FIA GT Monza: Qualifying Race Review
May 17, 2008
MONZA, - Not the greatest weather conditions today at the Monza National Circuit where the second round of the FIA GT International Championship is taking place. Despite sporadic rain which forced the teams to constantly change strategy due to set-up and tire variations, the Vitaphone Racing team won Maserati MC12 no. 2 a place in second row thanks to 22-year-old Brazilian driver Alexander Negraõ’s last lap, which got the third best time with 1’49"555, 471 thousandths short of the pole position. It is a result that highlights the Sao Paolo rookie who, paired up with the Portuguese ace driver Miguel Ramos tomorrow aims for an important result. Alas, Andrea Bertolini’s result was less brilliant. Seeing the condition of on-again, off-again rain, he decided to stop at the pit lane to mount intermediate tires when it was really only sprinkling. Bertolini thus finds himself in eight row with the 16th ranking time in 1’52"000 and tomorrow he will be called to a recovery race as on 20 April at Silverstone where he got a final seco nd place.
Tomorrow’s race will be plagued by uncertain weather, but over 600 Maserati workers will brighten the atmosphere from the bleachers to bring their warmth to the ‘Tridente’, which is once again participating in high-level competitions.
Andrea BERTOLINI (Team Vitaphone Racing -Maserati MC12 no. 1)
“It was an unusual qualifying race, with rain that started to fall suddenly after we had decided to start up with slick tires. At that point I saw two of our most competitive adversaries make pit stops and so I also stopped to mount intermediate tires. Unfortunately, the decision turned out to be wrong because when I rejoined the race the rain had stopped and the track dried immediately, slowing me down due to the treaded tires. A pity. Tomorrow I will have to perform well to recover lost positions just like at Silverstone. I will make an extra special effort.”
Alexander NEGRAÕ (Team Vitaphone Racing- Maserati MC12 no. 2)
“I am really very pleased, it was an incredible qualification race, very difficult to interpret because the second sector was really quite wet while the rest was dry. I did a good traction control check and electronic job that helped me on the wet spots, and during the last lap when the team asked me to push, I speeded up to get a good time. I’m very confident about tomorrow; the important thing is to have stable weat her, either dry or wet, otherwise the race becomes a lottery.”
