FIA GT 2003: the Championship is concluded with third consecutive victory for Bertolini and De Simone in N-GT

More than thirty thousand people invaded the Autodromo of Monza in order to see last appointment of the FIA GT Championship. The final round has confirmed the Ferrari 360 Modena Pirelli of Andrea Bertolini and Fabrizio De Simone to be the best car currently in circulation in the N-GT championship. The third consecutive pole position and following victory represent the confirmation as "first in class". As Fabrizio De Simone has declared to the press, the last results of this 2003 Championship can be assigned to the qualities of the entire car and tyre package: "We have had the maximum combination of performances; power in order to obtain the maximum in qualifying, plus reliability for the duration of three hours of racing". An equilibrium that has been reconfirmed perfect, thanks also to the new Pirelli P Zero Racing tyres. The drivers championship in N-GT, the last trophy still to assign in FIA GT, has been conquered by Ortelli and Lieb on Porsche 996 GT3-RS, which lacked only a single point in order to arrive at the top of classification. The Porsche of team Freisinger Motorsport has been in difficulty in the end of season just because of the superpower of Ferrari JMB, but thanks to their good results at the beginning of the season it has been the car that altogether has demonstrated to deserve the title. Confirmation of results in GT category, where the Ferrari new 575 GTC equipped with the new Pirelli P Zero racing tyres has fought with honour, missing the podium by a fraction. Being completely new, the car has great development potential for 2004, the victory at Estoril and the fourth place of Babini and Peter joined to the fifth of Pescatori and Derichebourg here at Monza, have allowed the 2003 season to close with many hopes of success for the future. An unexpected transmission failure of the Viper Pirelli of Hezemans and Kumpen has interrupted an optimal race, considering the potential demonstrated with their pole position in GT. The championship FIA GT 2003 is closed, an event that has carried on the most important European circuits the taste of the speed and the sport. And, like always, the "voices of the paddock" already are speaking about the new challenges for 2004. GT Podium: 1. Cappellari / Gollin, Ferrari 550, 87 laps at average speed of 188.72 kph 2. Bryner / Calderari / Livio, Ferrari 550, at 37".544, average speed of 187.98 kph 3. Kampbell- Walter/Kinch, Lister Storm, a 1'.42".430, average speed of 186.73 kph N-GT Podium: 1. Bertolini/De Simone, Ferrari 360 Modena, 83 laps at average speed of 179,60 kph 2. Ortelli / Lieb, Porsche 996 GT3-RS, at 5 laps average speed of 176,66 kph 3. Jordan / Barff, Porsche 996 GT3-RS, at 5 laps average speed of 176.12 kph FIA GT 2003 championship - final classification 1. Biagi / Bobbi, ITALY, 69 p. 2. Cappellari / Gollin ITALY, 61 p. 3. Bryner / Calderari , SWITZERLAND, 57 p. Campionato FIA N-GT 2003 - final classification 1. Ortelli / Lieb, MONACO / GERMANY, 73 p. 2. Bertolini / De Simone, ITALY 59 / 65 p. 3. Davies / Sugden, GREAT BRITAIN, 55 / 43 p.