GT1 World

“Bernoldi and Maassen to complete Mad Croc Racing”

© Planetlemans // The Team Sangari Brazil car Maassen and Bernoldi raced in 2009

Enrique Bernoldi and Xavier Maassen are set to be confirmed to complete the Mad Croc Racing line up in the FIA GT1 World Championship. The Brazilian and Dutch drivers already raced together in a Corvette C6.R in the 2009 FIA GT Championship at Spa-Francorchamps and Portimao.

It is interesting to see Enrique Bernoldi at Mad Croc as the former Formula 1 driver was presented as Matech Competition driver during the GT1 World Championship launch in Paris on March 1st.

After testing at Paul Ricard as recently as last weekend Matech owner Martin Bartek confirmed the team and driver had split. “ I would like to thank Enrique that he has taken the time to come over from Brazil, to meet our team and to test our car. I am grateful for the feedback he has given us in his brief stint with the car and I wish him all the best for the coming season”, said Bartek.

Bernoldi was said to be unhappy with the Ford GT, preferring to race a Corvette over the Ford, and left the Paul Ricard circuit on Monday evening before the test session had ended…together with Xavier Maassen.

While Maassen said he was in talks with several teams in the FIA GT1 World Championship and in the Le Mans Series at Paul Ricard this weekend, the Dutchman confirmed his deal with Mad Croc Racing late on Wednesday evening.

“We are very pleased to have signed Xavier Maassen” said Kendy Janclaes (DKR) on Wednesday. “We proved last season, his speed and professionalism. Now it remains to find a second driver, also faster than him, so that we can fight for the title.” With Bernoldi being released from his Matech Competition contract on the same day and the Brazilian knowing the team, a Maassen-Bernoldi pairing is very likely and it would be a very strong line-up in the 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship.