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The race was strategically difficult, and the teams divided between those who opted for intermediate tyres on the damp track and those who dared to go for slicks. Two safety car periods closed up the field, which resulted in a thrilling race, full of changes for the lead. The Saleen cars dominated the early stages, with first Walter Lechner Jr in the Konrad car and then the Vitaphone Racing Saleen in the lead, while the Graham Nash Motorsport car was a front runner until the final stint. However they were all eliminated by various problems. The Maseratis took over, first the Herbert/De Simone car and finally that of Bertolini/Salo, building up a one-lap lead to win their first race, ahead of the ever-present BMS 550 M of Cappellari/Gollin who survived to take the title despite a clash with the RML Saleen of Fontes/Goodwin. The Wendlinger/Marques JMB 575 GTC had an eventful race, leading, taking a trip accross the gravel and being awarded a drive through penalty after a clash with Bobbi (BMS 550M) who needed to finish right behind team-mate Gollin to keep his championship hopes alive. Despite this, they finished in fourth place and Bobbi/Gardel lost out. The Livio/Calderari/Bryner 550M car had an eventful race, a collision with a Viper on Lap 43 causing two punctures and bodywork damage, the debris bringing out the safety car. However they survived to finish 5th in class. The GPC Giesse 575 GTC of Peter/Babini spun off on Lap 2 and had to be pushed out of the gravel, but finished 11th on the road, just ahead of the JMB 575 GTC of Longin/Zlobin/Buncombe. The N-GT cars, excelling as usual in the damp conditions, rose to as high as third overall, and a close battle for the lead between various Porsches and the Giesse 360 GTC of Pescatori/Vosse saw the Ferrari end up third in class and 13th on the road. The third JMB 575 of Gosse/ Kutemann/Daoudi spun on the first lap, flat-spotted its tyres on lap 83 and finished 17th on the road and 6 laps down. The results are provisional, pending on the outcome of a routine fuel analysis of several cars. Ferrari drivers hold the first eight places in their GT championship with Ferrari teams in the first three places in theirs. With both Maseratis leading and one of them winning in only their second GT race, enjoy Ferrari successes while you can. It's going to take some nifty footwork by the FIA over the winter to prevent a rout by the Trident next year. Shame if this destroys what has been a good championship. Finally, guess what? Tambay and Arnoux didn't appear - maybe they've decided to part-exchange the 575 for a Maser.....
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The
final European round of the 2004 FIA GT Championship started off on a
damp but drying track, ensuring an exciting start to an action-packed
race round the tight and twisting Oschersleben circuit. Three hours later
a BMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari 550 Maranello took maximum points, giving
Cappellari and Gollin the 2004 GT Drivers' title. 
