The
Maserati MC12 is a two-seater
sports carThe term sports car has been defined as "an open, low-built, fast motor car." The term describes a class of automobile with two seats, two doors, precise handling, brisk acceleration, and sharp braking — trading practical considerations such as passenger space, comfort, and cargo capacity...
produced by
MaseratiMaserati is an Italian manufacturer of racing cars and sports cars, established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters are now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...
to allow a racing variant to compete in the
FIA GT ChampionshipThe FIA GT Championship is a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile...
. The car entered production in 2004 with 30 cars produced (five of which were not for sale). A further 25 were produced in 2005 making a total of 50 cars available for customers, each of which were pre-sold for
€The euro is the official currency of 16 of the 27 Member States of the European Union . The states, known collectively as the Eurozone, are Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain...
600 000.
Maserati designed and built the car on the
chassisA chassis consists of a framework that supports an inanimate object, analogous to an animal's skeleton, for example in a motor vehicle or a firearm.- Examples of use :...
of the Enzo Ferrari but the final car is much larger with less drag coefficient. The MC12 is longer, wider and taller and has sharper nose and smoother curves than the Enzo Ferrari, which has faster acceleration, better braking performance (shorter braking distance) and a higher top speed. The top speed of the Maserati MC12 is 330 kilometres per hour (205 mph) whereas the top speed of the Enzo Ferrari is 350 kilometres per hour (217.5 mph).
The MC12 was developed to signal Maserati's return to racing after 37 years. The road version was produced to homologate the race version. One requirement for participation in the FIA GT is the production of at least 25 road cars. Three GT1 race cars were entered into the FIA GT with great success. Maserati began racing the MC12 in the FIA GT toward the end of the 2004 season, winning the race held at the
Zhuhai International CircuitZhuhai International Circuit is located at Jin Ding town in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.Motorsport started in Zhuhai when it hosted a race on its street circuit in 1993, racing continued until 1996 when the motor racing circuit was constructed and became China’s...
. The racing MC12s were entered into the
American Le Mans SeriesThe American Le Mans Series is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of four classes: LMP1 and LMP2 for Le Mans Prototypes, and GT1 and...
races in 2005 but exceeded the size restrictions and consequently paid weight penalties due to excess range.
Development
Development of the Maserati MC12 began while Maserati was owned by
FerrariFerrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1928 as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles in 1947 as Ferrari S.p.A....
in order to create a race car for Maserati that would be eligible to compete in the FIA GT. Its initial name was the
MCC, meaning
Maserati Corse Competizione, and development under the direction of Giorgio Ascanelli was planned to be simultaneous with that of the
MCS, the road going version. The body shape was developed from an idea by
Giorgetto GiugiaroGiorgetto Giugiaro is an Italian automobile designer responsible equally for a stable of supercars and several of the most popular everyday vehicles driven today...
during wind tunnel testing, though the majority of styling was by
Frank StephensonFrank Stephenson is an American automobile designer. He was born in Morocco and went to high school in Madrid, Spain.Stephenson is a graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California....
. The MCC had a very similar body shape to the MC12 but there were several key differences, most notably the rear
spoilerA spoiler is an automotive aerodynamic device whose intended design function is to 'spoil' unfavorable air movement across a body of a vehicle in motion. Spoilers on the front of a vehicle are often called air dams, because in addition to directing air flow they also reduce the amount of air...
.
Andrea BertoliniAndrea Bertolini is an Italian race car driver currently driving for Vitaphone Racing in the FIA GT Championship. He began racing at a young age, working as the youngest ever test driver for Ferrari at 19, followed by work in the experimental and development department. He also participated in the...
was the chief test driver throughout the development (although some testing was done by
Michael SchumacherMichael Schumacher is a German former Formula One driver and seven-time Formula One world drivers' champion, and current advisor for Ferrari. According to the official Formula One website, he is "statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen"...
), frequently testing the MCC at the
Fiorano CircuitFiorano Circuit is the private racetrack owned by Ferrari for development and testing purposes. It is located near the Italian town of Maranello....
. As the MCC was developed further, word of the MCS ceased and eventually the final name, MC12, was announced.
The car is based heavily on the
Enzo FerrariThe Enzo Ferrari, also known as Ferrari Enzo, is a 12 cylinder mid-engine berlinetta named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It is currently one of the most powerful naturally aspirated production cars...
