Modena, March 24, 2005
On the occasion of the official presentation of the international FIA GT
championship, Claudio Berro, Director of Maserati Corse, announced the
race programme for the 2005 season.
As is already known, Maserati Corse will field the number 35 MC12 in the
North American ALMS series. The car will be crewed by Andrea Bertolini,
Fabrizio De Simone and Fabio Babini (though Babini only for the longer
races). Maserati Corse will enjoy the support of important partners such
as Pirelli and Risi Competizione.
Two private teams, each lining up with two MC12s, will participate in the
FIA GT. The Vitaphone Racing Team will be in the No.9 car with the
German pairing of Michael Bartels and Timo Scheider, while the Italians
Fabio Babini and Thomas Biagi will be driving car number 10. The
German outfit set the best time in the free practice sessions held
yesterday at Monza.
The second private team, JMB Racing, hail from Monaco. They will be in
cars 15 and 16 and have Andrea Bertolini, Philippe Peter and Karl
Wendlinger signed up. One driver is yet to be announced and the pairings
will only be made when this fourth member is named. The team will take
delivery of its cars next week.
As well as this, team Racing Box will be running one MC12 in the Italian
GT Championship. Reigning champions Piergiuseppe Perazzini and
Gabriele Matteuzzi will be in the driving seat.
Pirelli is Maserati’s main partner in all its sporting activities. The MC12 to
be used in the ALMS championship will be equipped with Racing P Zero
Pirelli tyres. These will be used exclusively in the FIA GT championship.
This collaboration is further evidence of the success of the relationship
between Maserati and Pirelli.
|