Four MC12s finished in the top six at the end of the two qualifying sessions held today at Sakhir, Bahrain. Andrea Bertolini and Karl Wendlinger made the front row thanks to a time of 1'54"296, just 112 thousandths slower than the pole crew of Bouchut/Garcia from Russian Age Racing.

JMB Racing's fine display was capped by the third place claimed by the Philipp Peter/Jamie Davies duo who stopped the clock at 1'54"565. The first of the Vitaphone Racing Team MC12s came in fourth driven by Fabio Babini and Thomas Biagi (1'54"869). The other, with Michael Bartels and Timo Scheider on board, came in sixth (1'56"113). They were just behind the Ferrari 550 Maranello of Gabriele Gardel and Pedro Lamy (1'55"352). The performance of the two German drivers has to be taken positively as they had an extra 130kg on board. Bertolini/Wendlinger carried 70 kg and Babini/Biagi 80.

All the best times were recorded in the second session, one that ended in the dark. The same conditions will characterise tomorrow's race. In the morning, Bertolini/Wendlinger were quickest(1'55"063). They headed the Aston Martin of Bouchut/Garcia (1'55"455), and the second JMB Racing MC12 with Peter/Davies (1'56"041) behind the wheel. Then came the two Vitaphone Racing Team cars: again the number 10 crewed by Babini/Biagi (1'56"048) edged out Bartels/Scheider (1'56"472).

The start of the race is timed for 14.00 local time. The event is taking place on Friday as this is a rest day for the Muslim population. The race will last three hours.

Eurosport will transmit highlights on Sunday 27 from 21.45 to 22.45. The national television channel in Bahrain will broadcast the race live.

Andrea Bertolini: "We had a great battle with Bouchet for pole during qualifying. Naturally I am disappointed not to have claimed it but this was not our main aim. We only wanted to place our MC12 as high up the grid as we could. It will be a close race but having our team mates covering our backs is comforting. We are focused and will do all we can to bring home the Drivers' title".

Jamie Davies: "First of all I'd like to thank Pirelli and Maserati for giving me the chance to race here. Everything happened quickly, so much so that I had some difficulty in finding my overalls and the rest of my kit and get here in time. We have not yet discussed the race strategy as we still have to have the debriefing session and analyse the data from qualifying. Still, I am pleased and hope to do well."

In the FIA GT the MC12s race exclusively with Pirelli tyres, as they do in the North American ALMS series. This collaboration is further evidence of the successful relationship between Maserati and Pirelli. This has been proved by the results obtained in the Italian GT, the 6 Hours of Vallelunga and in the Trofeo Vodafone Maserati Europa.

RACE

Michael Bartels and Timo Scheider have won the FIA GT championship in the GT1 class. The two Vitaphone Racing Team drivers came home fourth, the best placed finishers among the drivers going for the title.

Lamy/Gardel's number 11 Ferrari 550 Maranello was fourth across the line but was later excluded by the sporting commissioners. The decision was taken after technical checks revealed that three litres of fuel, required by the regulations, were missing from the tanks. The team Labre, who fielded car number 11, have lodged an appeal. The award of the GT1 Drivers title is pending this appeal.

Thanks to this result, Maserati has capped an extraordinary year. The Trident company secured, apart from the Drivers' title, the GT1 class Constructors' Cup at Istanbul and the team title (Vitaphone Racing Team) at Dubai. Five wins and twenty podium finishes in eleven races demonstrate the high standard of Modenese cars.

The race was won by Christophe Bouchut and Antonio Garcia in a car fielded by Russian Age Racing. Next came Philipp Peter and Jamie Davies (MC12 JMB Racing). Davies also set the fastest lap of 1'56"478 on lap 61.

Third spot was filled by Kumpen/Hezemans/Longin's Corvette.

Michael Bartels and Timo Scheider took fifth in the MC12, just behind Pedro Lamy and Gabriele Gardel who, with this result, claimed the title. Karl Wendlinger and Andrea Bertolini were unable to defend their overall lead after their bevel gear gave way on lap nine. The driver from Sassuolo was holding second at the time, behind Bouchut. It was the first retirement of the season for the pair.

Bad luck also hit the second Vitaphone Racing Team MC12. It was forced to pull out three laps from the end of the race. This time the transmission shaft on Fabio Babini's car failed when he was in third. The Vitaphone number 9 was still classified ninth (later eighth when Lamy/Gardel were excluded).

This race marks the end of the 2005 FIA championship, the highlight of which was the 24 Hours of Spa. Michael Bartels and Timo Scheider claimed the title with 75 points. Next came Andrea Bertolini and Karl Wendlinger on 71. In the team series, Vitaphone (Maserati) won with 139 points from JMB (Maserati), on 103. In the GT1 Constructors' Cup, Maserati truimphed (227) over Ferrari (116) and Corvette (54).

Text courtesy of Maserati Press Center