Date: 19 May 2010 Trofeo Maserati GranTurismo MC - Monza (I) - - - PDF document

Date: 19 May 2010 Trofeo Maserati GranTurismo MC - Monza (I) - Presentation of Round 1

The First Round of the New Trofeo Maserati GranTurismo MC this Weekend in Monza The Trofeo Maserati GranTurismo MC, the new single-make championship from the makers of the Trident-logo racecars, is composed of seven rounds on some of the most prestigious European circuits and will start off at the Monza racetrack this weekend, concluding in Mugello

• n October 10th.

Twenty-two cars will vie for the trophy: 15 GranTurismo MC Trofeos (run by Maserati Corse) along with 7 GranTurismo MC GT4s, run by private teams, which will race in a separate special classification. Many of the drivers who have entered the championship - from various European countries as well as from Israel - have already had the chance to familiarize themselves with the cars (derived from the series-production GranTurismo S) during the group tests held last April on the 24th and 25th in Vallelunga. Attached is a list of participants in the Monza race. Emanuele Smurra, winner of the previous Trofeo in 2003, and the ex-F1 driver Ivan Capelli will be present as VIP guests. The Radio Montecarlo car with Paolo Ciccarone and Agnese Piazzalunga will also be there.

The formula consists of two free practice sessions on Friday (40'), two qualifying practice sessions on Saturday (20') and two races (38' + one lap) on Sunday. Trofeo Maserati GranTurismo MC participation fees are 162,000 euros + VAT for the entire season (168,000 euros + VAT for teams with two different drivers sharing the driving) while the

• wners of GranTurismo GT4s may enter the race for 45,000 euros + VAT.

In Monza, as in all the championship series, Maserati will organize brand and product range promotion activities for its customers. The car maker has also invited all its employees to Monza. They will witness the races from the stands, the best way to celebrate the start of this one-make Trident series. As for media coverage, the specialized Italian and foreign press will be reporting for the entire

• season. Eurosport will air highlights of the Trofeo on Sunday night during Motorsports Weekend

. Other Italian channels will broadcast reports on each race. Video clips will be available the day after each race atwww.thenewsmarket.com/maserati and www.maseraticorse.com. RMC, Radio Montecarlo is the Trofeo's Media Partner, with shows focusing on each round, included in the weekly broadcasts of RMC Motori program (7pm-8pm), in the Saturday show (12:30pm-1.00pm) or in Sunday's RMC Music & Sports program (2pm-6pm). Further Trofeo info - including news, updates and interviews - will be given through RMC MOTORI Web radio;

in the BLOG SPORT section there will be posts and updates, a race photo gallery, and video images of the races that can be used for multimedia platforms. Practices 1: Saturday from 2.45 pm to 3.05 pm Practices 2: Saturday from 3.25 pm to 3.45 pm Race 1: Sunday from 9.40 am to 10.20 am Race 2: Sunday from 11.45 am to 12.25 pm