, sharing the same Ferrari Dino V12 engine with slight modifications, the same gearbox (but renaming it
Maserati Cambiocorsa) and the same
chassisA chassis consists of a framework that supports an inanimate object, analogous to an animal's skeleton, for example in a motor vehicle or a firearm.- Examples of use :...
and track (length of
axleAn axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. In some cases the axle may be fixed in position with a bearing or bushing sitting inside the hole in the wheel or gear to allow the wheel or gear to rotate around the axle. In other cases the wheel or gear may be fixed to the axle, with...
between the wheels). The Maserati MC12 has its own bodywork which is wider, longer and slightly taller leaving the windshield as the only externally visible component shared with the Enzo. This extra size allows for greater
downforceThe term downforce describes the downward pressure created by the aerodynamic characteristics of a car that allows it to travel faster through a corner by increasing the pressure between the contact area of the tire and the road surface, thus creating more grip.-Fundamental principles:The same...
across the whole body, adding to that of the two metre
spoilerA spoiler is an automotive aerodynamic device whose intended design function is to 'spoil' unfavorable air movement across a body of a vehicle in motion. Spoilers on the front of a vehicle are often called air dams, because in addition to directing air flow they also reduce the amount of air...
.
Overview
The MC12 is a two-door
coupeA coupé or coupe is a closed car body style, the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
with a
targa topTarga top, targa for short, is a semi-convertible car body style with a removable roof section and a full width roll bar behind the seats. The rear window can be fixed or removable, making it a convertible-type vehicle...
roof, although the detached roof cannot be stored in the car. The mid-rear layout (engine between the axles but behind the cabin) keeps the centre of gravity in the middle of the car, which increases stability and improves the car's cornering ability. The standing
weight distributionWeight distribution is the apportioning of weight within a vehicle, especially cars, airplanes, and watercraft.In a vehicle which relies on gravity in some way, weight distribution directly affects a variety of vehicle characteristics, including handling, acceleration, traction, and component life...
is 41% front: 59% rear; at speed however, the downforce provided by the rear spoiler affects this such that at 200 kilometres per hour (125 mph), the effective weight distribution is 34% front: 66% rear.
Interior
Even though the car is designed as a
homologationHomologation is a technical term, derived from the Greek homologeo for "to agree", which is generally used in English to signify the granting of approval by an official authority...
vehicle and is a modification of a racing car, the interior is intended to be luxurious. The interior is a mix of gel-coated carbon fibre, blue leather and silver "Brightex": a synthetic material which was found to be "too expensive for the fashion industry." The centre console features the characteristic Maserati oval analogue clock and a blue ignition button, but it has been criticised for lacking a
radioRadio is the transmission of signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, car stereo or a place to install an
aftermarketThe automotive aftermarket is the part of the automotive industry concerned with the manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution, retailing, and installation of all vehicle parts, chemicals, tools, equipment and accessories for light and heavy vehicles, after the sale of the automobile by the...
sound system.
Exterior
The body of the car, made entirely of carbon fibre, has undergone extensive
wind tunnelA wind tunnel is a research tool used in aerodynamic research. It is used to study the effects of air moving past solid objects.-Theory of operation:Wind tunnels were first proposed as a means of studying vehicles in free flight...
testing to achieve maximum downforce across all surfaces. As a result, the rear spoiler is two metres (79 in) wide but only 30 millimetres (1.2 in) thick, the underside of the car is smooth, and the rear bumper has
diffusersA diffuser, in an automotive context, is a shaped section of the car underbody which improves the car's aerodynamic properties by enhancing the transition between the high-velocity airflow underneath the car and the much slower freestream airflow of the ambient atmosphere...
to take advantage of
ground effectGround effect is term applied to a series of aerodynamic effects used in car design, which has been exploited to create downforce, particularly in racing cars. This has been the successor to the earlier dominant aerodynamic theory of streamlining...
. Air is sucked into the engine compartment through the
air scoopA cold air intake is a device used to bring lower temperature air into a car's internal-combustion engine, to increase engine
power and efficiency.Standard air intake systems tend to be very restrictive, in order to eliminate engine noise...
; its positioning on top of the cabin makes the car taller than the Enzo. The exterior is available only in the white and blue colour scheme, a tribute to the America Camoradi racing team that drove the
Maserati Tipo BirdcagesThe Maserati Tipo 61 is one of the best known sports racing cars of the early 1960s. The car was produced between 1959 and 1961 by Maserati for racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance classic...
in the early 1960s. The car is noted for the awkwardness that results from its size: very long and wider than a
Hummer H2The Hummer H2 is an SUV and SUT sold by General Motors under the Hummer brand. It is a large truck with room for six passengers...
. This, combined with the lack of a rear window, makes parking the MC12 very difficult.
Engine
The MC12 sports a 232 kilogram (511
lbThe pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
), six-litre (5,998 cc/366 cu in) Enzo Ferrari-derived
V12A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually at a 60° angle to each other, but in some cases at a wider or narrower angle, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
engine, mounted at 65°. Each
cylinderA cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine, the space in which a piston travels. Multiple cylinders are commonly arranged side by side in a bank, or engine block, which is typically cast from aluminum or cast iron before precision features are machined into it...
has four
valvesA poppet valve is a valve consisting of a hole, usually round or oval, and a tapered plug, usually a disk shape on the end of a shaft also called a valve stem. The shaft guides the plug portion by sliding through a valve guide...
