Maserati has a long and proud history in racing - think about the 70th anniversary of the first of two glorious victories in the Indianapolis 500, and also about the Maserati MC12 being raced in the FIA GT Championship by Vitaphone Racing. That racing heritage is also upheld in the latest model announced by Maserati - although it's not one you can simply walk into a dealership and buy! The Maserati GranTurismo MC is the latest racing car to wear the Trident badge, and it will make its racing debut later this year.



The car is a development of the GranTurismo MC Concept, unveiled in September 2008; the initial versions will meet the requirements of the FIA GT4 category, for sports cars only lightly modified from their road going versions. This class was chosen to emphasize the links from the production car to the racing version - one look at the GranTurismo MC shows it looks remarkably similar to the car you can drive at your local authorized Maserati dealer. There is a more prominent rear spoiler, the hood has scoops and vents to aid cooling, and the car sits very low to the ground - but the delectable silhouette is essentially unchanged.

Under the skin, things are rather different – as is the skin itself. The bodywork is made from carbon fiber while the windows are made of Lexan, to reduce weight. A steel roll-cage protects the driver, while the seat and dashboard are also carbon fiber. A specific electrical system has been created, complete with data acquisition capability - all the wiring for the usual creature comforts such as power windows and mirrors, the climate control system and the audio and information system would simply be dead weight and has been removed.

The GranTurismo MC has been tested by some truly great drivers; much of the fine-tuning has been carried out by Andrea Bertolini and Michael Bartels, FIA GT Champions in the superlative Maserati MC12. Maserati factory test driver Thomas Cremonini has also been involved, and some recent tests have been carried out by Ivan Capelli, the former Formula One and sports car driver.

The gorgeous GranTurismo MC will make its racing debut later this season, being raced by a private team in selected events in the FIA GT4 European Cup. In addition, Maserati has announced that a one-make racing series will be organized in Europe in 2010, to provide 'gentleman drivers' the opportunity to race each other on some classic circuits.