05/05/2007 - Misano - Official qualifying in the second round of the Sara GT Italian Gran Turismo championship was held this afternoon. Three Maseratis made it onto the starting grid.

In the GT3-B class, Mariano Bellin claimed two third places in the GranSport Light fielded by Advanced Engineering. In the first session, to decide the order for race 1, he stopped the clock at 1'46”844. In session two, valid for the race 2 grid, his time improved to 1'46”291.

In the GT Cup class, open to vehicles with single-make specifications, Giorgio Manuzzi, in the first of the two Seven Eleven Trofeo GranSports, obtained sixth spot in his class in the first session (1'50”859) and fifth in the second (1'50”728). Carlo Romani, in the twin car, ended the first session in eighth (1'57”193) and the second in seventh (1'55”979), as he gradually got to grips with the Romagna circuit.

Qualifying, despite today's uncertain weather, was held on a dry surface.

The two races wil be held tomorrow at 10.40 and at 16.10 and will each last 48 minutes + 1 lap.

Driver comments:

Mariano Bellin: "I really like the new track configuration. The car is in good shape even though, in the opening session, the inside rear wheel was a little sluggish. This was due to excessive front end roll. In session two we stiffened the front and reduced this effect."

Carlo Romani: "The new Misano set up is very interesting. The two sessions were incident free and I was especially pleased with the improvement made in the second session."

D.T.