The Maserati Trofeo

Newsflash from NEWSPRESS - 9 January 2003.

UK DEBUT FOR NEW MASERATI TROFEO RACE CAR




* Seven-race series for new Trofeo model marks return of famous marque to racing * UK fans to see Trofeo race supporting British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July Maserati UK revealed, for the first time in the UK, the all-new 177 mph, V8-powered Maserati Trofeo Cambiocorsa race car at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham on the 9th January 2003. Maserati makes its official return to motor racing later this year, with the launch of the Maserati Trofeo (Italian for 'Trophy') championship for identical V8 Coupe Cambiocorsa cars. The high-profile seven race series is supported by Vodafone and visits five European countries - Britain, Italy, Germany, France and Spain. Two events, in Italy and Britain, will be held in conjunction with the local Formula 1 Grand Prix, and four will be Endurance events, supporting the FIA GT Championship and German DTM series. The last race will be held with the traditional "Finali Ferrari" racing days. There will be 26 Trofeo cars on the starting grid, and it will be possible to enter two drivers for endurance events. All the Trofeo race cars will be prepared and run directly by the Maserati factory, to guarantee technical equality and similar performance. Built on the regular production line at Maserati's recently refurbished Modena factory, the specially developed front-engined, rear-wheel drive Coupe Cambiocorsa Trofeo weighs less, goes faster, and has even sharper responses than its sister road car. Extensive testing of the prototype Trofeo by Ferrari F1 drivers Michael Schumacher and Luca Badoer has ensured that the specification of the 2003 race cars will offer drivers a challenging and rewarding experience and exciting racing for spectators. All the Maserati Trofeo models are fitted with 4.2-litre engines with revised electronics to boost power output by 6% to 413 bhp. To encourage close racing, each engine is tested, and certified to produce the same power, before being sealed for the season. The Trofeo has been put on a tough diet and stripped of the regular Coupe's air-conditioning, sound-proofing, and all non-essential accessories. Total saving is over 460 lbs, cutting the racer's weight to just 3,014 lbs. This weight-loss is achieved despite the addition of FIA-standard safety kit, and an impact-resistant 100-litre fuel tank. Mechanical changes from the road car are few - the engine is mechanically entirely standard - while other changes to make the cars race-fit include an upgraded braking system, specific damper and spring settings, racing seat, safety roll-over cage, larger diameter and wider wheels (9" x 18" front, 10" x 18" rear), slick Pirelli racing tyres and aerodynamic additions to the body. Drivers who are interested in taking part in the Maserati Trofeo race series can e-mail their details to: trofeo@maserati.co.uk. MASERATI TROFEO 2003 - PROVISIONAL CALENDAR 5-6 April: Barcelona, Spain - FIA GT 26-27 April: Magny Cours, France - FIA GT 24-25 May: Nurburgring, Germany - DTM 21-22 June: Norisring, Germany - DTM 19-20 Jul: Silverstone, Great Britain - Grand Prix 13-14 September: Monza, Italy - Grand Prix 18-19 October: Mugello, Italy - Ferrari Maserati World Finals

The Maserati Trofeo Organisation Unlike the Ferrari Challenge, technical management, assistance and vehicle maintenance will be managed centrally under the direction of Maserati. Every vehicle on the track will be assisted by dedicated Maserati staff, and in particular: A dedicated Maserati tent will operate as the vehicles' assistance centre. A Maserati hospitality unit, with offices and catering services, will manage logistics at the track.



The Drivers The Maserati Trofeo is open to all persons who are not current or past professional drivers. A committee will be appointed to verify the validity of each applicant. Drivers must be in possession of a valid International racing licence.



Subscription Subscription will be managed by the dealer network and Maserati UK (see details below). The driver will not but their car but will purchase a service package instead. This is essentially a 'pay and drive' scenario. The key elements to the service include: • Subscription (seven races). • The use of an assigned car for the whole Trofeo season. • Spare parts and manpower to run the car. • Tyres, fuel and consumable materials. • One dedicated mechanic in every race. • One chief mechanic to every group of six cars. • One technical manager. • Two collective tests planned before the start of the championship. • Hotel for two (driver plus guest), in hotels reserved by Maserati, from Friday evening to Sunday morning. • Friday and Saturday dinners, Saturday and Sunday lunches for two an,d hospitality at the circuit with an open bar. • One complete competition outfit set. • One casual clothing set for the driver and his guest. • Access to one of four spare cars. These can be used only once per season by each driver and are free of charge. • No-fault insurance with own risk clause. Driver's personal sponsors' logos are permitted as long as they are not in competition with Maserati's institutional sponsors. Subscription cost is Euro 120,000 plus taxes.



