FIA GT round at Mugello: two Maserati MC12s on the podium

The seventh round of the FIA GT championship took place on Sunday 17 September on the Tuscan circuit of Mugello. It was one of the most difficult races of the season owing to the challenging weather. Michael Bartels-Andrea Bertolini and Jamie Davies-Thomas Biagi's Maserati MC12s came home second and third in a thrilling race. Bartels was 4"723 behind the winners, Wendlinger-Peter (Aston Martin DBR9). The Maseratis beat off the challenge of the Saleen S7 R driven by Bert-Montermini-Janis and the Aston Martins with Pescatori-Babini and Deletraz-Piccini on board.

Thanks to these results, Bartels and Bertolini strengthened their grip at the top of the Drivers' championship over Deletraz and Piccini. Vitaphone Racing Team also maintain first place in the Team standings.

At the start of the three hour race and in driving rain, Andrea Bertolini sped off to keep hold of the pole position he had earned in qualifying. Finn Toni Vilander's Scuderia Playteam Maserati MC12 edged past Montermini's Saleen, to move into second. Vilander claimed top spot on lap two, a position he held for the entire first hour. Following the pit stop, he handed over to his team mate, Alessandro Pier Guidi, but the Playteam MC12 was soon forced to retire, giving Bertolini the opening to take the lead. The other Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati started from eighth with Jamie Davies at the wheel but managed to climb the field. At the end of the second hour, the two Vitaphone Maseratis were firmly in control courtesy of Michael Bartels and Thomas Biagi.

The surface slowly dried out and this created some uncertainty as to the choice of tyres. The final pit stops were made between laps 61 and 63, allowing the tyres but not the drivers to be changed. Half an hour from the end, the classification saw Wendlinger (Aston Martin) leading, followed by Bartels, Deletraz (Aston Martin), Biagi and Babini (Aston Martin). It was at this point that Biagi mounted an incredible comeback, sweeping past Deletraz on lap 74.

The Hungarian circuit of Hungaroring (Budapest) will host the next round of the FIA GT championship on 1 October, 2006.

Race Comments

Michael Bartels

"I am very happy as we have two cars on the podium and I have to thank Davies and Biagi for this as they started from row four in extremely difficult conditions. Bertolini did well in the first hour in the rain, even though I thought the safety car would be needed at the start. I thought it was a little difficult."

Jamie Davies

"The start was critical as visibility was very limited. This was the reason why I did not push on at the beginning. I thought that it would be a drawn out race and, as such, useless taking risks. Biagi was superb in driving hard for two stints. Together with Pirelli, we conducted a good test in using rain tyres, intermediates and slicks in the course of the race."

Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europa 2006 – Alberto Cerrai scored his fourth win of the Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europa season at Mugello. This latest race was the sixth and penultimate round. Second place went to Andrea De Megni in his best result of the year. In claiming this position, he fended off Former F1 driver Ivan Capelli and his co-driver journalist Massimo Arduini, Antonio Andolfato and Maserati GB’s Moz Fabris. Fabris still leads the Championship, with a seven point advantage over Cerrai. So, the title will be decided at Valencia, Spain, in the final race of the season.

Alessi started from pole and extended his advantage over his pursuers, Ivan Capelli, Giacomo Ricci and Alberto Cerrai. There was a battle on the opening lap between Cerrai and Ricci, who currently leads Euro 3000 Series, before the latter went off the track and slipped 12 positions. Cerrai continued his surge and overtook Capelli on lap two. The first three positions were unchanged until the pit stops half way through the race. Behind the three leaders, were Andrea De Megni, Alberto Vescovi, Antonio Andolfato and championship leader Moz Fabris. Demegni had pulled into a secure position in fourth while Vescovi had fallen away a little. Andolfato, fifth, was having to keep Simone De Martini and Fabris at bay. The unkind track conditions saw both Philip Burgan and Italian TV presenter Jimmy Ghione overshoot turns and lose some places.

The second part of the race, with the pit stops completed, witnessed Alessi's partner, Enrico Galeazzi, take command over Cerrai and Arduini (Capelli's co-driver). Closing in were Demegni and Andolfato. Demegni's decisive attack came on lap 19, when Cerrai also shook off Galeazzi to take the lead. Demegni was also quick as he passed Arduini to take a splendid second.

On lap 23 Galeazzi was forced to retire with technical problems. Three new Maserati GB drivers made their debut at Mugello: Paul and Edward Barry-Walsh, who finished 13th and Richard Cristofoli (18th).

The Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europa 2006 grand finale will be staged at the Spanish circuit of Valencia on 8 October, supporting the World Touring Car Championship event.