Maserati announced its participation in the opening round of the ‘2024 Pirelli-sponsored GT2 European Series’ on April 5 and 6 at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France. The model they will be entering this new season is the ‘Maserati GT2.’
Maserati is entering the GT2 class with a total of three vehicles (two operated by LP Racing and one by the TFT Racing team) for the new season of the European Championship dedicated to the GT2 category. This participation marks Maserati’s first return to the track since the last race of the 2023 season held in France.
Last October, the ‘Maserati GT2’ officially debuted in this series alongside LP Racing’s lead drivers, Leonardo Gorini and Luca Piri, achieving remarkable results in its first outing. This Italian team, which remarkably reintroduced Maserati into GT racing, achieved outstanding results, including pole position and a podium finish, making a strong impression right from the start.
The ‘Maserati GT2’ is a racing car designed specifically for the GT2 class, which cannot be used for regular road driving. While it already came equipped with the formidable Netuno V6 90° twin-turbo engine, a core component of Maserati’s super sports car, the MC20, it has been further enhanced to deliver even more potent and astonishing performance on the track. The ‘Maserati GT2’ was born to bring Maserati back to the circuit and uphold the racing tradition that is at the heart of its DNA.
The ‘Maserati GT2’ is designed and developed by Maserati for customers with a deep passion for racing. It offers exceptional handling, driving performance, and adrenaline-pumping capabilities, making it the ultimate choice for gentleman drivers looking to test themselves in high-performance competition.
From the design stage, the ‘Maserati GT2’ has made continuous efforts to optimize performance and aerodynamics. Using the world-class Maserati dynamic simulator, innovative technologies have been developed, combined with the skillful touch of a finely-tuned mechanics team, to ensure it performs optimally on the track.
The ‘Maserati GT2’ is a sporty model with a passion for racing, succeeding the legendary ‘Maserati MC12’. This model will evoke glorious moments in motorsport history for fans through GT racing and open a new chapter in the motorsport narrative.
Giovanni Sguro, head of Maserati Corse, stated, “The entry of three new vehicles into the GT Championship feels like a homecoming for Maserati. We expect more teams to purchase the ‘Maserati GT2’ and hope to see them competing on the global GT Championship grid. Maserati was born on the track, and racing is a core element of our brand’s history. In recent years, we have strategized to bring the trident logo back into the racing world. Today, we are thrilled to present our customers with an attractive vehicle that seamlessly merges outstanding performance with cutting-edge technology. This vehicle has been designed to meet the needs of motorsport consumers, private teams, and gentleman drivers, which aligns perfectly with Maserati’s objectives. In essence, it is about transforming a road-going sports car like the ‘MC20’ into a perfect racing machine for the track. We are eager to witness the ‘Maserati GT2’ excel on the racetrack as soon as possible.”
Furthermore, ahead of the Paul Ricard race, Maserati Corse announced a new strategic partnership with Shell within the GT2 program.
Max Wescam, Shell’s Global Key Accounts Marketing and Partnerships Director, stated, “Shell and Maserati have shared a passion for innovation and excellence through our 15-year technical partnership. We are excited to sponsor the ‘Maserati GT2’ in the ‘2024 Pirelli-sponsored GT2 European Series.’ This partnership involves supplying Shell Helix Ultra Maserati 5W-40 engine oil for the MC20 racing car and also providing the first fueling for the road-going version of the same model.”
Meanwhile, following the opening round at Paul Ricard, the ‘Maserati GT2’ is set to participate throughout the entire season of the ‘2024 Pirelli GT2 European Series.’ The European Series will consist of six rounds, including events in Misano, Italy (May 17-19), Spa 24 Hours in Belgium (June 27-29), Hockenheim in Germany (July 19-21), Monza in Italy (September 20-22), and concluding in Barcelona, Spain (October 11-13).
Jang, Lee daedusj@autodiary.kr