FIA GT podium for Babini/Biagi
BRITAIN GRABS VICTORY AS MAURIZIO FABRIS WINS 3RD ROUND OF THE TROFEO VODAFONE MASERATI EUROPE -
FIA GT Race, Imola
Car No. 10 F. Babini/T. Biagi (Vitaphone Racing Team) 3rd 24.005 down chassis n. 07/15443Car No. 15 A. Bertolini/K. Wendlinger (JMB Racing) 4th 53.757 down chassis n. 08/15444Car No. 16 P. Peter/C. Buncombe/R. Rusinov (JMB Racing)5th 1 lap chassis n. 04/15441Car No. 9 M. Bartels/T. Scheider (Vitaphone Racing Team) retired chassis n. 02/15439Weather: clear; dry trackCircuit length: 4.930 m
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 duo hounded the Corvette early on and, in the final stages, closed in on Labre's 550, which finished in first and second respectively.
Michael Bartels and Timo Scheider had an unlucky time. 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 maintains the lead in the Teams' championship while Maserati leads 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 teams were able to make use of the P Zero Racing tyres, 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, as also proven by the good results in the Italian GT and the Trofeo Vodafone Maserati Europa.
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."
Trofeo Vodafone Maserati Europe, Imola
Britain's Maurizio Fabris triumphed in the third round of the Trofeo Vodafone Maserati Europa in Imola. Fabris, who races under the Union Jack, crossed the line ahead of the Swiss duo Hans Notter/Max Cattori and Alberto Cerrai, the Championship leader.
Diego Alessi got off to a fine start with Alberto Cerrai, Manuel Villa, Rob Wilson and Hans Notter tailing him. Jodie Kidd, who was starting 6th on the grid, had a tough opening after she was pushed off the track at Tosa by car no 14, which was then hit with a 'stop & go' penalty. The English supermodel, who shared the drive of the Pirelli VIP car with Maserati AMLS driver Fabrizio De Simone, managed to get back onto the track rejoining in 23rd position. She then started to climb up positions and managed to reach position 19th before pitting. Meanwhile Diego Alessi was setting a great pace up front and his time of 2'02"610 was even faster than that which earned him pole position.
The race order, as normal, changed after the obligatory round of 1'30" pit stops. Cerrai, as a result of the Barcelona result, had to spend an extra 12 seconds in the pit lane, Notter/Cattori eight seconds and Wilson, four. Cerrai opted to make his pit stop early as he had a problem with a wheel rim that was changed by the mechanics.
When the race settled down once more, it was Maurizio Fabris heading the pack from Cerrai and Max Cattori. An intense close-quarters duel began between them that only ended when Cattori swept past Cerrai at the Variante Alta.
The race order remained unchanged until the chequered flag as Fabris proved capable of managing his lead well.
The Smurra brothers performed admirably to take fourth despite spinning once. Andrea DeMegni also did well and headed the special classification reserved for VIP car drivers in finishing fifth. In sixth was a fine Rob Wilson.
Former AC Milan player Daniele Massaro and Marco Cioci had a race to remember in the SportItalia VIP car. They ended the race in seventh, edging out Ravasio/Alessi. Fabrizio De Simone and Jodie Kidd came home in a respectable eleventh after a race that was uphill all the way. Gianmarino Zenere and former 250cc Moto GP Champion Tetsuya Harada, now more at home in the Trofeo GranSport, came 12th.
Alberto Cerrai is now on 61 points overall. In second are Hans Notter and Max Cattori on 53 points, with Maurizio Fabris third on 50.
The next race on the calendar is programmed for Silverstone on 10 July. The weekend will see the Trofeo GranSport race on the same English circuit as the Formula 1 single-seaters.
Maurizio Fabris: "Imola is definitely my track. I came third here last year, and now first. I am really pleased with this result that brings me back on track for the Championship."
Fabrizio De Simone: "It was a tough race for us. I wanted Jodie to start, so that she could drive the car in ideal conditions with brand new Pirelli tyres and fresh brakes, given that Imola is a very demanding circuit. She was hit at Tosa, by a car that was then given a stop & go penalty for that, but she managed to keep cool and had an amazing race. I am really pleased with her progress so far!"
Jodie Kidd: "What a race! The heat was almost unbearable, but when I got hit and managed to rejoin the race I couldn't feel it anymore: all that mattered was to catch up with the others and start overtaking! My co-driver Fabrizio also did amazingly well: we finished 11th, which I am quite happy with, although we could have ended up a lot better. My morale is very high now, and I look forward to racing in Silverstone."