, lubricated via a
dry sumpA dry sump is a lubricating oil management method for four-stroke and large two-stroke piston internal combustion engines that uses a secondary external reservoir for oil, as compared to a conventional wet sump system....
system, and a
compression ratioThe compression ratio of an internal-combustion engine or external combustion engine is a value that represents the ratio of the volume of its combustion chamber; from its largest capacity to its smallest capacity...
of 11.2:1. These combine to provide a maximum torque of 652
newton metreNewton metre is a unit of torque in the SI system. Less commonly, it is used as a unit of energy, in which case it is synonymous with the more common and standard SI unit of energy, the joule. The symbolic form is N m or N·m, and sometimes hyphenated newton-metre...
s (481 lbf·ft) at 5500 rpm and a maximum
powerIn physics, power is the rate at which work is performed or energy is converted. It is an energy per unit of time. As a rate of change of work done or the energy of a subsystem, power iswhere P is power, W is work and t is time....
of 621
bhpHorsepower is the name of several non-SI units of power. It was originally defined to allow the output of steam engines to be measured and compared with the power output of draft horses. The horsepower was widely adopted to measure the output of piston engines, turbines, electric motors and other...
(632 PS/465 kilowatts) at 7500 rpm. The
redlineRedline refers to the maximum engine speed at which an internal combustion engine or traction motor and its components are designed to operate without causing damage to the components themselves or other parts of the engine...
rpm is indicated at 7500—despite being safe up to 7700—whereas the Enzo has redline at 8200 rpm.
The Maserati MC12 can accelerate from 0–100 kilometres per hour (62
mphmph is a three-letter acronym that refers to miles per hour, a measurement of speedMPH may also refer to:* Master of Public Health, a Master's degree in public health...
) in 3.8 seconds (though
Motor Trend MagazineMotor Trend is an automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line The Magazine for a Motoring World. Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen magazines to...
managed 3.7 seconds) and on to 200 kilometres per hour (125 mph) in 9.9 seconds. It can complete a standing (from stationary) quarter mile in 11.3 seconds with a terminal speed of 200 kilometres per hour (125 mph) or a standing kilometre in 20.1 seconds. The maximum speed of the Maserati MC12 is 330 kilometres per hour (205 mph).
The power is fed to the wheels through a rear-mounted, six-speed
semi-automatic transmissionA semi-automatic transmission is a system which uses electronic sensors, processors and actuators to execute gear shifts on the command of the driver...
. The gearbox is the same as the Enzo's transmission (tuned to different
gear ratioThe gear ratio is the relationship between the number of teeth on two gears that are meshed or two sprockets connected with a common roller chain, or the circumferences of two pulleys connected with a drive belt.- General description :...
s) but renamed "Maserati Cambiocorsa". It provides a
shift timeShift time refers to the time interval between gear changes in a transmission during which power delivery is interrupted. This is usually in reference to motor vehicles but can apply to any gearbox. Reducing shift time is important in performance vehicles or race cars because it means the vehicle...
of just 150 milliseconds, and is mechanical with a 215 millimetre (8.5 in) twin plate dry clutch.
| Gear | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Final Drive |
|---|
| Ratio |
3.15:1 |
2.18:1 |
1.57:1 |
1.19:1 |
0.94:1 |
0.71:1 |
4.10:1 |
Chassis
The MC12’s
chassisA chassis consists of a framework that supports an inanimate object, analogous to an animal's skeleton, for example in a motor vehicle or a firearm.- Examples of use :...
is a monocoque made of
carbonCarbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...
and
nomexNomex is a registered trademark for flame resistant meta-aramid material developed in the early 1960s by DuPont and first marketed in 1967.- Properties:...
, with an
aluminiumAluminium or aluminum is a silvery white and ductile member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al; its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
sub-chassis at the front and rear. It has a
roll barRoll bar may refer to:* Roll cage, a vehicle frame designed to protect occupants in the event of a crash* Sway bar, a torsion spring bar that reduces vehicle roll...
to provide additional strength, comfort and safety.
Double wishbone suspensionIn automobiles, a double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design using two wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control...
with push-rod-operated
coil springA Coil spring, also known as a helical spring, is a mechanical device, which is typically used to store energy and subsequently release it, to absorb shock, or to maintain a force between contacting surfaces...
s provide stability and
dampersA shock absorber in common parlance is a mechanical device designed to smooth out or damp shock impulse, and dissipate kinetic energy.- Explanation :...
smooth the ride for the passengers. The front of the car can be raised for speed bumps and hills by pressing a button that extends the front suspension. There are two modes for the chassis' tuning which can also be changed with a button in the cabin:
Sport, the standard setting, and
Race, which features less of the
BoschRobert Bosch GmbH is a German diversified technology-based corporation which was started in 1886 by Robert Bosch in Stuttgart, Germany.Robert Bosch GmbH is the world's largest supplier of automobile components and has business relationships with virtually every automobile company in the world. The...
ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation) traction control, faster shifts and stiffer suspension.
Wheels
The MC12 has 480 millimetre (19 in) wheels with a width of 230 millimetres (9 in) at the front and 330 millimetres (13 in) at the rear. The
tyresA tire is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...
are
PirelliPirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy.-History:Founded 1872 in Milan by Giovanni Battista Pirelli, Pirelli initially specialised in rubber and derivative processes. Effectively, Pirelli's activities are still primarily focused on the production of tyres and cables...
P Zero Corsas with
codesTire code or Tyre code - Automobile tires are described by an alphanumeric code, which is generally molded into the sidewall of the tire. This code specifies the dimensions of the tire, and some of its key limitations, such as load-bearing ability, and maximum speed...
of 245/35 ZR 19 for the front tyres and 345/35 ZR 19 for the rear. The brakes are
BremboBrembo S.p.A. is a manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. It was established in Bergamo, Italy in 1961, and now operates worldwide....
disc brakes with a Bosch
anti-lock braking systemAn anti-lock braking system, or ABS is a safety system which prevents the wheels on a motor vehicle from locking up while braking....
(ABS). The front brakes have a diameter of 380 millimetres (15 in) with six-piston calipers and the rear brakes have a diameter of 335 millimetres (13.2 in) with four-piston calipers. The centre-lock wheel
nutsA nut is a type of hardware fastener with a threaded hole. Nuts are almost always used opposite a mating bolt to fasten a stack of parts together. The two partners are kept together by a combination of their threads' friction, a slight stretch of the bolt, and compression of the parts...
that hold the wheels to the chassis are colour coded: red on the left of the car, blue on the right.
Reception
The car has generally received positive reviews, but its critics say it is hard to drive, overpriced and too large. Other criticisms include the lack of a
trunkThe trunk, or boot, of an automobile or car is the vehicle's main storage, luggage, or cargo compartment. Trunk is used in North American English and Jamaican English; boot is used elsewhere in the English speaking world. Trunk is also primarily used in many non-English speaking regions, such as...
, rear window, spare tire and radio, and the way the car's engine was limited or "drugged". Current driver for
Vitaphone RacingVitaphone Racing is a German racing team who participate in the FIA GT, named for their sponsor, Vitaphone GmbH, who manufacture telecommunication equipment for hospitals. They have successfully raced the Maserati MC12 GT1 since 2005. The team consists of 32 people and is led by Rafael Calafell...
Team
Andrea BertoliniAndrea Bertolini is an Italian race car driver currently driving for Vitaphone Racing in the FIA GT Championship. He began racing at a young age, working as the youngest ever test driver for Ferrari at 19, followed by work in the experimental and development department. He also participated in the...
, the chief test driver throughout the
developmentAutomotive design is the profession involved in the development of the appearance, and to some extent the ergonomics, of motor vehicles or more specifically road vehicles. This most commonly refers to automobiles but also refers to motorcycles, trucks, buses, coaches, and vans...
, said the car "reacts well and is very reliable in its reactions."
The
Top GearTop Gear is a BBC television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style. The show is currently presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond...
television series acquired an MC12, and test driver
The StigThe Stig is the name given to the racing driver on the BBC show Top Gear. In the show he is cast as a mysterious "tame racing driver". He is credited as a presenter alongside Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May....
achieved a lap time of 1:18.9 around the
Top Gear track—0.1 seconds faster than his lap in the Enzo Ferrari. Host
Jeremy ClarksonJeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster and journalist who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
also drove it, comparing it to the
Maserati BiturboThe Maserati Biturbo is a sports car introduced by Maserati in 1981. The Biturbo was a two-door, four-seater notchback coupé featuring, as the name implies, a two-litre V-6 engine with two turbochargers and a luxurious interior.The car was designed by Pierangelo Andreani, an engineer from the De...
, a car he disliked. Clarkson criticised the car greatly, pointing out that, like the
EnzoThe Enzo Ferrari, also known as Ferrari Enzo, is a 12 cylinder mid-engine berlinetta named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It is currently one of the most powerful naturally aspirated production cars...
, it lacks a rear window. He also commented that it is "difficult" due to its size, and "one of the twitchiest cars" he has ever driven, meaning a small action by the driver results in an exaggerated reaction from the car. For these reasons, he promptly renamed the car "The
MC HammerStanley Kirk Burrell , best known by his stage names MC Hammer, Hammer and Hammertime, is a rapper, entertainer and dancer most popular during the late 1980s until the mid-1990s...
