MC12 and GranSport Presented In Geneva

03/02/2004
Geneva

The 74th Geneva International Motorshow saw the unveiling of the long-awaited MC12 and GranSport models, the latest additions to the Maserati stable.

Both the MC12 and GranSport were presented by the President of the Ferrari Maserati Group, Luca di Montezemolo, and in just a few seconds became the focus of attention at the event. The covers were also taken off the race model of the MC12, a vehicle with which Maserati makes its official return to competition, something that marked the first chapter in its history.

The MC12 project benefited from the know-how of the technologically advanced Ferrari Maserati Group. Its style is the fruition of an original idea by Giuguaro developed by Maserati technicians in the wind tunnel. Frank Stephenson, head of concept design for the Ferrari Maserati Group, also contributed to the styling.

The European version of the new car will be in the showrooms after the summer and only 25 examples will be available in 2004. In the meantime the competition car will continue its development.

There was also noticeable excitement about the world première of the GranSport, a car that accentuates the sporty nature typical of all Trident Granturismo cars. The GranSport name hails from the best traditions of the marque: in the 1950s it was adopted for an elegant 2-litre coupé designed by Carrozzeria Frua on the frame of the famous A6 G. The new Gransport is an alternative to the Coupé from which it is distinguished by a series of aesthetic modifications that give it a strong temperament.

MC12 Ends Tests At Mugello Circuit

03/04/2004
Mugello

Third and final day of testing this week for the Reparto Corse Maserati at the Mugello circuit.

Andrea Bertolini took the track today at the wheel of a Maserati MC12. The sports test driver for the Ferrari-Maserati Group, continued with the development work on the Maserati MC12 which is due to compete in GT races. The technical programme of the day was focused on tyre development.

Bertolini completed a total of 126 laps with a quickest time of 1’44’’866.

Circuit: Autodromo del Mugello (5,245 km – short course 2,760 km)
Driver: Andrea Bertolini
Car: MC12
Weather: air temperature 5/15 °C, track temperature 6/21 °C, sunny.

MC12 Tests Continue At Mugello

03/03/2004
Mugello

Second day of testing this week for the Reparto Corse Maserati at the Mugello circuit.

Nicola Larini took the track today at the wheel of a Maserati MC12.

The tuscan driver completed a total of 25 laps, with a quickest time of 1’46” 623.

In the afternoon Andrea Bertolini completed the technical programme of the day, carrying out several laps without any lap times being recorded.

The Reparto Corse Maserati continues testing tomorrow at the Mugello circuit with the development work on the car aimed at the GT racing.

Nicola Larini and Andrea Bertolini will share at the test driving.

Circuit: Autodromo del Mugello (5,245 Km - short course 2,760 km)
Driver: Nicola Larini, Andrea Bertolini
>Car: MC 12
Weather: air temperature 5/15° C, track temperature 4/20 °C, sunny

Larini In The MC12 At Mugello

03/02/2004
Mugello

First day of testing this week for the Reparto Corse Maserati at the Mugello circuit.

Nicola Larini took the track today at the wheel of a Maserati MC12, previously known as the MCC.

Larini completed a total of 69 laps (none on the short version of the track), with a quickest time of 1’46’’306.

The Reparto Corse Maserati continues testing tomorrow with the development work on the car aimed at the GT racing. Nicola Larini and Andrea Bertolini will share the test driving.

Circuit: Autodromo del Mugello (5,245 km – short course 2,760 km)
Driver: Nicola Larini
Car: MC12
Weather: air temperature 5/10 °C, track temperature 8/12 °C, sunny.

Bertolini Ends MCC Tests

02/20/2004
Fiorano

Fourth and final day of testing this week for the Reparto Corse Maserati at the Fiorano circuit.

Sports test driver for the Ferrari-Maserati Group, Andrea Bertolini, continued with the development work on the MCC, which is due to compete in GT races and is based on the Trident marque’s new road going car, to be unveiled at the forthcoming Geneva International Motor Show.

