The adrenaline-pumping FIA GT Championship is back with its third round at Adria, where the Maserati MC12 aims for victory on the brief but spectacular circuit built in 1999. The innovative two-hour evening race will occur on Saturday, 21 June at 7 pm, while the qualifying races are programmed as of Thursday, 19 June.
Maserati Corse has marked important achievements on the Adria circuit in the past. In 2006, the Biagi-Davies team won the race, and Andrea Bertolini/Michael Bartels won the driver’s title. In 2007, Bertolini-Piccini’s second place in the first evening race enabled Maserati to win the Manufactures’ Cup.
After two races, the Vitaphone Racing Team with Bertolini and Bartels’s Maserati MC12 no. 1 and Negraõ and Ramos’s no. 2 are ranked at the top in the Manufacturer’s Cup. Bertolini-Bartels are just three points shy of the Championship leaders Bouchut and Massen, while Negraõ-Ramos are in third place, just five points short of their objective. This is why the two green MC12s will attack, with the third Maserati completing the set running in Adria belonging to the JMB Racing team driven by gentlemen drivers Ben Aucott and Alain Ferté.
Despite the challenging circuit, Maserati’s team is optimistic about their chances of winning. Although the tortuous Adria circuit typically favors competitors with larger exhaust flanges and less ballast on board, the Maserati MC12 boasts excellent design and moves around curves with unparalleled elasticity.
The team's aim is clear: to get the first victory of 2008. The first two rounds during the qualifying practices did not yield the desired results, but in race, the team has performed well. At Adria and Oschersleben, they have decided to trust Bartels to find the best time. With their eyes set on the prize, the Maserati MC12 is poised to create history on the Adria circuit.
Andrea BERTOLINI (Vitaphone Racing Team - Maserati MC12 no. 1)
The FIA GT Championship at Adria is set to be a thrilling event, with the Maserati MC12 vying for victory. The Maserati team's rich history on the Adria circuit, coupled with their relentless determination to secure the first victory of 2008, make them a force to be reckoned with. The race promises to be an unforgettable one, with the Maserati MC12 undoubtedly providing a spectacular spectacle for automotive enthusiasts. [Source: Maserati]