FIA GT Monza Preview: Bertolini/Bartels Looking For Their First Victory In 2008
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May 14, 2008
MODENA, May - A little less than a month after opening at Silverstone in the UK, the FIA GT International Championship resumes with the second round scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Monza National Circuit. 37 cars representing 10 different car makers will be there.
After a brilliant start in the UK, with a final second place won by the Andrea Bertolini-Michael Bartels pair on the Vitaphone Racing Team’s Maserati MC12 and the excellent seventh position of car number 2 driven by 22-year-old rookie Alexander Negraõ and his Portuguese mate Miguel Ramos, the Casa del Tridente is on the prowl for its first victory.
In its two previous appearances at Monza Maserati obtained three podium placings: in 2005 Bartels and Scheider reached second place, one place above the other Maserati team composed of Babini/Biagi. Last year the Vitaphone Racing Team’s MC12 got to second place with the Montanari/Ramos duo.
So it is logical that Maserati now aims for its first success by eliminating the two points separating the Bertolini/Bartels crew from the Wendlinger/S harp leading team, the current provisional leader.
Andrea BERTOLINI (Maserati MC12 No. 1 Vitaphone Racing Team)
“I can’t wait to get on the racetrack,” said the Modena driver. “The Monza race promises to be very exciting due to the extreme balance and competitiveness of the contenders we saw performing at Silverstone. We’ll start off with 30 kg ballast imposed on us after the team’s brilliant result in Britain, which gives an extra advantage to our British adversaries, who, as we know, already have the edge of being able to run with much broader intake ducts. I think that, as in Silverstone, performance during the race’s last half hour will be decisive. Strategies and gear shifts will certainly be important, but as it usually happens at FIA GT, we drivers will play a crucial role with the rhythm we will set to the race. It is true that we have never won at Monza but it is a fast, wide track where important averages can be set and where there are good spots for overtakes. We will give it our best shot so that we can give our many fans something to be proud of.
The Modena House’s MC12 No. 15 driven by the German JMB Racing team made up of Ben Aucott (GBR) and Stephane Daoudi (FRA) will defend its 2007 win at the Citation Cup reserved for gentleman drivers.
