FIA GT1: Hexis Aston Takes Dominant Win as Bertolini and Bartels Celebrate World Title

San Luis, Argentina, 5 Dec 2010 – Frederic Makowiecki and Yann Clairay, in the nr9 Hexis AMR Aston Martin DB9, took a dominant win in the Qualifying Race in Argentina, finishing 13 seconds ahead of Richard Westbrook and Thomas Mutsch in the nr5 Matech Competition Ford GT Matech after starting from 10th on the grid. 

Third place went to the Marc VDS Ford GT of Maxime Martin and Bas Leinders after they charged up the order from 12th at the start of the race to record their second top 3 finish of the season. 

While the top three teams celebrated is was all smiles in the Vitaphone Racing Team pit despite finishing in 12th place, Andrea Bertolini and Michael Bartels are crowned the 2010 FIA GT1 World Champions after the nr7 Young Driver AMR Aston Martin DB9 of Tomas Enge and Darren Turner failed to finish in the top three.  Vitaphone also secured the Team’s World Championship. 

The race got underway with Stefan Mücke in the nr8 Young Driver AMR Aston Martin on pole position.  Yann Clairay in the nr9 Hexis Aston also got a good start, pulling ahead of Mücke with the German tucking in behind at the first turn. However there was contact between the two cars with the nr8 Aston suffering from end damage and pulling into the pitlane to retire from the race.  The nr10 Hexis Aston of Jonathan Hirschi also span in avoidance but Hirschi managed to recover and rejoin in 9th place.  It was a good start for the Fords with Nicolas Armindo jumping up into 2nd place at the end of the opening lap in the nr6 Matech Ford, Thomas Mutsch up to 4th from 10th on the grid in the nr5 Ford and Bas Leinders up to 8th in the nr40 Marc VDS Ford.

On the next lap Mutsch made up another place by passing Dominik Schwager in the nr38 All Inkl Lamborghini.  The Safety car was deployed on lap 2 when the nr24 Reiter Lamborghini of Christopher Haase locked up under braking moving across into the side of the nr1 Vitaphone Maserati of Michael Bartels.  Bartels continued but the Lamborghini was stranded on the side of the track.

Racing resumed on lap 6 with Clairay maintaining his lead over the two Matech Fords.  However before the end of the lap the nr6 Ford slowed and stopped on the main straight with an electrical problem promoting the nr5 Ford and nr38 Lamborghini into 2nd and 3rd respectively.  Further back Jonathan Hirschi was moving back up the field, overtaking the nr40 Marc VDS Ford for 5th place on lap 8.

The pit window opened on the next lap with the leaders all coming in to change drivers and tyres.  After the pits the order was shaken up with Frederic Makowiecki in the lead at the wheel of the nr9 Hexis Aston, with Clivio Piccione in the nr10 Aston in second ahead of Peter Dumbreck in the nr23 Sumo Power Nissan and Richard Westbrook in the nr5 Matech Ford after a slow pitstop.  Westbrook was all over the rear wing of the Nissan as Dumbreck defended at every turn. On lap 15 the Piccione ran wide and Dumbreck had to  back off allowing Westbrook, Maxime Martin in the nr40 Ford and FRank Kechele in the nr25 Reiter Lamborghini to overtake him.  Before the end of the lap Westbrook moved up to 2nd as he swept ahead of the nr10 Aston Martin at Turn 19.

Meanwhile Makowiecki continued to extend his lead as the cars behind squabbled over the minor top three places, with Martin moving ahead of Piccione’s Aston for 3rd.  The Belgian driver then set the fastest lap of the race as he tried to get on terms with Westbrook’s Ford.

At the chequered flag Frederic Makowiecki claimed his second Qualifying Race win of the 2010 season, with the two Ford GTs 13-seconds further back.  On the wall the whole Vitaphone Racing Team went wild as Andrea Bertolini took the chequered flag in 12th place to claim the 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship title for himself, Michael Bartels and the Vitaphone team.

Michel Bartels watches as team mate Andrea Bertolini takes chequered flag in 12th place to claim the 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship title for the Vitaphone team

Michael Bartels/ Nr1 Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC12

“This championship is not comparable with the last few championships. We have one or two teams we were up against but this year we had a top level of drivers and teams pushing us all the time.We had new rules to adapt to, we had to redevelop the car for the 2010 regulations. We probably won’t realize it today but when we are back in Europe it will sink in that it is something special. In the last few races with the lead we had it was expected that we would win but we had to make sure we didn’t make any crazy mistakes because mathematically we could have thrown it away. We were not fighting for the last metre to the chequered flag but we still had to bring it home. It was a really remember in 2007 in Zolder we had to finish third to win the championship by two points. This was more under control but it was a big team effort right from the beginning. In Abu Dhabi and Silverstone we were not so competitive but we kept our minds focused and concentrated and we took our chances when they came.

“We always collected our points and when we had our chances we won races. We made one or two less mistakes than our rivals and if you do that you are there. The Qualifying and Qualifying Races were really important. In the middle of the season when we had our run and we collected a lot of points on Saturday, that was the key because they were free of charge – no weight. After a victory in the Championship Race and you pick up (success ballast) weight for the next race you are not so competitive.

“One of the advantages we had as drivers was that me and Andrea we know each other so well, we know when to push and when to take it easy and bring the car home. We have a blind understanding between us. None is jealous of the other or who is quickest and the other way around. We do our job in a very disciplined style and we get rewards.”

Andrea Bertolini/ Nr 1 Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC12

“It was really long season with two races each weekend. The team was very focussed, they check every detail, they are very professional about what they do and this makes the job for Michael and me that little bit easier because we know when we get in the car everything will work the best it can. It’s a really exciting format. It’s one of the nicest championships I have been involved with. It is a really top class show. To win this championship with the new format is very satisfying. Even when we had weight like 40 kilos we scored points and kept our challenge going. For me, working with Maserati is like being with a family. They give me the motivation just like I had with my time with Ferrari.

“It has been a pleasure again to work with the Vitaphone team. They are a great group every member of the team is very motivated to do the best job they can. They deserve this championship for being professional for the whole season and doing a great job to have the car well prepared and for their great work in the pit stops. Now I want to get home to my wife and my son who I haven’t seen for 16 days and celebrate with them.”