Bertolini: 300 but not feeling it
Maranello, 2 October
There were 300 candles blown out today by Ferrari driver Andrea Bertolini, who works both on the sporting side linked to the development of the F1 car and at testing the historic chassis of the Corse Clienti Ferrari department. We’re obviously not talking about his age, but his tests. 300 is in fact how many tests Bertolini has completed in total, a unique privilege that has allowed him to drive all the cars produced since 1973. Those include jewels that are every bit as precious for the memories associated with them, such as the 312 T4 with which Gilles Villeneuve won three races in 1979 and which took his team-mate Jody Scheckter to the world championship. Bertolini’s 300th test was instead carried out in a more recent example, the F2008 with which the Scuderia won the constructors’ championship, but which was today used to celebrate the link that unites Bertolini with Ferrari: “I’ve always said there are some things that could only happen here. To make it to 300 tests is certainly one of those.. But deep down it doesn't feel like it and I'm ready to do just as many again.”
BIO
Date of birth: December, 1st 1973
Place of Birth: Sassuolo (MO) - Italy
Height: 1,79 M
Weight: 71 kg
Civil status: Married with Angela, one son
Hobby: karting, film, music, footbal
Born in Sassuolo (Modena) on 1 December 1973, Andrea Bertolini began racing “minikarts” at the age of eleven. From the age of 19, he was appointed as the youngest ever test driver of Ferrari GT road cars, working on experimental development. In 2002 the JMB Ferrari customer team took him on to drive the 360, which he took to fourth place in the FIA GT championship. At the start of 2003 he switched from road cars to the Ferrari and Maserati Corse Clienti department, also as test driver. That year, he continued to race for JMB, at the wheel of the 360 GT and then the 360 GTC, winning four races.
In 2004, Bertolini was asked to take on the role of official test driver for the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Formula 1 team. At the same time, he initiated the development programme of the Maserati MC12, with which he competed in the final four races of the season. In 2005 he tackled the FIA GT championship, as well as racing in the ALMS, when Maserati entered an MC12. In the FIA GT championship Bertolini flew the flag for the JMB Racing team at the wheel of an MC12. In 2006 he opted for a seat with the German Vitaphone Racing Team, winning three races, including victory in the legendary Spa 24 Hours and took the Driver’s FIA GT title with one race in hand. In 2007 the Italian also took part in the ALMS Petit Le Mans race. In 2008 Bertolini returned to the Vitaphone Racing Team: at the end of a great season, the Italian again took the title, thanks to great wins as the Spa 24 Hours. In 2009 he continued to bring home the wins and in style, winning the third drivers’ title.
In 2010, there was more of the same, as Andrea tackled the newly created FIA GT1 World Championship, the FIA series for GT1 cars, evolved from the FIA GT championship, with Bartels and still with Vitaphone Racing Team. After the Qualifying Race at San Luis, the final round of the season, they had scored enough points to be sure of the title, which was doubly satisfying for Bertolini as not only had he won more GT1 titles than any other driver, but he was one of seven Italians to get his hands on a motor sport world championship crown. As from 2011, Bertolini has been available to Scuderia Ferrari for activities related to the development of the car, as well as in 2012, taking part in GT races at the wheel of a Ferrari 458 Italia GT2.
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Originally Posted by mirafiori
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