1, 2 and 3 victories!
Dear friends,
The Maserati Trofeo championship ended on December 11-12 and 13 at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The spectacular racetrack was the ideal venue for a fabulous finale of a racing season during which our driver Ange Barde kept gaining momentum since the races at the Castellet and the Nurburgring, as set his marks inside the Maserati Trofeo MC and evaluated the competitors.
After winning in Sonoma and Shanghai, Ange Barde arrived in Abu Dhabi ready for action and aiming at the podium for a victory, and while at it getting a third place in the overall ranking of the Maserati Trofeo World Series.
Right from the beginning with the practice sessions, the leading driver of AB Racing sets the tone singing off best lap times and securing a pole position for the races 2 and 3.
Taking the start in second position at the first race, Ange Barde, all powered up, kept the pressure on the leading cars. However, after a few laps, the rough behavior on track of some of the competitors was enough for Ange Barde to retire and returned to the pits leaving the battle for later.
Back to zero.
Race 2 began with a hot sprint and lap after lap Ange Barde tried to catch up on Renaud Kuppens who led majestically the race from end to end. Unfortunately a short cut through a chicane in the heat of the action cost our leading driver his place on the Championship podium as he took a 25 seconds penalty.
The Boss’ race is the endurance race!
Starting in second position on the third race, Ange Barde took immediately the lead and never let it go. Regardless of his competitors pressure he maintained a 2 second lead on the pack until the Pit Stop… and from there on, experience made all the difference, allowing our driver to build a bigger lead up to 15 seconds with the second car, keeping it at safe distance until Ange took victory under the checkered flag, for the third time in a row.
Sonoma, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi: one strike, two strikes… and three strikes!
Until the 2014 season begins and that Ange Barde races again for the lead, we wish to congratulate and thank our drivers who carried high-up the colors of the watch manufacture during the season, spreading its name and building its fame worldwide.
AB Racing Team