Thomas Biagi and Mika Salo have claimed the 2007 Tourist Trophy. The event counts as the second round of the International FIA GT championship. The two Vitaphone Racing Team MC12s beat off the Corvette C6R driven by Deletraz/Hezemans and Kumpen/Longin's Corvette C5R.

This is the Vitaphone Racing Team's second consecutive win on this circuit, coming as it does on the back of Bartels/Bertolini's victory last year in the MC12.

The win propels Biagi to the head of the Drivers' classification while the Vitaphone Racing Team now lead the team series. The fine performance of the Modenese cars played a significant role in this success as they were consistent and fast throughout. The other MC12s competing also did well, especially that driven by Bertolini/Piccini. The duo made an extraordinary comeback after effecting their drive through on lap one, costing them around forty seconds. Maserati's official test driver climbed from twentieth to seventh place before handing over to Andrea Piccini.

Fifth place overall is an excellent result considering the few seconds that separated the Italian team from fourth placed Wendlinger/Sharp, in an Aston Martin, at the finish.

Ramos/Montanari and Giannoccaro/Pier Guidi also fared well. Ramos/Montanari long occupied sixth spot in an event in which they maintained a regular rhythm, even holding fifth for a spell. The other Playteam SaraFree crew ended in eighth despite having the disadvantage of a drive-through for exceeding the pit lane speed limit.

In the Citation Cup, the MC12s fielded by JMB Racing took second and third with, respectively, Macari/Aucott and Waaijenberg/Kutemann duo, in a race won by Cloet/Kuismanen driving a Corvette C5R.

The commissioners decided at the end of the race to inflict a thirty second penalty on Biagi/Salo's overall time for overtaking when the yellow flag was out. However, even this was not enough to rob them of glory.

Thomas Biagi: "It was a splendid race. Mika and I drove as if in qualifying from the first to the last lap. I had a few problems with traffic that meant I lost a little time. The car was consistent throughout the weekend and in the two-hour race thanks to the team's fine work".

Mika Salo: "It was great to get behind the wheel of the MC12 after so long, even though it was tricky getting used to a GT1 (the Finn is currently appearing in a GTS in the ALMS series) and the new rules that call for attentive use of the brakes. I am very happy. We did well during the entire weekend and it is pleasing to see my name on the Tourist Trophy".

Final results at Silverstone

 1. Biagi-Salo* (#1 Maserati MC12) 66 laps in 2h 00'57"020
 2. Hezemans-Deletraz (#5 Corvette C6R) 66 laps + 7"465
 3. Kumpen-Longin (#4 Corvette C5R) 66 laps + 34"259
 5. Bertolini-Piccini (#11 Maserati MC12) 66 laps + 01' 18"710
 6. Ramos-Montanari (#2 Maserati MC12) + 1 lap
 8. Pier Guidi-Giannoccaro (#12 Maserati MC12) + 1 lap
22. Macari-Aucott (#16 Maserati MC12) + 6 laps
23. Kutemann-Waaijenberg (#15 Maserati MC12) + 7 laps

* Car #1 was awarded a thirty-second penalty for a yellow flag infringement

FIA GT Championship Drivers

1. Biagi 13pts;
2. Kumpen, Longin, Deletraz, Hezemans 12pts;
3. Bouchut, Mücke, Salo 10pts;
4. Hines, Peter 8pts;
5. Babini, Davies 7pts;
6. Ramos, Montanari, Wendlinger, Sharp 5pts;
7. Bertolini, Piccini 4pts;
8. Giannoccaro, Pier Guidi, Kane, Cocker 1pt.

FIA GT Championship Team

1. Vitaphone Racing Team 18pts;
2. Carsport Holland 12pts;
3. PK Carsport 12pts;

Text courtesy of Maserati Press Center