19th September 2004

GOLLIN AND CAPPELLARI CLAIM DRIVERS’ TITLE WITH MAXIMUM POINTS

When they won the first round in Monza, Cappellari said his aim was to still be ahead in Zhuhai. As it turned out, two rounds before the end of the season, the Italian and his team-mate, Fabrizio Gollin, claimed the 2004 GT Drivers' title with full points in Oschersleben putting them beyond the reach of their nearest rivals, their team-mates Matteo Bobbi and Gabriele Gardel.

Crossing the line in second place behind the non-scoring Maserati today, despite their 100 kg ballast, they have maintained their 100% points record, which has seen them on the podium in eight out of nine races so far this season.

Fabrizio Gollin: "It was incredible! Today was just a dream day! The team did fantastic work. Luca and I didn't make many mistakes during the whole season, and it paid off. Eight podiums in one season is unbelievable. I'm lost for words."

Luca Cappellari: "We've done five races with 100 kilos ballast this year, that's just incredible. The fight with our teammates was so hard, but we didn't make mistakes and that's how we won the title. Today was a hard race for us. I was hit in the side, which broke the exhaust of the car. That cost us about three or four tenths a lap. But the Scuderia Italia did a fantastic job here today!"

It was not such an easy run for the other two Care Racing supported Ferrari 550 Maranellos under the management of BMS Scuderia Italia. Matteo Bobbi and Gabriele Gardel in car nr.1 needed to finish just behind the nr.2 car to keep their Championship hopes alive but the Swiss/Italian duo were faced with a number of obstacles in their path.

An engine change after qualifying saw them start the race from the back of the grid instead of the 4th place in which Bobbi had qualified; a damp but drying track at the start of the race (it was officially declared a wet race although no rain fell during the 3 hours) made tyre choice and pit stop strategy critical; and Bobbi was the innocent victim in a clash with Wendlinger’s F575 whilst running in 3rd place.

A man with a mission from the start, carving his way through the field to 5th place after just over one third distance, Matteo Bobbi was philosophical at the end. “It was a difficult race, but it was going well until just 20 minutes to the end when Wendlinger touched me and pushed me off. I spoke to him, and he apologized and explained that it was not his fault. I finished fourth, the Championship is finished now, but I’m still in second place, and I hope to keep it until the end.”

The Care Racing entry, driven by Stefano Livio, Lilian Bryner and Enzo Calderari, was also a victim of contact with a Viper which subsequently earned the latter a drive-through penalty. The trio drove solidly to bring the car home in their sixth consecutive points scoring finish.

Race Results

1 33 Bertolini/Salo Maserati MC12 118 laps (non points scoring)
2 2 Cappellari/Gollin Ferrari 550 -1 lap
3 8 Goodwin/Fontes Saleen S7 -1 lap
4 17 Wendlinger/Marques Ferrari 575 -1 lap
5 1 Bobbi/Gardel Ferrari 550 -2 laps
6 3 Livio/Bryner/Calderari Ferrari 550 -2 laps
7 7 Erdos/Newton Saleen S7 -2 laps
8 34 Herbert/de Simone Maserati MC12 -2 laps
9 (NGT) 99 Maassen/Luhr Porsche 996 -2 laps
10 (NGT) 50 Ortelli/Collard Porsche 996 -3 laps

With thanks to Jacquie Groom of the FIA