Car N. 1 - Bartels/Bertolini (Vitaphone Racing Team) - pos. 2°
Car N. 2 - Ramos/Müller (Vitaphone Racing Team) - - pos. 3°

Weather: cloudy (18°), dry (26°)
Length: 3.696 m

The two Maserati MC12s end up on the podium (second and third place) at Vitaphone Racing Team's "home" circuit upon conclusion of a hard fought race that was affected by rain and by contact at the very first curve.

At the start Wendlinger's Saleen hit Mueller's Maserati MC12 no. 2, which had set off from pole position, and his car in turn collided with Maassen's Corvette. The worst off in the impact was the Dutchman who was forced to return to the pit, and Mueller who found himself in last place, while Bertolini lost two positions. At that point Mueller managed an incredible recovery, performing an amazing driving stint that enabled him to climb to second place by the first pit stop.

It started raining right as the drivers were switching over, which forced everyone to change to rain tires. The rain intensified, causing numerous cars to run off track.

At the end the first car to make it to the finish line was Kumpen/Hezemans's Corvette, which took advantage of a lengthy central stint, stopping only once to refuel.

Alex Mueller: "I think I started off well, but then I found myself sandwiched between two vehicles. Nevertheless, I was driving a perfect car, which enabled me to recover well after helping me to get pole position yesterday. The race was difficult and we are happy to have finished it on the podium and to have improved our score".

Next race: 25 July in Spa, Belgium, for the Total 24 Hours. In all probability, the Maserati GranTurismo MC - exhibited here at Oschersleben - will debut in the GT4 championship.

RACE RESULTS:

1) Kumpen/Hezemans (Corvette Z06)
2) Bartels/Bertolini (Maserati MC12)
3) Ramos/Mueller (Maserati MC12)

DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP:

1) Bartels/Bertolini - 26 points
2) Kumpen/Hezemans - 23 points
3) Maassen - 15 points
4) Longin/Ruffier - Ramos/Mueller 12 points

Photos and some text courtesy of Maserati.