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©Maserati Press Office
QUALIFYING - 3rd Peter/Buncombe/Rusinov
JMB Racing Team
©Maserati Press Office
QUALIFYING - 4th Bartels/Scheider
Vitaphone Racing Team
©Maserati Press Office
QUALIFYING - 7th Babini/Biagi
Vitaphone Racing Team
©Maserati Press Office
QUALIFYING - 10th Bertolini/Wendlinger
JMB Racing Team
©Maserati Press Office
RACE - Babini/Biagi on the podium
Vitaphone Racing Team
©Maserati Press Office
RACE - Babini/Biagi cross the line for third place
Vitaphone Racing Team
©Maserati Press Office
RACE - The Babini/Biagi car during a pit stop
Vitaphone Racing Team
©Maserati Press Office
RACE - Three MC12s sandwich a Ferrari 550
JMB Racing Team
©Maserati Press Office
RACE - The Babini/Biagi MC12
Vitaphone Racing Team |
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FIA GT Championship - Imola, 28th May 2005
Two MC12s on the second row
OFFICIAL QUALIFYING
No 16 P. Peter/C. Buncombe/R. Rusinov (JMB Racing - chassis n. 04/15441)
3rd - 19 laps 1.46.227 secs
No 9 - M. Bartels/T. Scheider (Vitaphone Racing Team - chassis n. 02/15439)
4th - 29 laps 1.46.373 secs
No 10 A. F. Babini/T. Biagi (Vitaphone Racing Team - chassis n. 07/15443)
7th - 40 laps 1.46.639 secs
No. 15 Bertolini/K. Wendlinger (JMB Racing - chassis n. 08/15444)
10th - 34 laps 1.47.297 secs
Weather: clear; dry track
Circuit length: 4.930 m
Two Maserati MC12s will start from the second row tomorrow in the fourth FIA GT championship race at Imola.
The third quickest time overall was set by Phillippe Peter during the morning session. The thirty-six year old, who holds dual Austrian and Swiss citizenship, selected the early part of the session to go for the fast lap. Temperatures increased in the afternoon, the result being that none of the drivers were able to improve on their times.
The number 16 car, crewed by Peter/Buncombe/Rusinov, did not take to the track after experiencing a problem with the distributor. The team were forced to switch engines and were not able to complete the job before the start of the second qualifying session. Nonetheless, the drivers have high hopes for tomorrow. A good start will be fundamental in establishing an advantage over the pack and maintaining the lead after the pit stops.
The man from Sassuolo, Andrea Bertolini, and Karl Wendlinger, did not have the same opening as their scuderia team mates enjoyed during the morning as they ran into traffic on the track just as they were setting out for their fast lap. The two JMB Racing drivers still revealed that they were satisfied with the race set up. They tested different fuel loads after taking into account the ballast assigned for this race.
Splitting the two blue JMB Racing cars are two from the Vitaphone Racing Team. The first, with the fourth fastest time, is formed by the German pairing of Michael Bartels and Timo Scheider. Bartels, winner of the race here at Imola in 2004, is particularly at home on the Emilian circuit. Despite the 80kg of extra weight, the car is well balanced and competitive. Equally pleased are the Emilians Fabio Babini and Thomas Biagi who classified in seventh. The two drivers, also with 80kg of ballast on board, are sure that they will do well tomorrow and will be going on the attack.
Pole position went to the Corvette driven by Hezemans-Longin-Kumpen. In second was the Lamy-Gardel 550. The pole car was not hindered by extra ballast and the car in second had 10kg on board. The championship is currently headed by three crews: Bartels/Scheider, Babini/Biagi and Bertolini/Wendlinger, locked on 22 points. The Vitaphone team lead the team championship while Maserati are in number one spot in the Constructors’ Cup.
Vallelunga will host this weekend the third Italian GT championship race. Gabriele Matteuzzi secured fourth place in qualifying for race 1 and Piergiuseppe Perazzini second spot on the grid for race 2. The two drivers, behind the wheel of the Racing Box team MC12, lead the overall classification. In the CSAI cup, three Maserati Lights occupy the top three positions on the grid in both races with, respectively, Aguas, Ceccato and Palma, and Rugolo, Zampaloni and Giudici.
FIA GT Championship - Imola, 29th May 2005
Podium for championship leaders Babini/Biagi
RACE
No 10 F. Babini/T.
