FIA GT1 – Brno : Legendary Maserati is Back
After dominating both qualifying session and qualifying race, finally the legendary mark after threatening the podium consistently this season manage to come out on top and claim its first victory of the season with Team Vitaphone. In a dominant display the Maserati MC12 went from pole position to chequered flag, crossing the line 4.5 seconds ahead of the nr7 Young Driver Aston Martin of Tomas Enge on his home circuit.
This morning’s qualifying session in dry conditions at Brno saw Michael Krumm and Peter Dumbreck in car 23 claim an impressive 4th on the grid. Warren Hughes and Jamie Campbell-Walter in car 22 were less fortunate, qualifying in 21st place after suffering brake and grip problems. In the qualifying race, nr23 Nissan was busily fighting off a determined challenge by Turner for second place and as the fight took place, the MC12 pounced on the opportunity and sped off into some distance.
nr7 Aston Martin had been handed over to Tomas Enge and the Czech driver found himself promoted to second place after the airjack got stuck on the Sumo Power GT Nissan GT-R, leaving Michael Krumm hanging in the air for 10-seconds while the mechanics solved the problem.
Mixed result for Sumo Power Nissan GT-R as car no.22 after a strong charge from the back of the field, it found that it had no brakes at all and the car ploughed through the gravel trap and into a tyre-wall on the outside of the bend.
nr23 Nissan was not going to give up the chase to the nr7 Aston Martin after the pit stop drama, at one time he was closing the gap at a rate of 0.5 of a seconds to the Aston. The nr7 Aston, realizes the danger and responded with a better pace, soon the gap remains similar and the chase game was over for the Nissan.
The top six places were filled by the six different marques taking part in the 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship.
The victory gives Michael Bartels and Andrea Bertolini the lead in the Drivers Championship and the lead in the Team Championship to the Vitaphone Racing Team. Expect the domination to continue in the main race tomorrow as Bertolini / Bartels line up for yet another pole position at Brno.
Although rain clouds in the skies around the circuit threatened to do their worst, the race was to run throughout in dry conditions. At the moment it suggests that weather is very uncertain, and many are looking forward for the rain race tomorrow.
Qualifying Race Classification
1 1 GT1 Bertolini / Bartels Maserati MC12
2 7 GT1 Enge / Turner Aston Martin DB9
3 23 GT1 Krumm / Dumbreck Nissan GT – R 1
4 38 GT1 Pastorelli / Schwager Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-S
5 11 GT1 Maassen / Hezemans Corvette Z06
6 5 GT1 Grosjean / Mutsch Ford GT Matech
7 2 GT1 Bernoldi / Ramos Maserati MC12
8 9 GT1 Makowiecki / Sarrazin Aston Martin DB9
9 10 GT1 Hirschi / Piccione Aston Martin DB9
10 34 GT1 Bobbi / Longin Maserati MC12
11 8 GT1 Mücke / Nygaard Aston Martin DB9
12 3 GT1 Wendlinger / Moser Nissan GT – R
13 33 GT1 Margaritis / Heger Maserati MC12
14 37 GT1 Basseng / Jäger Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-S
15 4 GT1 Ara / Nilsson Nissan GT – R
16 40 GT1 Leinders / Martin Ford GT Matech
17 13 GT1 Rosina / Hennerici Corvette Z06
18 41 GT1 Palttala / Kuppens Ford GT Matech
19 12 GT1 Salo / Kuismanen Corvette Z06
20 25 GT1 Kechele / Danis Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-S
21 22 GT1 Hughes / Campbell-Walter Nissan GT – R
22 6 GT1 Frey / Allemann Ford GT Matech
Editorial : Mu’az Zakaria
Image Source : SRO FIA GT1, Maserati, Sumo Power GT
