Maserati concluded its inaugural racing season in the 2024 Fanatec GT2 European Series this past Sunday at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, with several positive results for the Italian Trident.
Multiple pole positions per class give Maserati a healthy lead
Philippe Prette secured the drivers’ title in the Am class driving the Maserati GT2 No. 2, with LP Racing crowned as the champion team. Alexandre Leroy claimed third place in the Maserati GT2 No. 24, representing TFT Racing. In the Pro Am class, Leonardo Gorini and Carlo Tamburini finished as runners-up in the LP Racing Maserati GT2 No. 1, while also taking second place in the standings. Roberto Pampanini and MauroCalamia in Dinamic Motorsport’s Maserati GT2 number 67 also secured a win in the weekend’s first race.
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Overall, Maserati saw 16 pole positions(six in Pro-Am and 10 in Am),12 victories(five Pro-Am, seven Am),7 second places(two Pro-Am, five Am), and5 third places, all in Am.
Maserati took an almost 40-year break from racing until 2004
Maserati took a sabbatical from racing after 1965 when their French counterparts took part in Le Mans with the V8-engined Tipo 151. The Italian marque officially returned to the sport in 2004 with a race-modified MC12 at the Imola race of the FIA GT Championship.
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The GT2 brought Maserati success in its first racing foray
Maserati announced their participation in Formula E and the GT2 European Series in 2023 with the Maserati GT2. Based on the roadgoing MC20, the GT2 featured a carbon monocoque chassis and a rear-mounted twin-turbo 3.0-liter Nettuno V6.
Speaking on the car’s performance, Maria Conti, Head of Maserati Corse said “We triumphed in the final drivers’ and team standings in the Am class and came close to taking the title in the other two, leaving the championship wide open until thelast round, proving how competitive the Maserati GT2 is.”
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The Maserati GT2 Stradale offers similar performance for the road
Those longing for a road-going version of Maserati’s crowned racing champion were blessed earlier this year with the Maserati GT2 Stradale. This wild, pedigreed beast features the same rear-mounted twin-turbo 3.0-liter Nettuno V6 engine putting out 631 hp, 10 more than the MC20 it’s based on. The 0-62 mph time of 2.8 seconds makes it 0.4 seconds faster than the MC20.
Keeping all that power grounded is no easy task, but the carbon-fiber spoiler, rear diffuser, and a host of other aerodynamic elements excel, generating over 1,100 pounds of downforce at 173 mph.
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Final thoughts
It’s exciting to see increased racing involvement from a storied brand like Maserati. The company’s rich racing heritage includes legendary drivers such as Juan Manuel Fangio, who represented Maserati in numerous races throughout the 1950s.
Support from historic racing events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Velocity Invitational further amplifies public enthusiasm for classic motorsports, demonstrating that internal combustion engine (ICE) racing is far from extinct.
About the author
Gabriel Ionica
Senior Editor, Autoblog