MOTORSPORT NEWS ARCHIVE

Maserati take GT World Championship

Maserati MC12 drivers Michael Bartels and Timo Scheider have provisionally clinched the 2005 FIA GT championship in the season ending race in Bahrain, providing the legendary Italian car maker with the GT Championship trifecta after it clinched the manufacturers' title in the Istanbul round and the Vitaphone Team guided its Maserati MC12s to the team prize Dubai.

The Maserati MC12 has proven to be remarkably consistent and reliable, as well as very fast, giving its drivers five wins and 20 podium finishes and proving to be equally successful in both long distance and sprint races.

Michael Bartels and Timo Scheider came home fourth in Bahrain, the best placed finishers among the drivers going for the title. Lamy/Gardel's number 11 Ferrari 550 Maranello was fourth across the line but was later excluded by the sporting commissioners. The decision was taken after technical checks revealed that three litres of fuel, required by the regulations, were missing from the tanks. Team Labre, who fielded car number 11, have lodged an appeal. The award of the GT1 Drivers title is pending this appeal.

The race was won by Christophe Bouchut and Antonio Garcia in a car fielded by Russian Age Racing. Next came Philipp Peter and Jamie Davies in the JMB Racing Maserati MC12. Davies also set the fastest lap of 1'56"478 on lap 61.

Third spot was filled by Kumpen/Hezemans/Longin's Corvette.

Michael Bartels and Timo Scheider took fifth in the MC12, just behind Pedro Lamy and Gabriele Gardel who, with this result, claimed the title. Karl Wendlinger and Andrea Bertolini were unable to defend their overall lead after their bevel gear gave way on lap nine. The driver from Sassuolo was holding second at the time, behind Bouchut. It was the first retirement of the season for the pair.

15/12/05