Maranello Motorsports are setting their sights on the world after winning the 2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hours.
The Melbourne based Ferrari specialist have been in in the Australian motorsport scene for over a decade, racing in the Nations Cup, the Australian GT Championship – taking the title with the late Allan Simonsen in 2007 and, of course the Bathurst 12 Hour this year.
Mark Coffey, Director of Maranello Motorsports explains that Asia is the first target of the team, which could happen this year.
“We have eyes on Sepang 12 Hours this year,” Coffey said to Dailysportscar.
“Sepang is a great race, it is going from strength to strength. I think what it is important we will be looking at races that adhere to the FIA Blancpain rules and strictly enforce them. I think they have been a little bit loose in some parts of Asia and that has been because they haven’t had the grid density to really police all the rules and invite a lot of cars. Commercially I think that is what they had to do and that is how Australian GT started many years ago.
“I would love to go do events in Asia. They have some great events. Talking to teams that take it seriously in Australia, that in time, an Asian Endurance Championship will be introduced where we will do some events in Australia, then go up into Asia. Maybe in the next year or two that will be a Championship that will be really worth getting our teeth into.”
It is all a part of a bigger challenge to get to Le Mans. Coffey has been able to meet with fellow Bathurst competitors and endurance racing stalwarts, AF Corse and is seeking to put together a deal that would bring the Maranello name to La Sarthe.
“I share a good relationship with Ferrari and Micheletto and have for many years. I will be really guided by them and AF Corse that have a huge bank of lease arrangements in Europe. We are talking together and as long as we are talking, something will pan out.
“We are actually looking at doing a couple of other things. We have a great relationship with people like Craig Lowndes. We go a long way back and he wants to go and prove himself with Ferrari at Le Mans. I haven’t got the budget nor resources to take up an invitation with AF Corse but in the future I would love to do that. “
These will be in addition to Australian GT duties for the team, that will begin the season with one car and expand to two mid-season.
“Peter Edwards will be with John Bowe as he was last year.”
“I also have a Sydney based driver – Alan Deets. He has been in Challenge cars with me for many years. He has been in driver training programs, taught by Josh Hunt, John Bowe, Cam McConville. He is very focused and the beauty of this category is that they can employ a professional to mentor them. He is really looking forward to this year. He hasn’t got the licence requirement yet so we will do some other races and when he gets the licence, mid-year we will go to two cars.”
Coffey is also committed to the Australian GT Championship and sees a bright future to the Series.
“I am confident that in years to come we will have a grid density of 30-40 cars that are all within the homologation and competitive. Another thing that is interesting is that within the last 6-8 months is that a lot of the V8 Supercar drivers that are in their mid to late 30s are looking for their knock on driving situation. So I am getting a lot of enquiries, which is exciting.
“We have been talking in Australia to run machinery a year behind that in Europe – just to keep costs down. In light of no new cars coming out except the Bentley the GT Championship have been talking about holding the 2013/2014 spec into 2014/2015 just to hold the costs. You can buy a year old car out of Europe for half the price – it is just an economy of scale.”
It is all part of Maranello’s business that brings track day drivers to the race track in Australia and that brings legendary machinery back to life. The team recently restored a Ferrari 333SP and aims to bring a Ferrari F40GTE to the historic scene in 2014 or 2015.
“The Australian Historic Commission are very strict with their entry guidelines and don’t allow replicas. In Europe guys have precious cars and create replicas to race. Australia is slowly adopting that and will make dispensations for the show.
“It is important for the cars to get out there and be used and be seen. It won’t have anything to race against and we aren’t out there to win at historic events. but it is important that the fans get to see car, the Ferrari brand and Maranello Motorsport.”
“I have an F40GTE that I would like to do a similar thing with and we have customers with historic cars too.”
Along with the sportscar, Maranello have an F187 Ferrari, ex Gerhard Berger car that won in Adelaide. There are goals of taking that car to the Ferrari Festival at Sydney Motorsport Park along with the Ferrari 333 and F40GTE.
It will be busy year for Maranello but it started in a great way.
Sam Tickell
