The twelfth edition of International FIA GT Championship, dedicated to the top and powerful GT cars will start this week end in Silverstone.
It's the tenth time that the Championship visits the well-know British Circuit. From 2005 season, moreover, Silverstone assigns the most prestigious Tourist Trophy, an international Cup elected in the 1905 from the British Royal Automobile Club. During his long history Silverstone's Tourist Trophy enriched his roll of honour thank to big names like Stirling Moss, Graham Hill, Denis Hulme and Derek Bell. Maserati has won two of three more recent editions of the TT; last year the winning duo was enriched from Thomas Biagi and Mika Salo. In 2006 Maserati MC12's victory was built thank to the Andrea Bertolini, Michael Bartels crew; both successes with cars managed from the German - based Vitaphone Racing Team. Bertolini and Bartels rejoined himself this year and without doubt they are the top drivers of the German squad that will have the hard task to defend the double title (team's and driver standings) won in 2007. Beside the N.1 car, the Vitaphone Racing Team lines up a Latin crew composed from confirmed Miguel Ramos (POR) and from twenty two old Brazilian Alexander Negrão, who coming from GP2 series, and recently engaged in A1 GP round, raced in Shangai. Both the cars will mounted Michelin tyres.

A third Maserati MC12 has been prepared from Principate of Monaco's -based JMB Racing for Maurice Basso and Peter Kutemann. The Montecarlo's squad has gained thank to Modena's 12 cylinders the Citation Cup 2007 dedicated to the gentleman driver's. The eve of Silverstone round is long awaited for the increased interest of the Championship. Official entry list of the race print approximately 100 cars, thanks to the hot interested around the FIA GT Championship and, at least but not last, thank to the beauty of the famous Northamptonshire circuit measures 5.140 meters, situated to approximately 25 Kilometres from Oxford and 110 from London.

Andrea BERTOLINI (Maserati MC12 Vitaphone Racing Team) N. 1: "Finally it's time to start. I'm particularly motivated and enthusiastic for the opening of the new Championship. This winter we have not run many sessions of test, but after Estoril and Monza practices I can say that we have at disposal highly competitive means and Michelin tyres absolutely at the top. We are undoubtedly the favourites, and that situation is a big responsibility t o us, while the fact to rejoin Michael Bartels in the same car is ulterior point of force. We have won together in 2006 and our feeling and the understanding in the work and in human relationship are at maximum. For Silverstone we are ready, I know that rain is previewed, but we are not particularly worried for wet condition. Probably we will suffer a little bit in practice due to the prescribed technical limitations on our air restrictors. This year I have another big motivation thank to fact that I become dad of Alessandro last 18th of March".

Program TT Trophy, Round 1 FIA GT International Championship (PARIS TIME)
Saturday April 19th: 10.00-12.00 Free Practices; 12.30-13.50 Pre Qualifying Practices; 18.15-18.50 Qualifying Practices Sunday April 20th: 10.00-10.30 Warm Up; 13.15-15.15 RACE