Maserati MC12 GT1 2005-2009

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Designed for ... GT1 of FIA GT1 and Le Mans 2010 GT1 Teams Vitaphone Racing Team JMB Racing Team Country of origin Italy Introduced in 2005 Engine Type 65º V 12 Horse Power 623 bhp / 465 KW @ 7500 rpm Torque 652 Nm / 481 ft lbs @ 5500 rpm Weight 1110 kilo hp/kg 0.56 bhp / kg Engine Displacement 5.998 liter Engine Aspiration Naturally Aspirated Engine Fuel Feed Bosch Fuel Injection Engine Location Mid, longitudinally mounted Engine Valve Train 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC Drivetrain 6 speed Sequential, Rear wheel drive Successor Maserati MC12 GT1 2010

With Ferrari clearly involved in Formula 1 and entering the same probably too big of a step, Maserati opted to enter GT racing. Unfortunately there was not a car in the range, which would be an ideal candidate to go racing with, so Maserati turned to Ferrari for some assistance. They were happy to help out and allowed Maserati to use the Enzo chassis and drivetrain as a basis for the new racer. To homologate the car for the GT1 class at least 25 examples a year for two years had to be produced. With a booming market for high performance cars, this did not seem to be a problem, so work was started on the Enzo based road car and racing car.

All seemed to be going well, but then the design and publicity departments made some major mistakes, almost ending the car's racing career before it had even begun. The designers made the car wider than the two metre specified in the regulations and the publicity department released images of the racing car long before coming up with photos of the road car. Especially the Le Mans organizers, the ACO, did not take kindly to that. It quickly became clear that the other competitors, the FIA and the ACO would not make exception for Maserati; the MC12 was too wide and also not built to the spirit of the regulations. The controversy was pulled well into 2005 as Maserati found the ALMS willing to accept the MC12. Maserati welcomed the opportunity to further highlight the brand in the United States. Again the ACO protested. Back in Europe, four cars were entered in the FIA GT Championship 2005 by Vitaphone Racing and JMB but without being eligible for scoring points. Although Maserati Corse entered the car in all ten rounds of the season, it was only operating in the shadows of the brand new Corvette C6.R and Aston Martin DBR9.
Although the Maserati MC12 is one of the most successful GT racers of its era, it will always be remembered for the controversy surrounding its homologation.

Now near the end of 2009, Vitaphone Racing got automatically invited to Le Mans 2010 as winner of the FIA GT1 Championship 2009. As the new regulations for LMGT1 are accepting the FIA-GT1 homologated race cars, it is most probably the case that the Maserati MC12 is finally starting at Le Mans! Check the current status here!