Italian car manufacturer Maserati was one of the high-profile manufacturers that supported the Gulf 12 Hours last week. The Maserati Trofeo World Series season finale was held at the Yas Marina Circuit and on the occasion Maserati Corse Motorsport Manager Roberto Bozzi took some time to talk about the sporting programmes of Maserati. DSC contacted Swiss Team afterwards to find out the status of its own-developed Maserati GranTurismo MC GT3.
The Maserati GranTurismo MC GT3 made its race debut in International GT Open back in 2012. The car developed by Swiss Team under the guidance of technical director of Giuseppe Angiulli, who worked for Team Rafanelli, Osella and Vitaphone in the past, took part in FIA Balance of Performance testing at Ladoux (Michelin’s Technology Centre) but lacked an FIA homologation and was therefore not seen in any major events and series yet.
Roberto Bozzi confirmed, again, that the Maserati GranTurismo MC GT3 is not a works effort, but that Maserati and Swiss Team work together very closely. Swiss Team builds and develops the car; Maserati supplies the parts. Giuseppe Angiulli told DSC that FIA homologation of the Maserati has now been completed and as of November 1 its FIA GT3 homologation number is GT3-034.
In Abu Dhabi Bozzi said bringing the GranTurismo MC GT3 to the Gulf 12 Hours had been considered, although Giuseppe Angiulli denied any concrete plans to enter the car in the event existed. “We never announced a Gulf 12 Hours participation,” said Angiulli. “We did some races last year [Hungaroring and Vallelunga] and three races in GT Sprint this year as a complimentary development activity.”
Swiss Team is planning to race the car in 2014 although the whens and wheres are yet to be confirmed. “We are actually defining our 2014 program, we have not 100% decided. For sure we’ll do some races,” said Angiulli. Bozzi hinted at a season with selected outings for the Swiss Team in various series on a race-by-race basis and not a full-season entry into a single championship. “We have some contacts in Europe and USA,” said Angiulli when asked whether there was interest in the car.
Angiulli also confirmed that Swiss Team had been working on the development of a GTD-spec car and even had the engine of the car shipped to Charlotte for Grand-Am Balance of Performance. Unfortunately at this point the project has been ‘frozen’ and the team is therefore fully focussed on the development of the GT3 car.
Marcel ten Caat (@dsceuroeditor)
