JUNE 3, 2004
Fisichella to drive for Maserati?
Sauber Formula 1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella could race the new Maserati MC12 sports car later this year as a team mate to Mika Salo.
© The Cahier Archive
Sauber Formula 1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella could race the new Maserati MC12 sports car later this year as a team mate to Mika Salo. The Roman driver has been asked if he would be available to partner Salo for the FIA GT Championship race at Imola on September 5 and as this falls between the Belgian and Italian GPs there is no reason he should not race, unless Sauber has any major objections to the idea.
Fisichella has long had links with the Fiat company and used to race for the Alfa Romeo's European Touring Car Championship team before he came to F1. He took part in the final event of the ETCC last year with Alfa Romeo.
Salo raced for Ferrari in F1 for a few races in 1999 and indeed would have won in Germany had he not agreed to allow Eddie Irvine to pass him. He is very highly regarded by the management at Maranello and has not been doing anything this year. Last year he raced in Champ Cars but did not have the backing to continue this season.
The new Maserati MC12 is likely to be a winner in the FIA GT series.