Maserati record GT1 win in Brazil

The #2 Vitaphone Maserati provided a home victory for Brazil yesterday when Enrique Bernoldi and new-comer Xandi Negrao came home ahead of the Aston Martin of Darren Turner and Thomas Enge. The Corvette of Alex Margaritis and Marc Hennerici rounded out the podium.

At the halfway stage, Turner came out of the pit-stop and driver-change in the lead, but the Brazilian newcomer used every bit of home-town track knowledge to pass turner on lap 29. “The Brazilian boys did really well,” said Turner afterwards, “The temperature was higher today which doesn't suit the Aston. We are really happy to have made the podium and scored some good points. At the beginning of the weekend we didn't expect to be as competitive.”

Championship leaders Michael Bartels and Andrea Bertolini came home in ninth place, but none of their close challengers were able to make any great inroads into their lead. They remain on-ourse, with just one round to go, of claiming the FIA's first ever GT1 World Championship

The Vitaphone Racing Team victory of Bernoldi and Negrao also strengthened the teams grip on the team championship with just one round to go in Argentina next weekend.