Vitaphone Racing on the prowl for the GT1 Team title

Modena, 1st October 2009 - This weekend the Paul Ricard racetrack in France will be hosting the seventh and next-to- last round of the FIA GT Championship. This time there will once again be three Maserati MC12s at the track, driven by Bertolini/Bartels (MC12 n° 1), Müller /Ramos (MC12 n° 2) and Pier Guidi/Bobbi (MC12 n° 33).

The reigning champions' MC12 will be weighed down by 95 kg of ballast, while the second Vitaphone Racing duo will be carrying 45 kg. The German team, depending on this race's results, may be able to secure the fifth consecutive team title in advance, since it is currently leading the ranks with a 21-point advantage over Pekaracing.
The Italian duo Pier Guidi/Bobbi, racing with the colors of the Vitaphone Racing DHL team, will start off carrying 45 kg of ballast.

The Paul Ricard circuit is a tough track for Modenese cars as the long straight stretches of track and restarts from medium-slow curves typical of this circuit favor cars that have broader restrictor plates. In 2006, year in which the circuit hosted the FIA GT for the first and only time, the Maserati MC12 driven by Davies/Biagi got third place.

Track activities will start on Friday with the free practices and prequalifying practices, and Saturday will feature the qualifying practices (11:35 am). As usual, the race itself will start at 2:15 pm local time on Sunday, and will last two hours.

Paul Ricard
Length of circuit: 5842 m

Time schedule
Qualifying: Saturday 3rd October, from 11.35 to 11.50
Race: Sunday 4th October, from 2.15pm to 4.15pm

Ballast:
Car no.1 - Bartels/Bertolini, Vitaphone Racing Team: +95 kg
Car no. 2 - Müller /Ramos, Vitaphone Racing Team: +45 kg
Car no. 33 - Pier Guidi/Bobbi, Vitaphone Racing Team DHL: +45 kg