Thanks to his second place in the latest round of the championship at Valencia, Alberto Cerrai has won the Trofeo Vodafone Maserati Europa at the third attempt.

For the record, the race was won by Maurizio Fabris. In second came Cerrai and then Notter/Cattori.
The championship victory was a deserved one for the Roman driver. He scored wins in Barcelona, Silverstone and Nuerburgring and also secured two second and two third places. Cerrai notched his first pole position in the Trident single-make series in Valencia. He finished second overall in 2003 and third a year later.
Thanks to Cerrai's success, Samocar have collected the dealership title.


In the overall classification, the Swiss crew of Max Notter and Hans Cattori end the season in second thanks to four second spots, a third, one fourth and a fifth place. They ended this year in the same position as last when they enjoyed a tight duel with Andrea Palma until the very end. Unfortunately, the pair have to be content with the silver medal once again.

Maurizio Fabris, the Italian who drives with an English licence owing to his mother's nationality, was the other main player in the Trofeo Vodafone Maserati Europa. He was the only other driver to triumph on three occasions: Imola, Spa and here at Valencia. He also finished on the podium when he came third at Monza. Fabris was unlucky at Nuerburgring otherwise he would have been in with a chance of victory.

Emanuele and Stanislao Smurra remain fourth in the overall classification after their retirement at Valencia. They were one place ahead of the crew formed by Francesco Ravasio and Diego Alessi. The result was in the balance right up until the chequered flag. Diego Alessi took the lead at the start. Just behind him was Marcel Costa, in the Pirelli VIP car, and Alberto Cerrai. These two went all out for the lead and Cerrai, with half an eye on the title, made way for Costa. Behind them Fabris was waiting for his moment to strike.

Costa was forced to pull out of the race at the pit stop. Fabris moved into the lead while Cerrai held second from Ravasio/Alessi. In the end they would be overhauled by Notter/Cattori and Andrea De Megni. De Megni, in the Pakelo VIP car, took the overall win in the Sponsor Drivers' Classification.

Ravasio/Alessi scored. their best result of the season to finish ahead of Alberto Vescovi in sixth. Zenere/Harada (GFL23 VIP car second in the Sponsor Drivers' table) were seventh and Fiata/Panacci came eighth. Walter Forer crossed the line in ninth, just in front of Armando Roggero. The other VIP cars had an unfortunate time as Marcel Costa/Francesco De Beaumont (Pirelli VIP car) had to retire and the Eurosport car with David Serra Cervera/Fabio Francia on board twice left the track.



The Vitaphone VIP car driven by the young German pairing of Katie Droste/Mario Kossmehl ended the race in seventh bit were hit with a 25 second penalty for an infringement during the rolling start. Thus, they classified thirteenth. The journalist crew of Victor Seara and Jacobo Vega, despite going off the track at one point, managed to finish the race.

The Trofeo Maserati still has another two dates in the calendar. On 4 December the city circuit of Florianopolis in Brazil will host the invitation-only Finals. On the day a select group of drivers from the Trofeo Vodafone Maserati Europa and the Trofeo Brasile (that ends on 20 November at Interlagos) will be battling it out. The Trofeo will also be making an appearance at the Bologna motorshow.

Maserati also plans to hold a Trofeo Maserati championship in the United States.