06/07/2008 - Oschersleben

Good results here at Oschersleben for Andrea Bertolini and Michael Bartels, who, driving one of Vitaphone Racing Team's Maserati MC12s, have continued the series of successful races that have enabled them to lead the Driver's Classification with a 2-point advantage over Wendlinger/Sharp, while the Vitaphone Racing Team is solidly on top in the Team's classification. A sensational recovery for Miguel Ramos and Alexander Negraõ, who, thanks to a an excellent pit stop strategy and bold driving, just missed the podium after having started out from twelfth place due to a penalty owed from Adria.
The race was full of dramatic surprises. At the start Bartels quickly overtook the Lopez's Ferrari, while Ramos went to the pit lane to allow Negraõ a long middle stint which turned out to be a winning tactic.


At the 33rd lap, Bartels handed the car over to Bertolini, who drove the MC12 within an inch of victory after masterfully overtaking Lichtner-Hoyer and Deletraz. Unfortunately the safety car entered the track at the 60th lap, which ruined the plans of Berto lini-Bartels, enabling their opponents to carry out the last pit stop in safety car mode, when MC12 no. 1 had surpassed the pit lane way. The race ended with Bartels's attempt at snatching the podium by overtaking Fassler: this impetuous move made the German slide into fifth place, enabling Ramos to attack Fassler, but by then there were only a few curves left to do before the race ended.
The third MC12 with gentlemen drivers Ben Aucott and Alain Ferté (JMB Racing) at the wheel got a good ninth place. Now the team will travel to Belgium for testing in preparation for Spa Francorchamps's 24-hour race, the championship's highlight race scheduled for 2 and 3 August.