Ford needs to put the GT in the FIA GT series to add more competition.
Maserati is hatching a top-secret plan to build 25 roadgoing versions of the Ferrari Enzo-based FIA GT car it has under development.
Both the race and road car will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, Ferrari and Maserati boss Luca di Montezemolo told Autocar exclusively at the Detroit show.
Di Montezemolo says he is working with the FIA to encourage other manufacturers,‘such as Porsche and Ford’ to enter the series in an attempt to revitalise it. Aston Martin and Lamborghini have already declared an interest in what has the potential to become a high-profile GT series.
The new Maserati is heavily based on the Ferrari Enzo supercar, but will have its own unique bodywork. Only 25 examples of the roadgoing Stradale version will be produced, the minimum number required by the FIA for entry into the GT series.
Power output and price have yet to be finally determined, but the car must be cheaper than the £425,000, 650bhp Enzo and less powerful in order to avoid upsetting the company hierarchy.
Meanwhile, the expected decision on whether to build the Kubang SUV has been delayed. ‘We have been busy working on the racing car and a roadgoing version of the racing car, as well as the Quattroporte, so we have put the project in the corner for the moment,’ LDM said.
The plan now is to make a decision this March. If it gets the go-ahead, the Kubang will be developed using Audi’s aluminium spaceframe technology.
First day of testing for the MCC GT car at Fiorano
12/01/2004Fiorano
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.
The Ferrari-Maserati Group’s race test driver, Andrea Bertolini completed the first few laps, with no lap times recorded. Most of the day was devoted to a general technical check on the car.
"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.”
13/01/2004Fiorano
After yesterday’s few laps to do a preliminary systems check on the car at Fiorano, today the circuit was the scene for the first day of development work on the new MCC.
Test driver Andrea Bertolini covered a total of 51 laps, setting a best time of 1’12”970.
The test programme at Fiorano continues tomorrow, once again with Andrea Bertolini at the wheel.
Circuit: Fiorano track, 2.976 km – short course 1.413 km
Driver: Andrea Bertolini
Car: MCC
Weather: air temperature 3/8 °C, track 2/7 °C. Clear skies, then cloudy.
OMG that is absolutely SICK!!! HOLY SHIT that car's got gawk factor through the ROOF!!! God DAMN I haven't been this blown away by an automobile in years.. The Italians know how to do it, don't they?!
I hope this gets Ford of their ass so they put the GT in competition, wouldnt mind seeing dodge put the comp coupe in either. I will try and find some pics of the lambo and the aston.
Official: he returns, with Prodrive, the Aston Martin to the Mans and in the GT
(26 November 2003)
of Flat Alessio
Finally it has arrived the official confirmation, that one that, we, ahead go to try from the past month of July. The Aston Martin will return to the race , will be to the 24 hours of the Mans and to FIA GT with one car GTS based on new DB9 .
The Aston Martin does not run from ten years, when the objective deprived of hope one was tried to repeat the happened one to the 24 hours piu' famous of the world of 1958. Attempt failed with a disappointing plan and competitive how much I to succeed to become the president of the Republic. A period to forget for gets passionate you to it of the English brand.
Today, with a corsaiola organization found and succeeded of the Ford, the Aston can return to compete. It will be the Prodrive to take cure of the plan: to carry the DB9 to contrast Ferrari, Maserati and Porsche in their land.
That it wants to say the factory of Dave Richards lascierà to short the management of the Ferrari 550 Maranello, in order to place all the forces in this objective. The British Racing Green, also in the Great Tourism, must win. The DB9 would seem to be the model adapted, also why to wait for the V8 Vantage (will only exit to 2005 forwarded) is like attending the pullmann to the 3 of night.
The program previews some contest to aim 2004, like endured development for being competiti to you from in 2005. Pilots and presentations are still too much soon in order to speak of. Hour, sorridiamo to the return of the Aston to the race. Race, not the escapes of James Bond in several films of the series...
Yeah, Ferrari/Maserati have been talking about doing this for more than a year now. I'm glad to see they're going forward with it, although I'd really prefer to see a Ferrari factory-backed Enzo in LM racing. I doubt Ford will go into it, as they're in extremely poor financial shape these days, but it's practically a given that somebody will run Ford GT's in Le Mans. Porsche is out of the picture. They blew their wad on the Cayanne and are out of racing for like the next ten years (by their own admission this past autumn).
It's a beautiful car, and thanks for going to the trouble to follow-up with the smaller sized pix. Hell, I might have to take another trip to Le Mans to see this thing run in it's native environment.
Of course, it's stories like these that just sadden me over the way the NECKCAR France family has thoroughly castrated American sportscar racing.
Like the 24 hours of daytona. That used to be one hell of a race but now a GT3 porsche is the defending champion, the Rolex series is a joke. Thank god we have the ALMS.
That is one of the sickest looking cars I've ever seen plus it should add some excitement to the series that has been lacking for years. Hopefully Pagani will decide to get into racing racing turning this into a four way italian battle (zonda vs. lambo vs. maserati vs. ferrari 575)
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