Maserati Enters FIA GT

[Jugend]

Maserati is looking good.. Should be interesting to see it, I hope they run it in Le Mans 24h.

Modena, 12th January, 2004 - Today at Fiorano saw the track debut of the Maserati that will take part in the FIA GT championships. The car, which for the time being goes by its project code name of MCC, will be launched at the forthcoming International Geneva Motor Show, alongside the Trident marque's new road-going Granturismo car, the MCS, from which it is closely derived.

The two cars were designed in a joint operation between the Maserati engineers and those of the Modena company's racing department under the technical direction of engineer, Giorgio Ascanelli.

'This is a very important programme for Maserati, which the Racing Department has tackled with great enthusiasm ,' stated Gestione Sportiva Managing Director, Jean Todt. 'Today, we have witnessed the MCC's track debut and as usual on these occasions, it was a really emotional moment .'

The MCC, short for Maserati Corse Competizione, has carbon fibre construction which offers a low weight of 1100 kgs. A 620 horsepower V12, displacing 5998 cc sits in the center of this chassis. This setup has been completing 1:12 times around the Forano Circuit. Compare this to the Enzo which achieves 1:22 on a good day, and with street tires.

Story by Maserati S.p.A. and Supercars.net

Isn't she a beauty?:

 

[Jugend]

Batmobile eh?

 

[wee_man]

Not the prettiest car on the earth, but good to see Maerati in GT racing again. Although, apprantly the FIA are worried that it's going to dominate GT racing when it comes in.

 

[scuderia229]

not pretty, but mean looking. it makes the Enzo look passive. I doubt they will leave it black for the actualy race trim though....

 

[The359]

It's just in raw carbon fibre there. They have yet to paint it. Most teams will test in just naked carbon fibre because they usually don't have a set paintjob (due to contracts with sponsers) until the season actually begins.

 

[JohnBM01]

A Maserati ran Daytona, and that was the former Ferrari of Washington team. To be honest, I didn't see much of the car, but I like the paintscheme.

 

[wee_man]

Any pics?

 

[The359]

There were 2 Maserati Trofeo Light GTs entered in the race, Scuderia Ferrari of Washington's and Risi Competizione's. The car pictured above is Risi's.

 

[wee_man]

I have to say I never really liked that Masserati. I wouldn't mind having one...but just never appealed to me.

 

[JohnBM01]

That FIA GT Maserati above is LOVELY.

 

[Party for GT4]

Nice car, but its built on the Enzo platform so it isn't totally new.
Also, they are going to make a road version as well.

£400,000. Less than an Enzo, though.

 

[wee_man]

Better looking as well I think.

BTW Party is your avatar a pic from Goowwood revival?

 

[JohnBM01]

I'll admit, that Maserati MCC car looks pretty nice. I can imagine it running in the bigtime endurances, or even the British GT Championship maybe. Chances of seeing it in GT4? When pigs fly.

Anyhow, someone mentioned that Maserati is more of a partner to Ferrari. So who knows? Maybe they'll come out with an LMP with styling similar to the MCC there. Either way, I think Ferrari needs to have some in-series competition on track. I'm thinking of a Ferrari Enzo GT1 to challenge the MCC (I Know this is a code name, but for now I'm calling it that).

 

[Party for GT4]

Yeah, its from when we went there two years ago. My friend lives in Chichester and is often up there. He used a digital camera to snap the Ferrari real sideways. Image has been pretty badly distorted when I shrank it but you can still make it out quite well.

 

[BigJamesGTI]

the GT cars are amazing. Are we talking about the Marcos's and the TVR speed 6 that tour silverstone, donington and brands hatch ?

I went to a few of the races a cople of years back and I really liked the white Saleen and it sounded amazing up close !

I'll have to dig some pics up and see if I can get them on here. I was able to go into the "paddock" for the speed 12 and got some close ups of it.

 

[JohnBM01]

I mentioned the British GT series. I don't know if I'm right, but I think it is the only GT series in the world with Le Mans-style race cars both not-so exotic, and pure exotic. I'm talking about pitting a Marcos LM600 against a Dodge Viper GTS-R. If the MCC has power and tuning to conquer the Mulsanne and claim LMGTS honors, then we may have a kick-booty car on our hands.

But as I said, British GT would be a nice series to rule because of its exotic race cars. I mean, where else can you see the race cars for the street (the TVRs) in competition? British GT. Even though the Maserati is Italian, why not mix things up there? If it makes it into the ALMS, more power to Maserati.

 

[sfmreport]

Word is that Miami based VICI Racing is talk with Maserati to run the MCC in the ALMS series later this year

 

[The359]

Originally posted by JohnBM01
If the MCC has power and tuning to conquer the Mulsanne and claim LMGTS honors, then we may have a kick-booty car on our hands.

The Maserati MCC will NOT be participating in LeMans, they do not have the minimum requirement of production models for GTS class.

 

[wee_man]

Originally posted by JohnBM01
I mentioned the British GT series. I don't know if I'm right, but I think it is the only GT series in the world with Le Mans-style race cars both not-so exotic, and pure exotic. I'm talking about pitting a Marcos LM600 against a Dodge Viper GTS-R. If the MCC has power and tuning to conquer the Mulsanne and claim LMGTS honors, then we may have a kick-booty car on our hands.

But as I said, British GT would be a nice series to rule because of its exotic race cars. I mean, where else can you see the race cars for the street (the TVRs) in competition? British GT. Even though the Maserati is Italian, why not mix things up there? If it makes it into the ALMS, more power to Maserati.

That would of been possible two years ago, but I think the car is just simply too powerful the series now. It's a damn good series as well. I thought last year wasn't going to be as good as the year before (the year with the spped 12's, Lister Storms, Saleen, Vipers etc.), but it was just as good. Christ at some stages it was VW Golfs vs a Tucan 440R. Great series. Hoping maybe to go and see it this year at Brands .

Party: Yea I have some pics. You can't beat goodwood revival. Though I think that the quality of the fields has diminished over the years, though the racing is still good.

 

[Darin]

Originally posted by The359

There were 2 Maserati Trofeo Light GTs entered in the race, Scuderia Ferrari of Washington's and Risi Competizione's. The car pictured above is Risi's.

Yep, they didn't last to long itself in the Rolex.

 

[Party for GT4]

So, rumour has it the Enzo will compete in Le Mans, but maybe since the Maser is exactly the same chassis underneath, you could include the Enzo in the total of cars made.