Team Maranello Concessionaires’ two Ferrari 360N/GT race cars set first and third quickest times in qualifying ahead of tomorrow’s opening round of the FIA GT Championship at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona today (5 April).  Car number 89, in the hands of Darren Turner, ran faultlessly and posted a class-leading time of 1.45.267.  Jamie Davies, in car number 88, experienced a few difficulties with gear selection but still posted a time of 1.46.344 to secure third place on the grid just 0.6 seconds behind the number 50 Porsche 996 GT3-RS.

Car 89 suffered an accident during the closing stages of the second qualifying session but the team expects to have the car repaired in time for tomorrow’s race.  However, due to an on-track incident, the car will be required to start from the back of the grid. 

Darren Tuner: “The car is running really well and I’m delighted to have achieved the fastest lap of the day in N/GT.  Our grid position means that we’ve got a lot of work to do but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Jamie Davies: “Overall, I had a good session but gear selection problems this morning didn’t help me.  The problems have been resolved now so Tim and I expect to be right up there at the front.  Altogether, I’m delighted with P3 for the first race.”

“This performance proves how valuable our test in Estoril was last weekend (29/30 March),” commented Rod Benoist, TMC’s Team Manager.  “In addition, spending valuable time on the track here in Spain during free practice yesterday enabled us to resolve one or two concerns expressed by Kelvin and Darren.  Turner’s performance today is testimony to how well the team has worked overnight to improve the car for them.  We’ve also sorted the gear selection issue with Jamie and Tim’s car now and so looking ahead, we feel confident about our performance tomorrow.”

“The pressure is on us to perform this weekend in more ways than one,” continued John Newman, TMC’s Commercial Director.  “Sky Sports are with us filming for our TV documentary * and ‘Evo’ magazine are also present to produce their first feature on the team.  Our full attention will be focused on achieving a good result here in Spain of course, and with many partners and supporters here too, we want to ensure that we don’t disappoint.

In today’s two qualifying sessions for the opening round of the FIA GT Championship, all three of the Care Racing supported Ferrari 550 Maranellos ran well and qualified within the top eight places at Barcelona’s Circuit di Catalunya.  

The two BMS Scuderia Italia cars will start the 3-hour race from the front two rows, having qualified in 2nd and 3rd positions, while the Care Racing entered car of Lilian Bryner, Enzo Calderari and Stefano Livio will start in 8th place.  

Just two tenths of a second off the pole setting time, the no. 22 car of Luca Capellari and Fabrizio Gollin was very close to achieving a quicker time.  Gollin, who will be carrying out all qualifying duties this season, came upon a slower car while on his quick lap.  

Luca Capellari explained:  “We are a little disappointed as we think we could have got pole position.  We looked at the computer afterwards and Fabrizio was half a second quicker than on any of his previous laps when he found himself behind a slower N-GT car and the fast lap was gone.  But I am very happy to be driving with Fabrizio as he is very fast, we have found that we like to set the car up in a very similar way, and I think we will have a very good partnership.”

Just behind them will be the no. 23 car of Thomas Biagi and Matteo Bobbi.  The two young single-seater stars have quickly adapted their driving style to suit sportscars, and are both impressed with the speed and performance of the 6 litre V12 engine.  

Thomas Biagi:  “I am very happy to be in this Championship and with the BMS team.  Everyone is very professional and knows exactly what they are doing which is important with such a big team and good Championship.  In qualifying I found some traffic on my second set of tyres so couldn’t get the best out of the car.  I know it could have got pole position otherwise but it’s not a bad result for our first qualifying!”

The third Ferrari 550, entered by Care Racing but managed and operated on its behalf by BMS, qualified in the hands of Enzo Calderari.  The experienced Swiss duo of Calderari and Lilian Bryner are joined this year by Italian Stefano Livio who views the opportunity of competition in the Championship with great enthusiasm.  

Stefano Livio:  “I am slowly getting to know the car, but this is the first time I’ve been to Barcelona so I am listening carefully to everything Lilian and Enzo say.  We know the car is quick, and when we get to the next round at Magny Cours, a circuit I know, I hope to be able to make a bigger contribution.”