Car of the Day - Maserati GranTurismo MC

Car of the Day - Maserati GranTurismo MC


Maserati has a long, proud history of racing success from International championships to the gentleman racer. The new GranTurismo MC is squarely aimed at the loyal Maserati customers with a racers desire.

The MC is a development of the Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept and is based on the road-going S model and different to the GT4 GranTurismo MCs.

Maserati chose to create a model with GT4 features because GT4 is the category with the closest links to production models. A limited number of the GT4's will be produced for Maserati customers to race in the 2010 GT4 European Cup.

There is a niche of GranTurismo road car owners who love racing and wish to drive a car relatively close to the one in their garage on the track. For those customers Maserati is organising a European single-make cup race. The cars participating in this Cup are different to the GT4-version Maserati GranTurismo MCs.

The MC features lightweight carbon fiber panels, roll cage, plexiglass windows, upgraded brakes and suspension, race wheels and slicks and a re-worked 4.7-liter V8.

Development work has been extensive with input from Andrea Bertolini, official Maserati tester as well as incumbent FIA GT Champion at the wheel of the MC12. Thomas Cremonini, Maserati series production tester, and Vitaphone Racing Team teammate Michael Bartels, also 2008 FIA GT champion. Former F.1 driver Ivan Capelli was also involved in the testing programme.

The cars will be sold directly through Maserati Corse for 135,000 Euros.

Rod