Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europa - Second race at the English circuit of Silverstone

With the today (Friday May 5th) free practice session, at the English circuit of Silverstone started the second round of the Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europa 2006. The season began at Monza on 2 April and for this second race of the seven on the calendar, 18 Maserati GranSport Trofeos and 24 drivers are expected (the entrants include eight two-man crews). At the and of the practice, best time for Diego Alessi (2'02"518) followed by Alberto Cerrai (2'02"557) and Maurizio Fabris (2'04"137).

Trofeo Maserati 2005 winner Alberto Cerrai was victorious in the first Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati race. He beat off the challenge of Maurizio Fabris and Manuel Villa in taking the chequered flag. Cerrai ended the 23 lap Monza race with an overall time of 51'38"907, 23"294 and 31"154 faster, respectively, than his two direct adversaries.


Thus, Cerrai arrives at Silverstone as one of the favourites having already won on the circuit in past championships. However, Fabris, Alberto Pizzicannella, and the young Nicolò Oddi could surprise him. Among the new names at Silverstone are Antonio Andolfato, Juergen Marquard and Giorgio Bartocci. Mark Ales will pair up with Jean Claude Andruet in the Audemars Piguet VIP car; in the Toora car will be Keith Wood and Roberto Giordanelli; driving in the Pakelo liveried vehicle will be Andrea Demegni and the fourth VIP car will be occupied by the English crew formed by Oliver Jarvis and Edd Straw.

Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europa events are run on the same weekends the FIA GT and the World Turismo (WTCC) championships. After Monza and Silverstone, the Trofeo series moves on to Brno (Czech Republic, 28 May), Oschersleben (Germany, 2 July), Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium, 29 July), Mugello (Italy, 17 September) and Valencia (Spain, 8 October).

The car employed in the series is an updated and improved version of the 2005 Maserati GranSport Trofeo. The Maserati Corse technicians have paid close attention to the car's performance and reliability: the GranSport's strengths. These develops were made in collaboration with our technical partners, in particular Pirelli, Campana, Pakelo, PTC and Toora.

Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europa 2006 classification after the first race:
1. Cerrai 25 points
2. Fabris 20
3. Villa 16
4. Demegni 13
5. Pizzicannella 11

The Silverstone programme:
Circuit length: 5,141 m.

Friday 5 May
14.30-15.30 free practice

Saturday 6 May
13.15-14.00 qualifying

Sunday 7 May
10.05-10.55 race