Maserati consolidated its
lead in the FIA GT World Championship yesterday with
Michael Bartels and Andrea Bertolini driving the
Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC12 to sixth place in
the eighth round of the championship which was held at a
new circuit in Navarra, northern Spain.
The reigning champions
earn a further eight points over their closest
adversary, Thomas Mutsch, who had to retire from the
race after an accident. Two rounds away from the
conclusion of the championship, the Maserati crew are
now at 130 points against the German driver’s 95.
Maserati has maintained its lead in the manufacturers'
and teams' title chase.
“It’s been a tough
weekend because in this type of circuit the extra weight
of the 50-kg ballast was really noticeable,” explained
Andrea Bertolini. “Bartels and I were lucky: we can
count on the professionalism of an outstanding crew that
gave us almost three seconds at the pit stop. It’s an
enormous advantage, tough to match while going round the
racetrack. I have to especially praise and thank the two
mechanics who did the tire change. There are only two
rounds left, but we have to remain focused because
anything can still happen. We’re leaving this race with
a lighter ballast load and in addition, we’ve earned
further points”.
Vitaphone Racing
Team’s no. 2, driven by Bernoldi/Ramos made it to the
finish line of the new Circuito de Navarra in eighth
place but was later set back to twelfth place due to an
irregular move when resuming the race after the pit
stop. The stewards made other decisions after the race,
assigning 30 extra seconds to Lamborghini no. 38 (the
fifth car to pass the chequered flag), thus giving the
Bartels/Bertolini pair an advantage, who went from
seventh to sixth place in order of arrival.
Triple H Team
Hegersport’s no. 34 MC12, driven by Pier Guidi/Verdonck
had a less promising race. It reached the finish line in
eleventh place after it was slowed down by a flat tyre
and a consequent collision with the Ford no. 6 in turn 8
during the first lap. The team’s weekend had
nevertheless started out splendidly, earning second
place in both the qualifying practices and in the
Qualifying Race. Team-mates Mueller/Longin’s no. 33;
after a sixth place during the morning’s qualifying
race, was forced to leave the Championship race when the
suspension broke after an accident in turn 7 on the
first lap of the 3.993 km long track. The final result
of this race came a few hours after its conclusion due
to the various penalties given. The next race is
scheduled on 28 November at Interlagos.
Championship Race results:
1. Zonta/Kechele – Reiter – Lamborghini Murciélago 670 –
1:01:30.476
2. Makowiecki/Clairay – Hexis – Aston Martin DB9 +
11.897
3. Campbell/Hughes – Sumo Power - Nissan GT R + 12.35
6. Bartels/Bertolini - Vitaphone Racing Team - Maserati
MC12 + 40.311
11. Pier Guidi/Verdonck – Triple H Team - Maserati MC12
+ 1:19.405
12. Bernoldi/Ramos – Vitaphone Racing Team - Maserati
MC12 + 1:2.589
Retired: Mueller/Longin - Triple H Team - Maserati MC12
FIA GT1 World Championship driver’s classification
(after 8 rounds):
1. Bartels/Bertolini - Vitaphone Racing Team - Maserati
MC12 points 130
2. Mutsch/Matech Competition - Ford GT Matech points 95
3. Kechele/Zonta - Lamborghini Murciélago 670 points
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