FIA GT - Maserati Scores Historic 1-2 on Points Debut in China

ZHUHAI, China, November 14 -- Race Result

No. 33 Andrea Bertolini/Mika Salo - 1 - 113 laps - 3hr 1min 11.193secs average speed 160.85km/h - chassis n. 06/15442

No. 34 Johnny Herbert/Fabrizio De Simone - 2 - 113 laps - 3hr 1 min 12.864secs average speed 160.82km/h - chassis n. 03/15440

Weather: hot and humid

Circuit length: 4.3 km

Maserati scored an historic first and second place with the all-new MC12 car in the final round of the 2004 FIA GT championship at the Zhuhai circuit in China. Andrea Bertolini and Mika Salo drove car number 33 to victory ahead of team mates Johnny Herbert and Fabrizio De Simone in car 34 after three hours of all-action racing.

The MC12 was finally homologated by the FIA at the last World Council meeting on 13 October and today the AF Corse race team scored the maximum points available in this race towards the drivers' and constructors' championships. The MC12 has raced in the 2004 FIA GT Championship but was previously unable to score any points due to homologation issues.

Maserati SpA Chief Executive Martin Leach today commented; 'Today's end-of-season victory lays down a marker for the other teams competing in the 2005 FIA GT Championship that Maserati is hungry to fill the motorsport trophy cabinet at Modena in the style of the glory days of the 1950s and 1960s.'