Maserati Starts Its Title Defense on the Podium!

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MASERATI STARTS ITS TITLE DEFENSE ON THE PODIUM!

Maserati has started its defense of its team and drivers’ titles in the FIA GT World Championship with a podium finish in the opening round at the weekend (3 May 2009) with the Maserati MC12 of Michael Bartels and Andrea Bertolini finishing less than six seconds behind race winners Karl Weddlinger and Ryan Sharp at the UK’s Silverstone race track.

Weddlinger and Ryan, in a new car for a new team, pulled out a lead in the early stages, before losing their advantage during a mid-race safety car period. They were fighting throughout with the number one Vitaphone Maserati, which emerged in the lead after an extremely fast final pit stop and driver change. However, Wendlinger kept the pressure on, overtaking the Maserati when they caught up with a gaggle of backmarkers, and maintaining their lead to cross the finish line 5.499 seconds ahead of the chasing Maserati.

The crew of the Maserati MC12 was pleased to start the season off with a podium, but admitted they could not catch the Saleen, which they considered to be in another class thanks to their larger restrictors. However, the team’s skill ensured a podium finish.

“It's been a really good start and we delivered our best today and it still feels like a victory for us. We did a perfect stint and had a good strategy, but honestly for us it was impossible to win. I think this'll be a really difficult season for us,” Bertolini commented.

The second Vitaphone Maserati, which qualified third after a fine performance from Alex Müller, stopped on the track shortly after the first pit stop with a wheel problem, while it had been lying third, bringing out the safety car.

Next round of the FIA GT series is in Italy on 16 May.

Round One, 2009 FIA GT Championship - Silverstone

1. Sharp/WendlingerK plus K Motorsport Saleen S7R 2hr 00min 10.556secs GT1
2. Bartels/BertoliniVitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC12 +5.499secs GT1
3. Maassen/Moreauuc Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R +25.956secs GT1
4. Kumpen/HezemansPK Carsport Corvette C6.R +30.564secs GT1
5. Lacko/DominguezK plus K Motorsport Saleen S7R +59.628secs GT1
6. Longin/RuffierSRT Corvette C6.R +1min 43.824secs GT1
7. Menten/PalttalaDKR Engineering Corvette C6.R +1 lap GT1
8. Mutsch/BiagiMatech Racing Ford GT +1 lap GT1 #
9. Lemeret/HinesFull Speed Racing Saleen S7 Twin Turbo +1 lap GT1
10. Leinders/KuppensMarc VDS Racing Team Ford GT +2 laps GT1 #
11. Collard/WestbrookProspeed Competition Porsche 997 RSR +3 laps GT2
12. Companc/RussoPecom Racing Ferrari 430 +3 laps GT2
13. Kirkaldy/BellCRS Racing Ferrari 430 +3 laps GT2
14. Ruberti/MalucelliBMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari 430 +3 laps GT2
15. Cadei/LopezAF Corse Ferrari 430 +3 laps GT2
16. O'Young/HolzerProspeed Competition Porsche 997 RSR +3 laps GT2
17. Makowiecki/MuckeHexis Racing AMR Aston Martin Vantage +4 laps GT2
18. Lucchini/RaggingerBrixia Racing Porsche 997 RSR +4 laps GT2
19. Mullen/NiarchosCRS Racing Ferrari 430 +4 laps GT2
20. Heyer/RomaniniBMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari 430 +4 laps GT2
21. Lagniez/AlexanderJean-Claude Lagniez Corvette Z06 GT3 +7 laps G3
Did not finish:
22. Vilander/BruniAF Corse Ferrari 430 53 laps completed GT2
23. Orts/MonfardiniFull Speed Racing Saleen S7R 39 laps completed GT1
24. Ramos/MullerVitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC12 28 laps completed GT1
25. Turner/KrummNissan Motorsports Nissan GT-R 28 laps completed GT1 #
26. Sugden/AshburnTrackspeed Porsche 997 RSR 24 laps completed GT2
Fastest laps:
Sharp/Wendlinger K plus K Motorsport Saleen S7R 1min 44.687secs GT1
Kirkaldy/Bell CRS Racing Ferrari 430 1min 51.571secs GT2
Lagniez/Alexander Jean-Claude Lagniez Corvette Z06 GT3 1min 52.922secs G3

2009 FIA GT1 Driver Championship

2009 FIA GT1 Teams Championship

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For further information, please contact

Edward Butler

Edward Rowe

Release Number: Maserati_228

Date of release: 12/25/2018 8:29:47 AM