Monza - Monza will host the fourth round of the FIA GT next week, starting from Saturday 23 with practice. Maserati is currently leading the FIA GT1 Manufacturers Cup while the Vitaphone Racing Team, that will field two MC12s, heads the Teams Championship. In the three races held so far, two (Silverstone and Bucarest) were won by the Modenese GT cars with Biagi/Salo in Great Britain and Bertolini/Piccini in Romania.

Monza is not one of the favourite circuits for the MC12 as all the MC12 have to employ smaller restrictors then those fitted on competitor cars. This modification reduces significantly the power output and, as a consequence, the car's overall top speed. The MC12s will thus have to try to make the most of the fine traction and handling that has seen them perform splendidly this season. However, the Maseratis may not be able to fully display their potential on Monza's long straights.



The last race, held on the new circuit of Bucarest was dominated by the Playteam MC12 driven by Bertolini/Piccini. Completing a good day for the Modenese company was the third spot taken by Ramos/Montanari. These performances resulted in the Federation assigning a further 40kg of ballast to Bertolini/Piccini and 20kg to Ramos/Montanari, in addiction to the 25kg, that they have to carry for the entire season, as decided by the Technical Bureau of the FIA in order to balance the performance of all the cars.

Maserati has decided to make the Monza weekend a memorable one by organising a Maserati Day. A seating area will be reserved to staff, with collectors, clients, dealers and sponsors also in attendance. The entire 2007 Maserati range will be on display, and it will include the GranTurismo presented at the Geneva Motorshow and the Quattroporte Automatic unveiled in Detroit. Also on show will be the MC12 Versione Corse (which derives from the model that appears in the FIA GT), and the Birdcage 75th concept car. Jewels from a bygone age include a Birdcage Type 61, a Birdcage Type 63 and the 420/M/58 'Eldorado' that made its debut in 1958 at Monza with Stirling Moss behind the wheel.

The Monza weekend will begin with two free practice sessions on Saturday (at 9.00 and 12.35) while qualifying to decide the grid line-up will take place at 16.45. Sunday will start with the 9.00 warm-up session to be followed by the two-hour race timed for 13.15.