was impossible to win. I think this'll be a really difficult season for us,” Bertolini commented.

The second Vitaphone Maserati, which qualified third after a fine performance from Alex Müller, stopped on the track shortly after the first pit stop with a wheel problem, while it had been lying third, bringing out the safety car. Next round of the FIA GT series is in Italy on 16 May.