At the third round of the FIA GT international championship held at the German circuit of Oschersleben, the Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC12 with Michael Bartels and Andrea Bertolini on board today took their first pole of the season (Saturday 1 July). With a time of 1'21"520, the MC12 driven by German Bartels edged out Bert-Janis (second in 1'21"853) and the Corvette driven by Hezemans-Longin-Kumpen (third in 1'22"222).
The other Maserati MC12 with Jamie Davies and Italian Thomas Diagi behind the wheel, also did well. They will start from the second row having claimed the fourth fastest time overall (1'22"290).
Michael Bartels needed only four laps of the tortuous Oschersleben circuit to set his fast time and repeat the fabulous performances on the German track in the MC12. The Trident, in 2005, scored a one-two with Biagi-Babini taking the win from Bertolini-Wendlinger.
After the fourth row on the grid at Silverstone (England) in the first round of the season with Bertolini-Bartels and the second place at Brno (Czech Republic) with Davies-Diagi's MC12, the Oschersleben pole confirms Maserati's place at the top of the gran turismo standings.



Tomorrow, Sunday 2 July, the three hour race will start at 13.30.
"The weekend started well", declared Michael Bartels. "For me, it is my home race and I care more about it. The race, as ever, lasts three hours and we have to concentrate to the end. Maybe I could have done better during the first qualifying lap but the traffic slowed me down. Pirelli supplied new tyres with a medium-soft mix and they proved to be competitive on the tough Oschersleben circuit".

FIA GT championship, qualifying at Oschersleben (Germany):
1. Bartels-Bertolini (Maserati MC12) 1'21"520
2. Bert-Janis (Saleen S7R) 1'21"853
3. Hezemans-Longin-Kumpen (Corvette C6) 1'22"222
4. Davies-Biagi (Maserati MC12) 1'22"290
5. Deletraz-Piccini (Aston Martin DBR9) 1'22"352
6. Ramos-Pescatori (Aston Martin DBR9) 1'22"973