Los Arcos (E), 24 October - Bartels/Bertolini driving Vitaphone Racing Team’s Maserati MC12 no. 1 consolidated their leadership in the championship at the end of the eighth round of the FIA GT1 World Championship contended this weekend at the new circuit in Navarra, northern Spain.

The reigning champions earn a further eight points over their closest adversary, Thomas Mutsch, who had to leave the race due to an accident. Two rounds away from the conclusion of the championship, they are now at 130 points against the German driver’s 95. The leadership still belongs to Maserati, which is still on top in the car maker’s Trofeo SRO and team categories.

Vitaphone Racing Team’s no. 2, driven by Bernoldi/Ramos made it to the finish line 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 (fifth car to pass the checkered 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, driven by Pier Guidi/Verdonck, was unfortunate. It reached the finish line in eleventh place after it was slowed down by a flat and consequent collision with Ford no. 6 in curve 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 race when the suspension broke after an accident in curve 7 in the first lap of the Championship Race.

The final result of this race came a few hours after its conclusion due to the various penalties given.

Andrea Bertolini - Vitaphone Racing Team - no. 1: “It’s been a tough weekend because in this type of circuit the extra weight of the 50-kg ballast was really noticeable. 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”.

The next race is scheduled on 28 November at the Interlagos, Brazil, racetrack.

“CIRCUITO DE NAVARRA”

Length of the circuit: 3,993 m
Temperature: 17°C air - 17°C track

Championship Race results:

1. Zonta/Kechele – Reiter – Lamborghini Murcielago 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
Mueller/Longin - Triple H Team - Maserati MC12 retired

FIA GT1 World Championship driver’s classification:

1. Bartels/Bertolini - Vitaphone Racing Team - Maserati MC12 - 130 p.
2. Mutsch – Matech Competion - Ford GT Matech - 95 p.
3. Kechele – Reiter - Lamborghini Murcielago 670 - 83 p.

Text courtesy of Maserati Press Center