GT 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps 2005
The 58th edition of the 24 Hours of Spa was the sixth race for the 2005 FIA GT Championship. It featured the FIA GT1 and GT2 classes with cars from national and one-make series, designated G2 and G3.
The GT1 rule was rather simple, as it required the manufacturer to produce 25 homologated cars for the road, in order to run in the championship. Maserati decided to produce the MC12 with a V12 6,0 Liter Ferrari F140 engine in 2004.
They started running at the end of the 2004 season. So, the 24 Hours of Francorchamps 2005 was their first one.
4 cars were present: 2 driven by Vitaphone Racing and 2 by JMB Racing. They dominated the whole season, marking almost twice the points of the competing Ferrari’s.
The trio Eric van de Poele, Michael Bartels and Timo Scheider driving Vitaphone Racing Maserati MC12 GT1 #9 dominated outrageously, both in the qualifications and the race. Their only challenger was sister car #10, which was the last car to abandon. The first Ferrari ended 9 laps behind.
The trio Andrea Bertolini, Karl Wendingler and Philipp Peter driving JMB Racing Maserati MC12 GT1 #15 ended 2nd, 2 laps behind the winning Maserati.
Vincent Vosse, Kurt Mollekens, Christophe Bouchut and Gabriele Gardel with their Larbre Competition Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello #11 finished 3rd, 9 laps behind the winning car.
Lilian Bryner, Enzo Calderari, Steve Zacchia and Frederic Bouvy with their Larbre Competition Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello #12 finished 4th, 14 laps behind the winning car.
Marc Goossens, Peter Kox and Pedro Lamy driving the Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin DBR9 ended 5th, 19 laps behind the winning Maserati.
David Brabham, Darren Turner and Stephane Sarrazin driving the Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin DBR9 ended 6th, 21 laps behind the winning Maserati.
The #6 GLPK-Carsport Chevrolet Corvette C5-R from Bert Longin, Anthony Kumpen, Mike Hezemans and Jeroen Bleekemolen finished 4th overall, but was disqualified.
The Graham Nash Motorsport Saleen S7-R #8 driven by Mike Newton, Thomas Erdos, Michael Mallock and Phil Bennett finished 10th, 47 laps behind the winning Maserati.
Vanina Ickx was not so fortunate with her Mühlner Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup #123 and had to retire after 198 laps.
Didier de Radiguès and Richard Virenque ended 12th overall with their Force One Racing Dodge Viper GTS-R #121 and second in the G2 class.
The #88 GruppeM Racing Porsche GT3-RSR driven by Emmanuel Collard, Tim Sudgen and Stéphane Ortelli finished 19th overall, 99 laps behind the winning Maserati.
Fabio Babini, Thomas Biagi and Jamie Davies were the last team to retire after driving their Vitaphone Racing Maserati MC12 GT1 401 laps. Before abandoning, they had been fighting for P1 with sister car #9.
Abandon for the #14 Lister Storm Racing GT driven by Justin Keen, Liz Halliday, Jens Moller and Bobby person-Roe. It was motorized by a Jaguar V12 7.0 Liters.