". Regarding the design of a racing car and modification to road standards he said, "Is it a racer? Is it a GT car? Is it a de-tuned Enzo in a fat suit? You can't really tell." Despite his criticisms he did compliment the smooth ride:
This car glides over bumps, the suspension absorbing the roadworker Johnnies’ laziness without transferring a single ripple to the cool blue interior with its Milanese fashion house upholstery.
Motor Trend Magazine reviewer Frank Markus had a more positive opinion. Despite initial skepticism he said, "It turns out that the Enzo makes a more comfortable and attractive road car when made over as a butch Maserati racer in street couture". Markus complimented the stability of braking and the handling ability of the MC12, especially the drifting allowed by the traction control when cornering, commenting that "There's none of the knife-edged limit handling we criticised in the more extreme Enzo. It's even more forgiving at the limit than an Acura NSX."
When
Automobile MagazineAutomobile Magazine is an automobile magazine in the United States and is owned by Source Interlink. It was founded by a group of former employees of Car and Driver magazine, led by that publications’s former editor, David E. Davis, and originally published by News Corporation...
tested an MC12, reviewer Preston Lerner called it "user-friendly", praising the responsiveness and simplicity of driving. Lerner approved of
Frank StephensonFrank Stephenson is an American automobile designer. He was born in Morocco and went to high school in Madrid, Spain.Stephenson is a graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California....
's work with the styling of both the car's exterior and interior, calling the trim "Speed-Racer-ish" but "without looking as though it belongs in a Nitrous-ized Civic". He also complimented the ASR's level of intervention, commenting that it "lets the fun factor get reasonably high before kicking in".
Recently Evo Magazine ran the MC12 at Nordschleife and obtained a 7:24.29 second lap time. This was also the second time an MC12 recorded a faster lap time than its Ferrari counterpart, with the Enzo lapping the track exactly 1 second slower. Both times were set by the same driver, Marc Basseng.
FIA GT
In 2004 Maserati completed three MC12 GT1 race cars intended for the FIA GT GT1 class. The
AF CorseAF Corse is an Italian auto racing team founded by former racing driver Amato Ferrari in 2002 in Piacenza. Strongly linked to the Maserati and Ferrari brands, AF Corse currently competes in the FIA GT Championship, where they are currently the two-time defending champions of the series' GT2 class...
factory-backed squad debuted the race at
ImolaThe Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari is an auto racing circuit near the Italian town of Imola, east of Bologna and east of the Ferrari factory in Maranello.The circuit is named after Ferrari's late founder Enzo and his son Dino who had died in the 1950s...
, yet the FIA did not allow the MC12 to score points due to its debated homologation. Even with this setback, the team managed to take second and third places. At the next round at Oschersleben, the MC12 of
Andrea BertoliniAndrea Bertolini is an Italian race car driver currently driving for Vitaphone Racing in the FIA GT Championship. He began racing at a young age, working as the youngest ever test driver for Ferrari at 19, followed by work in the experimental and development department. He also participated in the...
and
Mika SaloMika Juhani Salo is a Finnish racing driver. He competed in Formula One between and . His best ranking was 10th in the world championship in 1999. He also won the GT2 class in the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans....
won for the first time. At the final round of the year at
ZhuhaiZhuhai International Circuit is located at Jin Ding town in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.Motorsport started in Zhuhai when it hosted a race on its street circuit in 1993, racing continued until 1996 when the motor racing circuit was constructed and became China’s...
, the FIA finally agreed to homologate the MC12s and allow them to score points towards the championship. With this, the MC12 again took victory, allowing it to score enough points to finish 7th in the teams championship.
In 2005 Maserati won the FIA GT Manufacturers Cup with 239 points: almost double the score of next team (
FerrariFerrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1928 as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles in 1947 as Ferrari S.p.A....
with 125 points). The two teams that entered MC12s into the FIA GT,
Vitaphone RacingVitaphone Racing is a German racing team who participate in the FIA GT, named for their sponsor, Vitaphone GmbH, who manufacture telecommunication equipment for hospitals. They have successfully raced the Maserati MC12 GT1 since 2005. The team consists of 32 people and is led by Rafael Calafell...
and
JMB RacingJMB Racing is a racing team from Monaco that competes in sports car racing. It was founded in Nice, France, in 1995 as JB Racing by Jean-Michel Bouresche and Jean-Pierre Jabouille. It was renamed JMB in 2000 after Jabouille left the partnership...
