On the English circuit of Silverstone today the Maserati MC12 driven by Michael Bartels and Andrea Bertolini won the first race of the 2006 FIA GT Championship and picked up the prestigious 'Tourist Trophy'. The Modenese car beat off the challenge of Bert and Janis' Saleen S7R and the Aston Martin DBR9 driven by Gollin and Babini. The other Maserati MC12, fielded by the Vitaphone Racing Team, also did well as Jamie Davies and Thomas Biagi steered it to fifth place. At the end of three hours and 95 laps o racing, Bartels-Babini's overall time was 3h00'40"717, covered at an average speed of 162 km/h; 4"735 faster than their adversaries.

The race began in uncertain weather and with the asphalt difficult to read after the morning's rain. This meant that the teams had to fit intermediate Pirelli tyres. Starting from second and fourth places on the grid, Bertolini and Davies attacked from the off and immediately gained two places. On lap three, Bertolini moved into second place while Davies, following a spin, slipped down to fifteenth spot. After half an hour of racing, Bertolini's MC12 took the lead and Davies climbed to third after an extraordinary comeback. The track began to dry out when the sun shone and, forty minutes in, Bertolini came into the pits to switch to slicks and refuel. Davies mirrored the move two laps later. This strategy, decided in an instant, proved to be a winning one.

After their stops, Bertolini and Davies came back onto the track in 5th and 7th place. An hour into the 3-hour event, Bertolini had climbed to third and, by setting the best lap times, closed in on Janis' Saleen and Piccini in the Aston Martin, who were in first and second place respectively. Davies, despite some visibility problems, held onto fourth place. On the course of lap 35, Bertolini claimed top spot with his team mate Davies moved into third.
 

By the end of the second hour of the 'Tourist Throphy' the Vitaphone driver changes had been made (between laps 51 and 53.) Now in the driving seat of the two Maserati MC12s were Michael Bartels and Thomas Biagi, and they were well positioned in second and fourth place on track. With the obligatory pit stops over, the German driver Bartels took the lead and steadily increased his advantage over his pursuer Janis (Saleen) until it reached a full minute, half an hour from the finish. The plan at the beginning of the race proved spot on as, eighteen minutes from the chequered flag, Bartels came in for his final fuel stop after an earlier tyre change. The lead he had built allowed him to come back onto the track in first place. From there it was simply a cruise to the finish.

Claudio Berro: "It was a great win for team Vitaphone, obtained in a fantastic car, with impeccable drivers and a perfect strategy. The Pirelli intermediate tyres allowed us to lead our adversaries early on. The second MC12 also did well and just missed out on the podium. Team Vitaphone has proved once more to be one of the contenders in this championship and we at Maserati are happy that they can use our cars."

Andrea Bertolini: "I am extremely pleased as it was a memorable race. Team Vitaphone proved to be very competitive and winning this first race of the season fills me with joy. Also, winning with Maserati is always special. The race was very difficult, unlike last year. It was more a victory of strategy rather than performance which rewarded our consistency in the race. Now we have to continue working as our adversaries are top level."

Michael Bartels: "Winning the Tourist Trophy is extraordinary for us and it was emotional receiving the Sir Sterling Moss trophy. It was not an easy weekend because of the variable weather. The race seemed to reflect this uncertainty. Luckily, we prepared by focusing all our work on the race. Our consistent performance was the key to success and the Pirelli intermediate tyres that performed well. At the end of the race we stopped for a splash&go but did not have to change the tyres. This allowed us to manage our lead over Saleen. It is a special win for us both, for team Vitaphone and Maserati."