Ferrari too hot for Maseratis

"Gabriele Gardel drove the race of his life today," was how Matteo Bobbi, co-driver in the winning BMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari, summed up the way they beat the Maserati big guns in the duel in the desert at the Dubai Autodrome yesterday.

On a scorching day, it was Bobbi who set the early pace from the green light to keep the two AF Corse Maserati's at bay until the pitstop and driver-swap when Gardel buckled in to drive a scintillating stint that would earn the team victory in the FIA-GT championship after three hours.

The Maserati duo, which won the battle of the pre-race hype, attacked right from the outset with the Andrea Bertolini/ Mika Salo keeping the leading duo within view throughout the early stages.

After 10 laps, a mere four seconds separated the trio. On lap 20, the Ferrari pitted while the Maserati's continued for several laps longer before taking their turn in the pits.

The Herbert/ De Simone car eventually pitted on lap 29, relinquishing the lead again to the No 1 Ferrari, who had only refuelled and changed drivers in their first pit stop.

Down the order, the Konrad Saleen of Michael Bartels and Uwe Alzen was having a storming race through the field from the back of the grid.

The charge saw them survive several hard-fought scraps through the field, including swapping places a couple of times per lap with the the Biagi/Calderari-Bryner Ferrari which was also making its way through the field.

Shaikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum, who flew the UAE flag in the country's first international sports car race, finished 11th in the overall FIA-GT class, 10 laps down on the leaders. He was partnered by India's Narain Karthikeyan and Frenchman Anthony Beltoise.

For Ferrari, the victory was a sweet reward for outgunning the Maserati's in one of the most gruelling races of the season.

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