Maserati and Pirelli return to winning ways in Bucharest

MASERATI AND PIRELLI RETURN
TO WINNING WAYS IN BUCHAREST

Bertolini-Piccini dominate a rainy and incident-packed race with their Playteam MC12-Pirelli. Collard-Malucelli and Lieb-Felbermayr finish on the GT2 podium with their PZero-equipped Porsches.


Bucharest (RO), 20 May 2007- The combination of Pirelli and Maserati has returned to the winner's circle in Bucharest, after a race held almost entirely in heavy rain. The win takes on an extra significance as the victorious MC12 covered the entire race distance on a single set of PZero Racing tyres. This rubber proved itself to be effective in all conditions, allowing Bertolini and Piccini to set excellent lap times even in the race's closing stages.

As the 2006 FIA GT Champion Andrea Bertolini pointed out: "Pirelli's wet PZero Racing tyres allowed us to pull out a gap over our rivals, demonstrating remarkably consistent performance throughout the entire race. We crossed the finish line a minute ahead of the second-placed car, and a large part of our success can be directly attributed to our tyres".

The other Playteam Maserati MC12-Pirelli driven by Pier Guidi and Giannoccaro which claimed pole position was forced into retirement by an accident that took place while Giannoccaro was driving. Another impact with a guardrail was the reason behind Toccacelo and Monfardini's retirement in their Pirelli-equipped Aston Martin Racing-BMS DBR9. The sister car of Babini and Davies was seventh in GT1, having fought hard to make up places after starting from the middle of the grid.

In GT2, the Collard-Malucelli's Porsche was second ahead of the other 911 driven by Lieb and Felbermayr. Both cars were using Pirelli tyres. Nonetheless, the Collard-Malucelli 997 GT3-RSR was particularly unlucky. A puncture and a stop-and-go penalty inflicted upon Malucelli which cost a good minute prevented the PZero Racing-equipped BMS-Scuderia Italia Porsche from fighting for class victory.

Pierluigi De Cancellis, Pirelli Competizioni's circuit manager, commented: "The Bucharest race demonstrated the performance of Pirelli's tyres in horrific conditions, on a surface made extremely tricky because of the rain, and alongside guardrails that did not forgive even the slightest mistake. The wet Pirelli PZero Racing tyres is what made the difference for the Maserati MC12 compared to its rivals just as was the case in qualifying yesterday. These results speak for themselves".


For more information and pictures on Pirelli's motorsport activities visit: www.pirellicompetizioni.com

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