, finished first and second respectively in the Team Cup, with Vitaphone winning by a considerable margin. Four of the MC12 drivers were in the running to win the FIA GT Drivers' Title at the
Bahrain International CircuitThe Bahrain International Circuit is a motorsport venue opened in 2004 and used for drag racing, GP2 and an annual Formula One Grand Prix. The 2004 Grand Prix was the first held in the Middle East. Since 2006, Australian V8 Supercar has been raced at the BIC and the V8 races are named as the...
at the start of the final race of 2005:
Karl WendlingerKarl Wendlinger is an Austrian sportscar racing and former Formula One driver.- Mercedes Juniors :Wendlinger started his career in karting and in Formula Ford before entering the German Formula 3 Championship in 1988...
and
Andrea BertoliniAndrea Bertolini is an Italian race car driver currently driving for Vitaphone Racing in the FIA GT Championship. He began racing at a young age, working as the youngest ever test driver for Ferrari at 19, followed by work in the experimental and development department. He also participated in the...
each on 71 points and
Timo ScheiderTimo Scheider is a German racing driver, who competes in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters for Audi. He became the 2008 DTM Champion on 26 October 2008.-Karting:...
and
Michael BartelsMichael Bartels is a professional racing driver. He failed to qualify for 4 Formula One Grands Prix with Lotus. He was the 1985 German karting champion and the 1986 German Formula Ford 1600 champion...
on 70. Gabriele Gardel of Ferrari was also on 70 points, however, and in the crucial race he placed ahead of the all of the Maseratis, driving an older Ferrari 550 Maranello. Gardel took the title leaving all of the Maserati drivers within four points of first place (Scheider and Wendlinger receiving four points for the race).
In 2006 the only team representing Maserati was Vitaphone Racing. On September 30, 2006 Vitaphone secured the Teams' Championship for the
2006 seasonThe 2006 FIA GT Championship season is the 10th season of FIA GT Championship. It is a series for Grand Touring style cars broken into two classes based on power and manufacturer involvement, called GT1 and GT2. Invitational G2 and G3 classes are also allowed to participate, but do not count...
despite their drivers placing 5th and 7th in the
Budapest 500km raceThe 2006 FIA GT Budapest 500km was the eighth race for the 2006 FIA GT Championship season. It took place on September 30, 2006, being run at the Hungaroring.-Official Results:...
with weight penalties of 85 kilograms and 105 kilograms respectively. Bertolini and Bartels also shared first place in the Drivers' Championship on 71 points but the manufacturers cup went to Aston Martin.
Vitaphone Racing again won the GT1 Teams' Championship in the
2007 seasonThe 2007 FIA GT Championship season was the 11th season of FIA GT Championship. It was a series for Grand Touring style cars broken into two classes based on power and manufacturer involvement, called GT1 and GT2. Invitational G2 and G3 classes were also allowed to participate, but did not count...
on 115 points, followed by fellow MC12 team Scuderia Playteam Sarafree on 63 points. JMB Racing also entered two MC12s, but they were used by amateur drivers competing in the Citation Cup, which was won by JMB's driver Ben Aucott. Maserati also won the Manufacturers' Cup by a significant margin while
Thomas BiagiThomas Biagi is a professional racecar driver from Italy. Biagi was born in Bologna, in 7 May 1976.Biagi started his career in single seaters, driving in Formula Alfa Boxer and Italian Formula Three Championship, where he was 5th best in 1995, with two wins. From there, he moved up to the FIA...
won the Drivers' Championship. Fellow Vitaphone drivers Miguel Ramos and Christian Montanari tied for sixth, while Playteam's
Andrea BertoliniAndrea Bertolini is an Italian race car driver currently driving for Vitaphone Racing in the FIA GT Championship. He began racing at a young age, working as the youngest ever test driver for Ferrari at 19, followed by work in the experimental and development department. He also participated in the...
and Andrea Piccini were just behind.
For 2008, Vitaphone Racing returns with a pair of MC12s for drivers
Andrea BertoliniAndrea Bertolini is an Italian race car driver currently driving for Vitaphone Racing in the FIA GT Championship. He began racing at a young age, working as the youngest ever test driver for Ferrari at 19, followed by work in the experimental and development department. He also participated in the...
,
Michael BartelsMichael Bartels is a professional racing driver. He failed to qualify for 4 Formula One Grands Prix with Lotus. He was the 1985 German karting champion and the 1986 German Formula Ford 1600 champion...
, and
Miguel RamosMiguel Ramos is a Portuguese racing driver.He currently races for Vitaphone Racing driving a Maserati MC12 in the FIA GT Championship....
, as well as newcomer
Alexandre NegrãoAlexandre Sarnes Negrão , nicknamed Xandinho, is a Brazilian race car driver. He raced in the first three seasons of the GP2 Series, all with the Piquet Sports team, having won the Formula Three Sudamericana championship in 2004....