Bertolini completed 88 laps today, with a best time of 1’19”807.

Circuit: Fiorano track, 2.976 km – short course 1.413 km

Driver: Andrea Bertolini
Car: MCC
Weather: air temperature 0/1 °C, track 3/4 °C; rain.

Bad Weather On Third Day Of MCC Test

02/19/2004
Fiorano

The third day of testing took place this week for the Reparto Corse Maserati at the Fiorano circuit.
Pirelli test driver Fabio Babini took to the track today at the wheel of the MCC.

In a session affected by bad weather, Babini completed a total of 84 laps, with a best time of 1’19”162.

The car’s development programme continues tomorrow, still at Fiorano.

Circuit: Fiorano track, 2.976 km – short course 1.413 km
Driver: Fabio Babini
Car: MCC
Weather: air temperature 1/4 °C, track 1/5 °C; rain and snow.

Second Day Of Tests For MCC At Fiorano Circuit

02/18/2004
Fiorano

Second day of testing this week for the Reparto Corse Maserati at the Fiorano circuit.

Once again Andrea Bertolini was at the wheel of the MCC.

The test driver completed 121 laps today, with a best time of 1’11”875.

Testing continues at Fiorano tomorrow, when Bertolini will share driving duties with Fabio Babini.

Circuit: Fiorano track, 2,976 km – short course 1,413 km
Driver: Andrea Bertolini
Car: MCC
Weather: air temperature 3/7 °C, track 4/9 °C; cloudy.

The MCC Back In Action At Fiorano

02/17/2004
Fiorano

It was the first day of testing this week for the Reparto Corse Maserati at the Fiorano circuit.

Andrea Bertolini took to the track at the wheel of the MCC.

The Ferrari-Maserati Group’s sports test driver covered a total of 88 laps, with a quickest time of 1’11”711.

Development work on the car destined for GT competition will continue tomorrow, again at Fiorano with Bertolini driving.

Circuit: Fiorano track, 2,976 km – short course 1,413 km
Driver: Andrea Bertolini
Car: MCC
Weather: air temperature 4/10 °C, track 7/15 °C; partly cloudy.

Second MCC Test Completed At Fiorano

02/06/2004
Fiorano

Fourth and final day of testing this week for the Reparto Corse Maserati, at the Fiorano circuit.

Test drivers Andrea Bertolini and Fabio Babini continued with development work on the MCC, which is due to take part in GT races and is based on the new Maserati road car, which will be launched at the forthcoming Geneva International Motor Show.

In the morning, Babini completed 82 laps, the quickest in 1’12"446. In the afternoon, Bertolini took over, doing 11 untimed laps while carrying out pit stop simulations.

Circuit: Fiorano track, 2,976 km – short course 1,413 km
Drivers: Andrea Bertolini and Fabio Babini
Car: MCC
Weather: air temperature 5/14 °C, track 2/15 °C. Clear skies.

Tyre And Engine Testing For The MCC At Fiorano

02/05/2004
Fiorano

This was the third consecutive day at the wheel for test drivers Andrea Bertolini and Fabio Babini at Fiorano, as they continued with development work on the new Maserati MCC.

The day’s technical programme centred on tyre and engine testing.

Bertolini covered 74 laps, the quickest in 1’12”020; Babini 54 (best time 1’12”686.)

Reparto Corse Maserati continue testing at this track tomorrow, with the same drivers.

Circuit: Fiorano track, 2.976 km – short course 1.413 km
Drivers: Andrea Bertolini and Fabio Babini
Car: MCC
Weather: air temperature 6/15 °C, track 1/14 °C. Clear skies.

Bertolini And Babini Still On Track At Fiorano

02/04/2004
Fiorano

Second day of testing this week for the Reparto Corse Maserati at the Fiorano circuit.

Andrea Bertolini and Fabio Babini were at the wheel of the MCC once again today.

Bertolini completed a total of 88 laps (best time 1’11”833,) while Babini did 50 laps, the quickest being a 1’12”517.

