Maserati is making its highly-anticipated return to sports car racing this year with the debut of its new GT2-spec race car, based on the MC20 supercar. The Maserati GT2 was unveiled on the sidelines of the 24 Hours of Spa, which is the highlight of the SRO-sanctioned GT World Challenge Europe.
While the GT World Challenge Europe is open to GT3-spec cars, Maserati has decided to contest the SRO’s GT2 European Series with its new race car. The GT2 European Series allows customer teams to participate and includes race cars based on popular models such as the Audi R8, KTM X-Bow, Mercedes-Benz AMG, Porsche 911, and more.
Maserati has announced that the GT2 will start racing towards the end of 2023 and will participate in the full 2024 season. The automaker is eager to make its mark once again in the world of sports car racing.
The Maserati GT2 shares many similarities with the MC20 road car. It features the same turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine, although the output is dependent on the Balance of Performance. The race car, however, has a much more aggressive aerodynamic design, with larger side intakes, an adjustable rear wing attached via swan-neck struts, a front splitter, and rear diffuser. Maserati claims that the race car also benefits from a fully flat floor that improves air flow.
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In terms of construction, the GT2 race car’s body shell is made entirely from lightweight composite materials. The body panels have a quick-release design, allowing for easy swapping of components. The fenders are also redesigned to accommodate a wider track, featuring louvers at the front and larger side intakes at the rear to cool the radiators.
Several components of the GT2 race car are specific to the racing environment. These include adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars for the suspension, a 6-speed sequential transmission, a quick-release steering wheel, and a 6.5-inch driver information display. The ABS system is also unique and can be calibrated by the driver from behind the wheel, enhancing the racing experience.
Maserati’s GT2 race car has some big expectations to live up to. The MC20’s predecessor, the Ferrari Enzo-based MC12, competed in the FIA GT Series in the 2000s and achieved great success, winning three 24 Hours of Spa races (in 2005, 2006, and 2008).
This year marks Maserati’s return to motorsports, with the brand’s factory-backed team competing in the Formula E World Championship. The Italian automaker is also working on an MC20 track car, which could potentially serve as a basis for a race car designed for the GT classes of the IMSA SportsCar Championship or FIA World Endurance Championship.
Maserati’s CEO, David Grasso, expressed the brand’s excitement about returning to racing. He said, “Our DNA and our spirit have always lain in racing. Now more than ever, we want to rekindle and nourish that competitive passion that has always characterized and motivated us to achieve major milestones.”
The Maserati GT2 race car is set to bring the brand’s iconic racing heritage back to the forefront. With its powerful engine, aggressive aerodynamics, and advanced racing components, it aims to make a statement in the GT2 European Series and revive the brand’s competitive spirit. Maserati fans and racing enthusiasts can eagerly anticipate the debut of this exciting race car in late 2023.