. JMB Racing will retain a single MC12 for 2007 Citation Cup winner Ben Aucott and drivers Peter Kutemann and Maurice Basso, although they will not be competing in the Citation Cup again.
Italian GT
MC12s have had great success racing in Italy, and have replaced the GT3 "Maserati Trofeo Light" as Maserati's representative in the
Italian GT ChampionshipThe Italian GT Championship is an Italian sports car series founded in 2003 and organized by the Automobile Club d'Italia and the Commissione Sportiva Automobilistica Italiana . It replaced a previous supercar-based championship which ran from 1992 until 2002 when it was folded due to a lack of...
. In 2005 Maserati introduced two MC12s to the GT1 division under Scuderia Playteam and Racing Box, with the teams placing first and third overall respectively. The cars were re-entered in 2006, with Scuderia Playteam again securing overall victory and Racing Box coming second. From 2007, GT1 cars are not permitted in the championship, and Scuderia Playteam moved to the FIA GT Championship.
Racing Box also participated in the non-championship
6 Hours of VallelungaThe 6 Hours of Vallelunga is an endurance sports car racing event held annually at the ACI Vallelunga Circuit in Vallelunga, Italy....
twice, winning in 2005 with
Michele RugoloMichele Rugolo is an Italian racing driver.-Formula Renault:After competing in karting championships from 1992 to 1999, Rugolo competed in the Formula Renault 2000 Italy from 2000 to 2002, and then switched to Formula Nissan part-way through 2002.-Sports Cars:Rugolo competed in the 24 Hours of Le...
, Leonardo Maddelena, and Davide Mastracci, then again in 2006 with
Pedro LamyJosé Pedro Mourão Lamy Viçoso, OIH, better known as Pedro Lamy , is a professional racing driver from Portugal, notable for being the first Portuguese driver to score a point in a World Championship event, in the 1995 Australian Grand Prix, for Minardi.-Early years:After graduating...
, Marco Cioci, and Piergiuseppe Perazzini.
Super GT
In 2006, the
Le MansThe 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, Sarthe, France...
winning outfit
Team GohTeam Goh International is a Japanese auto racing team founded by Kazimuchi Goh in 1990s. Initially competing in the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship , Team Goh won the 1996 championship with a McLaren F1 GTR and drivers John Nielsen and David Brabham...
was intending to race a Maserati MC12 in the
Super GTThe Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association...
series in
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. However, the team was forced to withdraw because of driver problems (
Jan MagnussenJan "Big Mag" Magnussen is a race car driver from Denmark and a GM factory driver.- Lower series racing :Magnussen had a dominating 1994 British Formula 3 championship with Paul Stewart Racing, winning 14 of the 18 events and breaking Ayrton Senna's F3 record.Magnussen scored his first British F3...
falling ill suddenly and returning to
DenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe and the senior member of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries; southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and it is bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark borders both the Baltic and the North Sea...
) and disappointing lap times at the
Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka Circuit for short, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, the subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..- Introduction :...
during testing. While the car was faster than its Super GT rivals down the straights, it was losing more than a second per lap in the corners due to its poorer aerodynamics.
American Le Mans Series
In 2004 the Maserati MC12s were unable to compete in series backed by the
ACOThe Automobile Club de l'Ouest , sometimes abbreviated to ACO, is the largest automotive group in France. It was founded in 1906 by car building and racing enthusiasts, and is most famous for being the organising entity behind the annual Le Mans 24 Hours race...
, such as the Le Mans Endurance Series (LMES) in Europe and the
American Le Mans SeriesThe American Le Mans Series is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of four classes: LMP1 and LMP2 for Le Mans Prototypes, and GT1 and...
(ALMS) because they exceeded both the length and width restrictions for their class. The car's nose was shortened by 200 millimetres (7.9 in) to attempt to comply with regulations, but was still 66 millimetres (2.6 in) too wide. In 2005 the governing body of the ALMS, the
International Motor Sports AssociationThe International Motor Sports Association is an American auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton, Georgia. It was started by John Bishop, a former employee of SCCA , and his wife Peggy in 1969 with help from Bill France, Sr...
(IMSA), allowed the MC12s to compete as a guest with the agreement that they were not allowed to score championship points and were forced to run a weight penalty. Some ALMS teams initially objected to the participation of the MC12 due to the possibility that an accident could eliminate their chances at the
24 Hours of Le MansThe 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, Sarthe, France...
, but the MC12 was finally allowed to race. The ACO stood by their ruling on the car by forbidding it from entering other Le Mans series.
