Maserati were able to celebrate a one-two finish in the latest round of the FIA GT Championship after Vitaphone Racing claimed the top two steps of the podium at Oschersleben.

Andrea Bertolini and Michael Bartels took victory in the race – their second win of the season - with the sister MC12 of Jamie Davies and Thomas Biagi coming home second.

It was a result good enough to move Bartels and Bertolini into the lead of the championship while Maserati remain second in the manufacturers' cup.

Bartels started the race from pole and maintained his lead once the green light came on – then extending his advantage over the Zakspeed Saleen and the Aston Martin of Andrea Piccini and Jean-Denis Deletraz.

Davies had started down in 14th after being hit with a penalty handed down at Brno., but he was rapidly moving up the order and by lap eight was into fifth place behind the GLPK Carsport Corvette.

The first Maserati MC12 to make a stop was that driven by Davies on lap 45, with Bartels following him in a lap later. The places remained more or less unchanged with Bertolini leading and Biagi having moved into fourth and duelling for third with the Saleen. The second hour saw many of the back markers being lapped as Bertolini still led and Biagi was still fighting for a podium position. After the second pit stop, made by Biagi on lap 84 and Bertolini on 90, the two Maseratis were in first and second with Bartels and Davies back in the driving seat and heading for the finish line.

The next FIA GT championship race will take place on 29-30 July with the fascinating Spa Francorchamps 24 Hours (Belgium).

"It was not an easy race," declared Bertolini afterwards. "When I took the wheel for the second stint, I tried to maintain the advantage we had built up. The track had less grip owing to the high temperatures. I had to take care in the pack with the back markers and we managed to stay in the lead even after the pit stops. It was great race."

Davies was equally pleased at coming through the field.

"We had to fight from start to finish," the Brit said. "This was because we started from row seven and I don't know how many times Biagi and I overtook. Aside from the back markers, we attacked and defended well, even over the last few laps when we had the Deletraz and Piccini Aston Martin on our tails. All this was thanks to a perfect MC12, a superb team and excellent Pirelli tyres."