Interlagos (BR), 28 November 2010 – The Brazilian duo Bernoldi/Negrao, driving Vitaphone Racing Team's Maserati MC12 no. 2 in the next-to-last round of the GT1 World Championship in Interlagos, Brazil, had a splendid Championship Race victory. The two drivers were able to reach the finish line first after starting off from fourth position. They took full advantage of the pit stop mechanics' excellent work and proceeded to overtake Hennerici/Margaritis's Corvette first, then left Turner/Enge's Aston Martin behind them. Their passage in front of the checkered flag was acclaimed by the crowd that filled the racetrack's stands (20 thousand spectators).

Driving Maserati MC12 no. 1, team-mates Bartels/Bertolini concluded in ninth position, in a race that was careful and prudent for them. They earned two more precious points for the fight in the driver's classification, which, one round away from the end, still has the leading with 28 points over their closest contenders: Turner/Enge.

Heger/Mueller's Maserati MC12 n. 33 came in tenth. Mueller was able to run the fastest lap, the twentieth, marking 1:34.168 while at the same time doing coverage work for the two reigning champions. A pair of Brazilian drivers debuting in the FIA GT with Maserati MC12 no. 34, Serra and Longo, came in eighteenth place.

The next race, scheduled for 5 December in the San Luis circuit in Argentina, will decide the winners of the three classifications, at the moment all topped by Maserati (Drivers, Team and Manufacturers).

Xandinho Negrao: «It was exciting to win once again driving a Maserati and in my home country, in front of all these people, to boot. In the first stint Enrique Bernoldi was very good at remaining among the first racers. Then, thanks to the pit stop, we were able to gain one position. We didn't have enough power to overtake the Aston Martin on the straight stretch so I thought of attacking it at some other point and I succeeded, remaining at the front of the race until the finish line. Congratulations to the entire team and crew».

Enrique Bernoldi: «It was a great race. We knew we had what it takes to win, but we were nevertheless aware of how difficult it could be. We were able to get this excellent result with the help of the crew's perfect performance. We all wanted the victory: the mechanics, the engineers and the drivers. I am doubly pleased because this year I worked very hard and this is my first international success in this racetrack».

INTERLAGOS

Length of the circuit: 4,309 m
Temperature: 32°C air - 52°C track

Championship Race results:

1. Bernoldi/Negrao – Vitaphone Racing Team - Maserati MC12 1:01.23.296
2. Tuner/Enge – Young Driver AMR – Aston Martin DB9 + 2.348
3. Hennerici/Margaritis – Phoenix Rarcing – Corvette Z06 + 5.874

9. Bartels/Bertolini - Vitaphone Racing Team - Maserati MC12 + 22.925
10. Heger/Mueller – Triple H Team - Maserati MC12 + 23.225
18. Serra/Longo - Triple H Team - Maserati MC12 > 1 min.

FIA GT1 World Championship driver’s classification:

1. Bartels/Bertolini - Vitaphone Racing Team - Maserati MC12 132 p.
2. Turner/Enge – Aston Martin DB) – Young Driver AMR 104 p.
3. Hennerici – Corvette Z06 – Phoenix Racing 99 p.

Text courtesy of Maserati Press Center