Baldi to take a victory bow at Mugello

Mugello, the eighth and last round in the Trofeo Maserati GranTurismo, will see David Baldi take his victory bow after claiming the title with a round to spare at Vallelunga. Also celebrating this weekend will be AF Corse who triumphed in the Team series thanks to their pairing of Cedric Sbirrazzuoli/Alessandro Chionna. Baldi successfully closed out a season that had seen him lead from the first round at Imola. So far, he has picked up three overall and six category wins while also managing to hold off his most dangerous rivals: Nicolò Piancastelli and Gaetano Ardagna, now sitting second and third. Piancastelli and Ardagna will be battling it out to decide the other two podium slots and to win the other prizes on offer: “Trofeo under 30”, “Premio Pole Position” and “Premio Vittorie di Manches”. Also up for grabs, but out of reach of the two podium contenders, is the “Trofeo over 50”.

The format used at Vallelunga will also be employed at Mugello. This will see the Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo entrants on the track with cars from the GT Cup series. The races will be longer with more points awarded and the drivers will have to make an obligatory 45 second pit stop.

In the No.18 Radio Monte Carlo car, the non-points scoring entry reserved to journalists, will be two Autosprint representatives: Alberto Sabbatini and Sergio Remondino. The other two drivers who will not pick up any points are Andrea Bertolini, the reigning FIA GT1 champion, and Alessandro Pier Guidi. The two are competing in this year’s Superstars International Series for the private Swiss Team squad.

Radio Monte Carlo will be following the action from Mugello on its weekly ‘RMC motori’ and RMC Music & Sport’ programmes. Sunday’s link is scheduled for 15.30 with the races broadcast by Italian digital terrestrial channel ‘Nuvolari’ (also available on satellite).

Video clips will be available at www.thenewsmarket.com while the www.maseraticorse.com website will publish in-depth reports and driver interviews during the weekend.

The programme

Friday 30 September
11.30 – 12.20 Free practice 1
16.55 – 17.45 Free practice 2

Saturday 1 October
09.50 – 10.20 Race 1 qualifying
15.10 – 15.40 Race 2 qualifying

Sunday 2 October
11.10 – 12.00 Race 1 (48’ + 1 lap)
16.40 – 17.30 Race 1 (48’ + 1 lap)

Maserati Corse Press Office, Filippo Ghialamberti, GSM +39 347 5339022, mediaracing@maserati.com
Photo: credits Maserati/Mario Chiarappa