Saturday 4 July 2010 - Double success on the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet, France for the Maseratis competing in the FIA GT1 World Championship and in the GT4 European Cup.

Temp: 39°C air - 46°C track
Length: 5.842 m

The protagonists at the fourth round of the FIA GT1 World Championship were Michael Bartels and Andrea Bertolini. After getting a first row position in the morning's qualifying practices with the Maserati MC12 no. 1, they were the first to reach the finish line in the Qualifying Race. Thanks to this victory, the reigning champions obtained eight points in the Drivers' category in addition to a place in first row in tomorrow's Championship Race.

Probably foiled by the 'go' light malfunction at the start of the race, Bartels was overtaken by Kox's Lamborghini at the first curve, but then Bartels regained the leadership at the eighth lap. When the drivers changed, excellent teamwork gave further seconds of advantage to Bertolini, who was able to finish the race all alone.

There was also favorable change for Vitaphone Racing Team's other Maserati. Bernoldi/Ramos's no. 2 gained two positions when reemerging from the pit stop, moving from seventh to fifth place and defending the position until the finish line. Triple H Team Hegersport's two other Maserati MC12s finished eighth with Heger/Margaritis and fourteenth with Bobbi/Longin.

The other victory for Maserati was obtained by Alessandro Pier Guidi in the GT4 European Cup, who, while debuting with the Maserati GranTurismo GT4 in this championship, immediately achieved success. And tomorrow, for race 2, he will start out from first row thanks to the pole position achieved in the second qualifying session.

Andrea Bertolini - Vitaphone Racing Team no. 1 - GT1 World Championship
"It was a positive Saturday: pole position and victory in the first race. Michael Bartels did an excellent stint, handing me over a car that was in top position. When I emerged from the pit stop, the advantage over our followers had increased. I really have to thank the team because the driver switch is very important and it favorably influenced the rest of the race." Sunday 4 July, Championship Race from 2:15 pm to 3:15 for the FIA GT1 World Championship. The GT4 European Cup will be from 12:50 pm to 1:30 pm. FIA GT1 World - Qualifying Race results:

1. Bartels/Bertolini - Vitaphone Racing Team - Maserati MC12
2. Kox/Haase - Reiter - Lamborghini - 5.569
3. Hughes/Campbell-Walter - Nissan GT-R - 7.798
5. Bernoldi/Ramos - Vitaphone Racing Team - Maserati MC12 - 12.821
8. Heger/Margaritis - Triple H Team Hegersport - Maserati MC12 - 35.443
14. Bobbi/Longin - Triple H Team Hegersport - Maserati MC12 - > 1 m

Sunday 4 July 2010 - Maserati dominate the fourth round of the FIA GT1 World Championship

Temp: 32°C air - 47°C track track
Length: 5.842 m

As on the day before, the first to go under the checkered flag in the fourth round of the GT1 World Championship were Andrea Bertolini and Michael Bartels. With Vitaphone Racing Team's Maserati MC12 no. 1, they got it all: a pole position, a victory in Saturday's Qualifying Race, a victory in Sunday's Championship Race and first place in the Drivers' classification.

There was also great satisfaction on the part of Triple H Team Hegersport for the result obtained by Heger/Margaritis at the wheel of Maserati MC12 no. 33. After an eighth place at the starting line, the duo obtained the third step on the podium. Bobbi/Longin's no. 34 reached eleventh place.

Vitaphone Racing Team's no. 2, driven by Bernoldi/Ramos, was unfortunate. It was forced to leave the race after contact with Piccini's Corvette no. 13 while the Brazilian was defending a second position.

The weekend in France was fruitful for Maserati: there were good results obtained by Alessandro Pier Guidi, who got two pole positions and two victories while debuting with a Maserati GranTurismo MC GT4 in the GT4 European Cup championship.

Andrea Bertolini - Vitaphone Racing Team no. 1 - Maserati MC12 - GT1 World Championship
"It was a great weekend. The entire team worked in perfect harmony and for the first time we also won the Championship Race. Thanks to this success and to the points obtained for first place in the Qualifying Race, we've reached the top in the Drivers' classification. The championship is long and competitive, however, and so we have to keep working in this direction."

Alessandro Pier Guidi - Maserati Corse - Maserati GranTurismo MC GT4 - GT4 European Cup
"We were fast both in the qualifying practices and in the actual races, getting two successes. Today's race was perhaps tougher, our competitors were closer and I really had to fight until the end to maintain our advantage. So it was doubly satisfying because it is the first time I manage to do this on my own. It had happened before but I had been sharing the seat with another driver."

The next FIA GT1 World Championship round will be held at Spa (Belgium) on 31 July.

Temp: 32°C air - 47°C track

Championship Race FIA GT1 World results:

1. Bartels/Bertolini - Vitaphone Racing Team - Maserati MC12
2. Krumm/Dumbreck - Sumo Power GT - Nissan GT-R - + 7.057
3. Margaritis/Heger - Triple H Team Hegersport - Maserati MC12 + 24.633
11. Bobbi/Longin - Triple H Team Hegersport - Maserati MC12 > 1 m
Bernoldi/Ramos - Vitaphone Racing Team - Maserati MC12 - ret

FIA GT1 World Championship driver's classification

1.Bartels/Bertolini - Vitaphone Racing Team - 77 p.
2. Grosjean/Mutsch - Matech Competion - 62 p.
3. Hennerici - Phoenix Racing/Carsport - 40 p.

Text courtesy of Maserati Press Center