Biagi (Vitaphone Racing Team - chassis n. 07/15443)
3rd Place - 24.005 down
No 15 A.Bertolini/K. Wendlinger (JMB Racing - chassis n. 08/15444)
4th Place - 53.757 down
No 16 P. Peter/C.
Buncombe/R. Rusinov (JMB Racing - chassis n. 04/15441)
5th Place - 1 lap down
No 9 - M. Bartels/T. Scheider
(Vitaphone Racing Team - chassis n. 02/15439)
5th Place - 3 laps down
Weather: clear; dry track
Circuit length: 4.930 km
It was an exciting fourth round of the FIA GT Championship held this weekend at Imola. It was widely known that the Vitaphone Racing Team’s MC12 would have a difficult time with the 80kg of ballast in addition to the 10kg imposed at the start of the season. Bertolini/Wendlinger (JMB Racing) would similarly struggle with their 70kg of extra weight as well as the 10kg.
The teams were obliged to adopt a three stop strategy, one more than their rivals, in order to race with a lighter fuel load and so maintain a high tempo. Nonetheless, the effect of the ballast took its toll in the form of an extra second and a half per lap compared to the other leading cars. The heavier cars also meant that the brakes came under greater stress. Also, having to use a smaller rear wing resulted in less aerodynamic download in the curves, a crucial factor at a technically demanding circuit like Imola. |
Fabio Babini and Thomas Biagi claimed an extremely important third place at the end of a closely fought race. The result means that they hold on to the lead in the drivers’ championship. The Italian crew were truly superb as they displayed extraordinary courage in finishing on the podium. The duo hounded the Corvette early on and, in the closing stages, closed in on Labre’s 550, cars that finished in second and third respectively.
Michael Bartels and Timo Scheider had an unlucky time of it. Having performed well in qualifying, they got off to a good start and were among the leading cars. However, a problem with the gearbox spelled the end of their race. The only plus point of this retirement is the fact the ballast will be reduced for the next race at Brno. Still, the Vitaphone Racing Team maintain the lead in the team championship while Maserati lead the Constructors’ Cup.
Andrea Bertolini and Karl Wendlinger had to come from behind in a car that suffered from oversteer and that had little aerodynamic download towards the rear end. After clipping another car immediately after the start, the two drivers raced at a consistent pace that allowed them to climb the field and finish in fourth spot. They are now second overall, just a point down on Babini/Biagi.
The other JMB Racing MC12 also fought hard throughout. The crew of Philippe Peter, Chris Buncombe and Roman Rusinov lined up in third on the grid but gained a position at the start. Despite the additional pit stop after the gear lever failed and a penalty for overtaking when the yellow flag was being flown, they maintained a good rhythm throughout and finished in fifth. Buncombe and Rusinov were able to familiarise themselves with the car even though they missed yesterday afternoon’s qualifying session after an engine change.
The Pirelli tyres performed excellently despite the high temperatures at Imola. The squads were able to make use of the P Zero Racing tyres, ones already tested at Silverstone in a soft compound. In the FIA GT, the MC12s race exclusively with Pirelli tyres as they do in the ALMS series in North America. This collaboration is further evidence of the successful track partnership between Maserati and Pirelli. The good results in the Italian GT and the Trofeo Vodafone Maserati Europa is proof of this.
Fabio Babini: “We had no choice but to adopt the strategy that we did in order to be competitive in the race. In the end, it proved to be a good decision. I could really push the car from the start thanks to the superb condition of the Pirelli tyres. I am pleased with the first place in the championship, for the Vitaphone team and for Maserati.”
Thomas Biagi: “I had two good stints and put the Corvette in some difficulty and then, near the end, the two Ferraris. This was thanks to the work of the team and the support of Pirelli. I am very pleased to have crossed the finish line on my home circuit in front of the celebrating mechanics. We will have 100kg of ballast on board at Brno, but I won races in 2003 with the same penalty. We can do it again.”
In the third Italian GT race at Vallelunga, Gabriele Matteuzzi and Piergiuseppe Perazzini in the Racing Box MC12 finished fourth in race 1. Ceccato/Rugolo, in the Trofeo Light, took first place in the CSAI Cup. They finished ahead of that driven by Palma/Zampaloni.
Text courtesy of Maserati Press Center
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