FIA GT 2004: second place in Dubai for Maserati MC12 - Pirelli

Second consecutive podium for the Maserati Pirelli of Herbert and De Simone that have fought for all the race against the Ferrari 550 of the Scuderia Italia team, victorious six turns only before the end. Moral winner of Dubai, like previewed, has been the climate. The cars and above all the drivers have suffered heavy temperatures, about 70C in the inside the front engine cars like Ferrari 575. Engines have generally withstander, in spite of the temperature and the sand. Warmth has conditioned the race's tactics, imposing four pit-stop to change the driver, because physically was not possible to face a turn of an hour like usual. Optimal behaviour of the Pirelli covers for all the teams, than in spite of the difficult, warmest and full of sand outside the trajectories asphalt, they have guaranteed good grip without to decay too much in the last laps. Although a good result in the qualifying, the Ferrari 575's race of the team GPC Squadra Corse has suffered some reliability problems, in particular to the gear box on the car of Babini and to the steering on that one of Naspetti. Great recovery of the pair Bartels - Alzen on Saleen S7-R Pirelli equipped, that starting in the last position, like previewed from the regulations in order to have replaced the engine, has finished in virtual fourth position that is third because the result is not available for the Maserati, being outside scoring. In N-GT still Porsche dominion, victorious also here with the only trouble represented from the Ferrari 360 Pirelli of the team GPC Squadra Corse. Next race: Zuhai, China, November 14, 2004