FIA GT Oschersleben Race
Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, 3,6960 Km, sunny, 28°C
Good results here at Oschersleben for Andrea Bertolini and Michael Bartels, who, driving one of Vitaphone Racing Team's Maserati MC12s, have continued the series of successful races that have enabled them to lead the Driver's Classification with a 2-point advantage over Wendlinger/Sharp, while the Vitaphone Racing Team is solidly on top in the Team's classification.
A sensational recovery for Miguel Ramos and Alexander Negraõ, who, thanks to a an excellent pit stop strategy and bold driving, just missed the podium after having started out from twelfth place due to a penalty owed from Adria.
The race was full of dramatic surprises. At the start Bartels quickly overtook the Lopez's Feari, while Ramos went to the pit lane to allow Negraõ a long middle stint which turned out to be a winning tactic.
At the 33rd lap, Bartels handed the car over to Bertolini, who drove the MC12 within an inch of victory after masterfully overtaking Lichtner-Hoyer and Deletraz. Unfortunately the safety car entered the track at the 60th lap, which ruined the plans of Bertolini-Bartels, enabling their opponents to carry out the last pit stop in safety car mode, when MC12 no. 1 had surpassed the pit lane way.
The race ended with Bartels's attempt at snatching the podium by overtaking Fassler: this impetuous move made the German slide into fifth place, enabling Ramos to attack Fassler, but by then there were only a few curves left to do before the race ended.
The third MC12 with gentlemen drivers Ben Aucott and Alain Ferté (JMB Racing) at the wheel got a good ninth place.
Now the team will travel to Belgium for testing in preparation for Spa Francorchamps's 24-hour race, the championship's highlight race scheduled for 2 and 3 August.
Andrea BERTOLINI (Vitaphone Racing - Maserati MC12 no. 1) "The chance for us to win ended abruptly with the appearance of the safety car. To be honest, our performance was very good and consistent, we are the team to beat and we deserve our top-ranking place in the championship. We still haven't won in 2008 due to the heavy balae compensations penalizing our vehicle".
Michael BARTELS (Vitaphone Racing - Maserati MC12 no. 1) "I tried to overtake Fassler in the final laps because we deserved the podium and I felt that the car could manage it and the tyres were still good. The move was unsuccessful and I apologize to the team. We are nevertheless at the top in the championship and we confi dently look forward to the decisive race at Spa Francorchamps."
Miguel RAMOS (Vitaphone Racing- Maserati MC12 no. 2) "Toward the end of the race the podium was really within reach, but unfortunately I was held back first by Bouchut, who kept up at the normal pace for three laps despite his having to go back in to serve a drive through, and then by a
back marker that slowed me down in the final stages. It's a shame, even if today's results are still excellent."
Alexander NEGRAÕ (Vitaphone Racing - Maserati MC12 no. 2) "Our performance was certainly very good. Luck was also on our side with Bartels's error, which earned us a position. This morning together with the team we came up with the idea of stopping at the pit stop at the first lap. We had to dream up something in order to recover from a bad position at the starting line and it turned out to be a good move."
RESULTS OSCHERSLEBEN RACE- 4° ROUND FIA GT CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Wendlinger/Sharp (Aston Martin DB9) after 79 laps ;2. Licnr-Hoyer/Muller (Aston Martin DB9)+1"518; 3.Fassler/Deletraz (Corvette Z06)+27"742; 4. Ramos/Negraõ (Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC12) +27"879; 5. Bertolini/Bartels (Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC12) +38"836; .9. Aucott/Ferté (JMB Racing Maserati MC12)+1 lap.
www.maseraticorse.com
- Stefano Bergonzini GSM +Photo: Maserati Corse/ Studio Mazzi - protographer Mario Chiarappa-
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