Andrea Bertolini

Andrea Bertolini (December 1, 1973) is an Italian race car driver currently driving for Vitaphone Racing in the FIA GT Championship. He currently lives in Sassuolo. He began racing at a young age, working as the youngest ever test driver for Ferrari at 19, followed by work in the experimental and development department. He also participated in the development of the Maserati MC12. web cite|url=http://www.vitaphone-racing.de/racing-facts/vitaphone-team/andrea-bertolini.html|accessdate=2006-10-28|title=Andrea Bertolini|publisher=Vitaphone Racing] . Bertolini has enjoyed a successful career with 5 pole positions.web cite|url=http://www.fiagt.com/driverbio.php?countkey=12|accessdate=2006-10-28|title=FIA GT Driver Bio|publisher=FIA GT]

Racing History

Andrea Bertolini began racing go karts at age 11. He came second in the "Italian Championship", won championships at a national level, and went on to win the CIAK Cup and place second in the Italian 125 Championship in 2000. In 2001 he drove a Porsche 996 GT3-R for "Art Engineering" in the GT3 division of the FIA GT. In 2002 he moved to "JMB Racing" driving a Ferrari 360 Modena and continued through 2003 finishing 4^th.

In 2004 he moved to the "Giesse Squadra Corse" team, again driving a 360 Modena. Once again, he placed 2^nd overall, and was awarded the "Driver Performance of the Year". Part way through 2004, he was offered a position on the "Maserati AF Corse" team driving their new, GT1 class Maserati MC12, a car he had been involved in developing. He accepted, winning his only race that year at Zhuhai, China with his team mate, former Formula 1 driver, Mika Salo. [web cite|url=http://www.maseraticorse.it/home.php?lang=eng&menuid=020114&seas=04|accessdate=2006-10-28|title=FIA GT Standings 2004|publisher=Maserati Corse]

In 2005 he returned to "JMB Racing", this time driving an MC12. He finished the season tied 4^th (with team mate Karl Wendlinger), within 4 points of first. [web cite|url=http://www.maseraticorse.it/home.php?lang=eng&menuid=020116&seas=05|title=FIA GT Standings 2005|publisher=Maserati Corse|accessdate=2006-10-28]

Andrea Bertolini also raced his MC12 in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in 2005 but without much success. He made no podium finishes and crashed out in the race at Laguna Seca. [web cite|url=http://www.maseraticorse.it/home.php?lang=eng&menuid=0204010410&idsitm=CN&idrace=020410|title=Unlucky Race for MC12 at Laguna Seca|publisher=Maserati Corse|accessdate=2006-10-25]

For 2006 in the FIA GT, Bertolini moved to "Vitaphone Racing Team" where he again raced the MC12, with teammate Michael Bartels. Bartels and Bertolini finished first in the overall driver standings, and also their team to a 1^st place finish in the team standings. web cite|url=http://www.maseraticorse.it/home.php?lang=eng&menuid=020117&seas=06|title=FIA GT Standings 2006|publisher=Maserati Corse|accessdate=2006-10-28]

ee also

*Ferrari 360 Modena
*FIA GT
*Maserati MC12
*Porsche 996

References