Vitaphone Racing Team's Maserati MC12 no. 1, driven by Bartels and Bertolini, is leaving for Portugal after advancing further in the general driver's classification thanks to a sixth place obtained in the Nuerburgring Championship Race in late August. The Italian-German duo, the only drivers to score points in every one of the previous six rounds of the championship, is leading the driver's classification with 91 points - in front of Thomas Mutsch with his Team Matech Ford, who has 77 points and of the Young Drivers Enge/Turner duo on the Aston Martin, with 65 points.

There are also great expectations for Vitaphone Racing Team's Maserati MC12 no. 2, driven by Bernoldi/Ramos. Indeed, Ramos is about to drive on his home circuit and will surely want to make good in front of his fans. Having driven a Maserati for the past three years now, the Portuguese driver aims to at least repeat last year's great result in Algarve. Back then he got third place with his erstwhile partner Alex Mueller after a long head-to-head with his current partner Bernoldi, then driving a Corvette.

Once over the Nuergburgring result, the goal of the German driver sharing the wheel with his fellow countryman Altrfrid Heger in Triple H Hegersport's Maserati MC12 no. 33 is a repeat performance of his achievements at Paul Ricard and Spa.

The situation has changed with car no. 34: Alessandro Pier Guidi has been confirmed as driver while Bert Longin will not be racing in the Portuguese round because he will be defending his leadership in the National GT championship. The second driver name will be announced in the weekend.