Maserati Debuts Granturismo Racing Car

Maserati Debuts Granturismo Racing Car

The new Maserati GranTurismo MC, the latest racing car from the legendary Italian car maker, was officially unveiled during the FIA GT "Media Days" at the Paul Ricard circuit (6 April 2009) prior to the start of the FIA GT Championship on 5 May 2009 at the UK’s Silverstone track.

The new model is an offshoot of the Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept introduced last September in Monza and based on the road going Maserati GranTurismo S.

On 17 and 18 March the car participated in the "Balance of performance", two days of practices organized by the FIA GT Series organisers, SRO, at the Paul Ricard circuit in order to analyze and balance the performance of the models that will be racing in the GT4 European Cup.

A Maserati GranTurismo MC entered by a private team is to participate in some GT4 European Cup events during the second half of this season.

A limited series of the Maserati GranTurismo MC produced for gentlemen drivers who wish to race in the 2010 GT4 European Cup and the national series, will be on sale as of October 2009. The indicative price is 135,000 Euro + VAT. The cars will be sold directly through Maserati Corse.

In 2010 Maserati intends to once again organize a European single-make cup race. The cars participating in this Cup shall naturally present specifications that will set them apart from the GT4-version Maserati GranTurismo MCs.

Maserati chose to create a model with GT4 features because this category has the closest links to production models so that GranTurismo road car owners who love racing and want to be able to test their mettle on a track could drive a racing version of the same model they own.

The Maserati GranTurismo MC is the result of a development work carried out during many test sessions that started in mid- 2008.

Various drivers have taken turns developing the Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept from which the Maserati GranTurismo MC stemmed. With their strong professional and racing background, each and every one of them contributed to the creation of the final version.

The predominant part of the fine-tuning work was conducted by Andrea Bertolini, official Maserati tester as well as regeining FIA GT Champion at the wheel of the MC12.

Bertolini worked together with Thomas Cremonini, Maserati series production tester, and Vitaphone Racing Team teammate Michael Bartels, also 2008 FIA GT champion.

During the most recent tests, the Maserati GranTurismo MC with GT4 specs was also tested by former F.1 driver Ivan Capelli.

With the creation of the Maserati GranTurismo MC, the tradition of Maserati remains loyal to its origins - that of a company founded in 1914 to tune and subsequently build racecars - lives on.

The Maserati list of wins is abundant and it includes a two consecutive wins at the famous Indianapolis 500 in 1939 and in 1940, with Wilbur Shaw at the wheel of the 8CTF "Boyle Special". This year is the 70th anniversary of that first success.

Juan Manuel Fangio won two F1 world titles in 1954 and in 1957 at the wheel of a Maserati 250F. In the 1950s and 1960s cars with the Trident logo won a good many Endurance races, while the last victory in a Formula 1 GP was clinched by Pedro Rodriguez in a Cooper-Maserati in 1967.

In 2004 Maserati Corse started racing again internationally in the FIA GT Championship featuring the MC12; it achieved three victories at the prestigious Spa 24 Hours (2005, 2006, and 2008 Vitaphone Racing Team) and no less than ten absolute titles:
• Three FIA GT Drivers Championships in 2006 (Michael Bartels/Andrea Bertolini), in 2007 (Thomas Biagi) and in 2008 (Michael Bartels/Andrea Bertolini)
• Four FIA GT Teams Championships in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 (Vitaphone Racing Team)
• Two FIA GT Manufacturers Cups in 2005 and 2007
• One Citation Cup for gentlemen drivers in 2007 (Ben Aucott).
Racing has always been the most demanding test-bench for all cars. Traditionally, reliability and performance are checked on track. It is in races that new technologies and materials are tested. And it is on the circuit that Maserati has decided to raise the much praised-sporty verve of its Maserati GranTurismo S to even higher levels to create the Maserati GranTurismo MC

GRANTURISMO MC - TECH. SPEC.
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
Width 1914,0 mm
Lenght 4935,3 mm
Height 1300,0 mm
Overhang front 930,5 mm
Overhang rear 1064,1 mm
Wheelbase 2940,7 mm
Front track 1618,4 mm
Rear Track 1580,7 mm
Weight < 1400 Kg
Weight distribution 51,3 front / 48,7 rear
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION
Engine V8
Displacement 4,691 cc
Maximum power ND
Maximum torque ND
Weight/power ratio <4.6 Kg/KW (<3.4 Kg/HP)
Ignition Bosch - digital system
Air intake Double cone racing type filter
Exhaust system Racing type with removable catalyzers
Lubrication Wet sump
Gearbox Rear, longitudinal gearbox, with transaxle scheme.
6 gears + reverse, syncromesh.
Electrohydraulic activation, with paddles shift
CHASSIS AND BODYWORK
Bodywork Carbon fiber
Windows Windscreen, rear and side windows in Lexan.
Chassis Steel with welded integral rollcage structure, FIA approved.
Interior Backward-set driving position, with racing seat, dashboard and console in carbon fiber throughout.
6-points seat-belt compatible with HANS protection system.
Electrical system Specific, with data acquisition system integrated in the dashboard.
Fuel tank 120 L, with carbon safety structure, FIA approved.
Brakes Racing system without ABS, with steel discs:
Front disc: 380 mm
Rear disc: 326 mm
Front caliper: 6 pistons
Rear caliper: 4 pistons
Wheels Front: 11''x18''
Rear: 11''x18''
Tyres Front: 305/645/18
Rear: 305/680/18
Shock absorbers Carbon fiber

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