Modena, 14 September 2011 – The Trofeo Maserati GranTurismo MC makes a return to Italy for the final two decisive rounds of the 2011 season. Vallelunga will be the setting for the seventh round of the championship before the circus moves on to Mugello. David Baldi, leader of the Trofeo standings since the opening round at Imola, left Valencia with a smile after pocketing a win and a second spot. This haul put him 20 points up on rival Gaetano Ardagna. The Venezuelan, despite twice finishing on the podium in Spain, will have to keep an eye on third-placed Nicolò Piancastelli as well as looking to overtake the current leader. Piancastelli is just 3 points off Ardagna after a victory and a second place at the Ricardo Tormo circuit.
Anything could happen this weekend thanks to the revised format for the last two rounds. Vallelunga and Mugello will see longer races of 48 minutes (and one lap) instead of the usual 38 (and a lap). Also, there will be 20% more points on offer to the drivers. Another novelty will be the fact that, at Vallelunga, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeos will take to the track alongside the cars competing in the Italian Gran Turismo Championship. The drivers will all fight it out on the track but the final race orders will be based on the cars’ category.
In the No.18 Radio Monte Carlo car, the non-points scoring entry reserved to journalists, will be Massimiliano De Giovanni, from Millionaire magazine, and Massimo Arduini from the Odeon channel’s Safe & Drive programme. Another guest at Vallelunga will be Andrea Bertolini, the reigning world FIA GT1 champion. Bertolini is this year appearing in the International Superstars Series, driving a Maserati Quattroporte Evo for Swiss Team. He will be joined on the starting grid by his team mate Alessandro Pier Guidi. The two drivers will compete as guests and so will not score any championship points.
Vallelunga will mark the return to action of Scuderia Jolly Club and its drivers Olivier Doeblin and Emanuele Smurra, winner of the Trofeo Maserati in 2003. The AF Corse crew of Sbirrazzuoli/Chionna will be trying to seal the Team title as the Swiss Team duo of Durante/Grassi, in second, seem to be too far off the pace to catch them.
Radio Monte Carlo will be following the action from Vallelunga on its weekly ‘RMC motori’ and RMC Music & Sport’ programmes. Sunday’s link is scheduled for 15.30 with the races broadcast by Italian channel Nuvolari (also available on satellite).
Video clips will be available at www.thenewsmarket.com while the www.maseraticorse.com website will publish in-depth reports and driver interviews during the weekend.
The programme
Friday 16 September
12.20 – 13.10 Free practice 1
17.20 – 18.10 Free practice 2
Saturday 17 September
09.50 – 10.10 Qualifying 1
13.30 – 13.50 Qualifying 2
18.10 – 19.00 Race 1 (48’ + 1 lap)
Sunday 18 September
13.20 – 14.10 Race 2 (48’ + 1 lap)
Maserati Corse Press Office, Filippo Ghialamberti,
mediaracing@maserati.com
Photo: credits Maserati/Mario Chiarappa