Mika Salo will be rejoining Maserati Reparto Corse next weekend when he gets behind the wheel of the MC12 sportscar again, in time for the next round of the ALMS series at Portland.

The Finnish former Ferrari F1 driver joined the Maserati Reparto Corse programme last May, assisting the Trident's official test driver Andrea Bertolini who was at that point shouldering the bulk of development work. The pair were joined by Johnny Herbert and Fabrizio De Simone - in a second example of the awesome V12-engined sportscar - for the MC12's official debut at the Imola round of the FIA GT Championship last September. Salo and Bertolini finished in in second place on the debut, joined on the podium by their team-mates, to give Maserati at superb return to top-level motor racing.

Born in Helsinki, Finland, Salo ended his Formula One career with the Toyota team in 2002, after a winding Grand Prix journey that also took in stints at Tyrell, Arrows, BAR, Sauber and Ferrari. Since then he has driven in the United States in the Champ Cars series which has gained him valuable experience on tracks now being faced by Maserati in the ALMS debut year. He has a close relationship with Ferrari F1 team boss Jean Todt, having been drafted into the Ferrari team to replace the injured Michael Schumacher in 1999. It has not been forgotten that the German Grand Prix was his for the taking before he was ordered to move over to allow Eddie Irvine to claim victory for Ferrari. This is believed to have helped him secure the Maserati drive as last year the Trident marque was still firmly under the control of Ferrari.

In late September 2004 - during the ninth round of the FIA GT Championship at Oschersleben - things went one better for Maserati as Salo and Bertolini notched up the marque's first international race victory since 1967, a very long gap judged by the rich standards of the historic Modena marque, who were also celebrating their 90th anniversary last year. The pair overcame difficult race conditions to claim the victory by more than a lap. However, Maserati Repato Corse were denied a 1-2 finish only by a freak tyre problem that caused Fabrizio de Simone to require an additional, unscheduled pit stop.

“I am very pleased with this win as I have never raced on the circuit before," commented a delighted Salo after the race. "Having a good set up was much more important than at Imola," added the Finn, before concluding, "Everything went well in the race, after the first stop we took on a lot of fuel but we stayed focused and consistent, determined to win despite the handicap weight of 95kg. We only had a few problems with the radio. Fifteen laps from the finish I eased up a touch and controlled the race." The pair retired with engine failure in the season's penultimate FIA GT race - held in Dubai - before rounding out the year with a second victory in four outings, in the series' closing racing, round the Zuhai circuit, in China.
 

Now Salo returns to the Maserati Reparto Corse driving line-up in time for the fifth round of the American Le Mans Series, which takes place at Portland next weekend. The Portland International Raceway first began hosting motor racing events in the early 1960s. Today it has grown into one of the USA premier circuits. 1.967 miles in length it comprises of 12 turns, with no banking and unusually only five feet of elevation changes. Maserati have switched to the ALMS series this year, leaving two customer team's to fly the Trident's flag in the FIA GT Championship.

Maserati Reparto Corse are being aided - strategically and logistically - in their quest for American glory by Risi Competizione, a team which can boast a wealth of experience racing Ferraris over many years. Pirelli are also a development partner in the project, while Italian drivers Andrea Bertolini, Fabrizio De Simone and Fabio Babini have all been behind the wheel of the MC12 at some point.

However the team have struggled thus far to make an impact in the closely-fought GT1 class where they are ranged against the title-defending, mega-budget, factory-entered Chevrolet Corvette C-6R, as well as the Saleen S-7R, which has benefited from a recent relaxing of its aerodynamic restrictions. The Maserati MC12 was also initially handed a severe weight and air restrictor penalty, although this has been gradually reduced on a race-by-race basis. Now Maserati hope that the speed and experience of Salo will add another factor to their bid to become competitive.