The lone MC12 would be campaigned under the Maserati Corse banner, but run by the American
Risi CompetizioneRisi Competizione is an American auto racing team formed by Giuseppe Risi in 1997. Initially a partnership with Doyle Racing using the name Doyle-Risi Racing, Giuseppe Risi took full control of the project and it was rebranded with its current name in 2000...
team. The
2005 American Le Mans Series seasonThe 2005 American Le Mans Series season was the 7th season for the IMSA American Le Mans Series. It was a series for Le Mans Prototypes and Grand Touring race cars divided into 4 classes: LMP1, LMP2, GT1, and GT2...
was not as successful for the team, with the team scoring no wins. In the final race at Laguna Seca, the MC12 was clipped by a competitor, causing damage that resulted in a lengthy
pit stopIn motorsports, a pit stop is where a racing vehicle stops in the pits during a race for refuelling, new tires, repairs, mechanical adjustments, a driver change, or any combination of the above....
. After resuming the race, a loss of traction caused by cold tyres made the car hit a kerb, which broke the
radiatorRadiators are used for cooling internal combustion engines, chiefly in automobiles but also in piston-engined aircraft, railway locomotives, motorcycles, stationary generating plant or any similar use of such an engine....
and took the MC12 out of the race.
In August 2007, Fredy Lienhard and
Didier TheysDidier Theys is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. After some success in European F-3, he raced in the 1987-1993 seasons with 47 career starts, including the 1989, 1990 and 1993 Indianapolis 500...
announced their preparation of a former FIA GT MC12 for use in the American Le Mans Series. The car made its debut at
Road AmericaRoad America is a road course located near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin on Wisconsin Highway 67. It has hosted races since the 1950s and currently hosts races in the SCCA Speed World Challenge Series, American Le Mans, ASRA and AMA Superbike series....
, finishing 3rd in the GT1 class after qualifying competitively. The only other race entered was Round 11 at Road Atlanta for the
Petit Le MansThe Petit Le Mans is a sports car endurance race held annually at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, USA.The race was first run on October 10, 1998 as part of the IMSA season, then in 1999 became one of the original events of the American Le Mans Series...
where the team failed to finish following an accident, but were still classified second in class. Doran's Maserati however had qualified on the class pole. The team selected
MichelinMichelin based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France, is primarily a tyre manufacturer, currently either the world's second-largest or the largest...
tires instead of the
PirelliPirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy.-History:Founded 1872 in Milan by Giovanni Battista Pirelli, Pirelli initially specialised in rubber and derivative processes. Effectively, Pirelli's activities are still primarily focused on the production of tyres and cables...
s originally used by Maserati Corse in 2005, and was also allowed to race with a full-width rear wing instead of the smaller wing used by Maserati Corse and teams in FIA GT, although the wing was not as tall. IMSA also allowed Doran to score points in the American Le Mans Series championships.
MC12 Corsa
The
Corsa is a variant of the MC12 intended for racetrack use. In contrast to the race version of the MC12, of which street-legal versions were produced for homologation purposes, the MC12 Corsa is intended for private use, albeit restricted to the track, as the Corsa's modifications make it illegal to drive on the road.
The Corsa was developed directly from the MC12 GT1, which won the 2005 FIA GT Manufacturers Cup. The car was released in mid-2006, "in response to the customer demand to own the MC12 racing car and fueled by the growth in track days, where owners can drive their cars at high speeds in the safety of a race track", as stated by Edward Butler, General Manager for Maserati in
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
and
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
. In similar fashion to the
Ferrari FXXThe Ferrari FXX is a high performance race car built by automobile manufacturer Ferrari in Maranello, Italy. The FXX is based on the street-legal Enzo. Production of the FXX began in 2005.- Overview :...
, although the owners are private individuals, Maserati is responsible for the storage, upkeep, and maintenance of the cars, and they are only driven on specially organized
track dayA track day is an organised event in which members of the public are allowed to drive or ride around established motor racing circuits, or alternatively on closed or disused airfields...
s. Unlike the FXX, Corsas are not used for research and development, and are used only for entertainment. A single MC12 Corsa has been modified by its owner to make it street-legal.
Only twelve MC12 Corsas were sold to selected customers, each of whom paid €1 million (US$1.47 million) for the privilege. Another three vehicles were produced for testing and publicity purposes. The Corsa shares its engine with the MC12 GT1; the powerplant produces 555 kilowatts (755 PS/744 bhp) at 8000 rpm, 90 kilowatts (122 PS/121 bhp) more than the original MC12. The MC12 Corsa shares the GT1's shortened nose, which was a requirement for entry into the
American Le Mans SeriesThe American Le Mans Series is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of four classes: LMP1 and LMP2 for Le Mans Prototypes, and GT1 and...
. The car was available in a single standard color, named "Blue Victory", though the car's paint could be customized upon request. The MC12 Corsa possesses steel/carbon racing brakes, but is not fitted with an
anti-lock braking systemAn anti-lock braking system, or ABS is a safety system which prevents the wheels on a motor vehicle from locking up while braking....
.
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