The two test drivers continue development work on the car tomorrow, still at Fiorano.

Circuit : Fiorano track, 2.976 km – short course 1.413 km
Drivers : Andrea Bertolini and Fabio Babini
Car : MCC
Weather : air temperature 4/13 °C, track 2/12 °C. Clear skies then partly cloudy.

MCC Resumes Testing At Fiorano

02/03/2004
Fiorano

First day of testing this week for the Reparto Corse Maserati at the Fiorano circuit.

At the wheel of the MCC were Andrea Bertolini, the Ferrari-Maserati Group’s sports test driver and Pirelli test driver, Fabio Babini.

Bertolini completed 69 laps, the quickest being a 1’12”247, while Babini did 31 laps, with a best time of 1’14”496.

Development work on the new car, due to compete in GT championships will continue tomorrow, once again with Bertolini and Babini driving at Fiorano.

Circuit: Fiorano track, 2.976 km – short course 1.413 km
Drivers: Andrea Bertolini and Fabio Babini
Car: MCC
Weather: air temperature 4/10 °C, track 3/10 °C. Cloudy.

First test of MCC ends today at Fiorano

01/16/2004
Fiorano

The first development test session for the Maserati MCC ended today at the Fiorano circuit.

For the fifth consecutive day, Andrea Bertolini took to the track at the wheel of the new car destined to take part in GT races.

The Maserati Reparto Corse test driver completed 50 laps today. His best time was a 1’12”354.

Circuit: Fiorano track, 2.976 km – short course 1.413 km
Driver: Andrea Bertolini
Car: MCC
Weather: air temperature 2/9 °C, track 2/9 °C. Clear skies, then cloudy.

The New MCC Continues To Make Progress

01/15/2004
Fiorano

Fourth day of testing this week for the Maserati Reparto Corse at the Fiorano circuit, where work continues on the development of the MCC.

Test driver Andrea Bertolini completed a total of 56 laps, with a best time of 1’12’’336.

The first test for the new car comes to an end tomorrow, once again with Bertolini on track at Fiorano.

Circuit: Fiorano track, 2.976 km – short course 1.413 km
Driver: Andrea Bertolini
Car: MCC
Weather: air temperature 9/11 °C, track 3/10 °C. Clear skies with strong winds.

The Maserati Reparto Corse Continues Testing

01/14/2004
Fiorano

It was the third day of testing this week for the Maserati Reparto Corse at the Fiorano circuit.

The MCC driven by test driver Andrea Bertolini completed 21 laps today, with a best time of 1’12”808.

Development work on the new car continues tomorrow, yet again with Bertolini on track at Fiorano.

Circuit: Fiorano track, 2.976 km – short course 1.413 km
Driver: Andrea Bertolini
Car: MCC
Weather: air temperature 6/10°C, track 5/7 °C. Cloudy.

Development Work On The MCC Underway

01/13/2004
Fiorano

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.

The New Maserati GT For The FIA GT

01/12/2004
Fiorano

When Andrea Bertolini turned the key to the 12-cylinder engine at Fiorano, a new chapter was written in Maserati’s glorious sporting history.

The MCC, short for Maserati Corse Competizione, today began a series of tests at the Modena circuit designed to fine tune various components. The 12 cylinder V-engine has a displacement of 5998 cc. The MCC’s sweeping, aerodynamic body rests on a carbon-fibre chassis. Push rod suspension in steel and tyres by Pirelli complete the hardware.

Giorgio Ascanelli planned and oversaw the MCC project - a model which is very similar to the new Maserati Granturismo (MCS). The car will be officially presented at the Geneva Motorshow in March this year.

With this new model, the House of the Trident will take part in some selected FIA GT races in the upcoming championship, ahead of full participation pencilled in for 2005.

First Day Of Testing For The MCC GT Car At Fiorano

01/12/2004
Fiorano

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 really emotional.”

Testing 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 4°C, track 1/4 °C. Clear skies, then cloudy.