Drivers Say MC12 Racecar is Comfortable and Well-Mannered
In order to achieve FIA (Federation Internationale Automobile) regulations, Maserati's new CEO Martin Leach presented twenty-five road-ready MC12 production supercars to the motorsport governing body recently.
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| In order to meet FIA regulations, Maserati will deliver 25 road-ready MC12 production supercars to eager customers. (Photo: Maserati) |
The cars, waiting to be delivered to eager customers, were positioned alongside three MC12 racing models, which include the example first shown in Geneva last March and New York the month following, plus two which will debut in Imola for AF Corse.
The introduction marks Maserati's return to the top echelons of sports car racing after a nearly a five decade hiatus, an activity that was integral to the brand when it first started. While the road cars that followed the company's racing success have long been revered for performance and luxury, the Trident marque became famous at the hands of such drivers as Juan Manuel Fangio who delivered two F1 World titles to Maserati in 1954 and 1957 while driving the dominant 250 F.
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| The introduction of the MC12 marks Maserati's return to the top echelons of sports car racing after nearly a five decade hiatus. (Photo: Maserati) |
While it has been 47 years since a Trident badged car scored a class victory, the automaker's innovative dual-overhead cam 12-cylinder engine powered a Cooper-Maserati to the F1 South African GP checkered flag in 1967, piloted by driver Pedro Rodriguez.
The brand's glory days were undoubtedly earlier in the century, with successive sports prototype victories in the Targa Florio, Buenos Aires 1000 Km and Nürburgring, and later when Wilbur Shaw powered an 8CTF around the Brickyard to take two wins in the Indy 500 (1939 and 1940).