The Racing Programme The Maserati Trofeo championship will consist of seven races organised at prestigious European circuits: • Two F1 World Championship circuits (Silverstone - British GP and Monza - Italian GP). • Four FIA Championship circuits. • The final will be held at the end-of-season Ferrari-Maserati event. The Maserati Trofeo will be held in the following countries: Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and Great Britain. The Trofeo takes place over two days, a Saturday and a Sunday. There will be free practice and qualifying sessions on Saturdays, whilst the race(s) will take place on Sundays. For non-Fl events, "mini-endurance" races of about 50 minutes each are being planned. In this type of race the driver can change during the pit stop. For mini-endurance races, the subscribing driver must send the second driver's CV to the above-mentioned Maserati committee at least 30 days before race day for authorisation. A fee of Euro 2.000 + taxes per race is chargeable for a second (guest) driver to participate.



Conditions of Subscription Subscription to the Maserati Trofeo is allowed only through authorised Maserati dealers and Maserati UK. The admission form must be completed and submitted with racing CV (mandatory) and two passport-sized photos to John Newman of Maserati UK. This form will then be submitted to Maserati Corse in Italy for consideration. The selected drivers will then receive their Trofeo subscription form together with the Technical and Sporting Rules. To finalise participation, the drivers must pay subscription fees to Maserati UK (who in turn will pay Maserati S.p.A.) in accordance with the following timetable: 1/3 of subscription fee (Euro 40,000 + taxes) on receipt of confirmation from Maserati. 113 of subscription fee (Euro 40,000 + taxes) before the first race. 113 of subscription fee (Euro 40,000 + taxes) before the fourth race.



Appendix 1: Abstract from the Sporting Rules • Maserati, or its delegates, will directly manage the vehicles at the tracks. Maserati also guarantees the same set-up standard for all vehicles. • All cars will have the same adjustments that Maserati will consider appropriate for the specific circuit. • The driver will only be allowed to adjust the stabiliser bar and tyre pressures within a given range. All these operations will be performed under the control of a dedicated mechanic responsible for the vehicle, who is managed by the Trofeo Technical Manager. Participants • The grid will consist of 26 drivers from various European countries. Drivers cannot be classed as professional. • A committee appointed by Maserati will check any admission to the Trofeo. • Drivers who have participated in the Ferrari Challenge between 2000 and 2002 will not be allowed toparticipate in the Trofeo. Tyres and their use • Maserati will provide each car with a selection of slick and wet tyres for free practice and racing. All the vehicles will have the same number of tyres supplied.

Paris Motor Show 2002

"MASERATI TROFEO UNVEILED AT THE PARIS MOTOR SHOW

A FIRST STEP TOWARDS AN OFFICIAL RETURN TO RACING"




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Maserati Trofeo.

The Maserati Trofeo, the model with which the Modena-based, Italian company will make its official return to motor racing in 2003, made its world debut at the Paris Motor Show. Next year, the Trofeo will be the centrepiece of a single-brand championship of seven races, run on the most prestigious circuits in Italy, Great Britain, Germany, France and Spain. Two events, in Italy and Britain, will be held in conjunction with the local Formula 1 Grand Prix, and four will be mini-endurance events, combined with the FIA GT Championship. The last race will be held with the traditional "Finali Ferrari" racing days.

There will be 26 cars on the starting grid, and it will be possible to enter two drivers for mini-endurance events. The Trofeo race cars will all be prepared and run directly by Maserati, to guarantee technical equality and similar performance.

Before being presented in Paris, the car was put through an intense test programme, beginning in June 2002. It made its debut at Fiorano with Luciano Burti, and the tests continued in Imola with Luca Badoer and Fabrizio Giovanardi. Luca Badoer took the wheel of the Trofeo again in Fiorano and Mugello, then Fabio Babini tested the car at Vallelunga. Even Michael Schumacher had a chance to try the car out on September 8 at the Nürburgring and he announced that he was satisfied with the level of competitiveness achieved.

The Maserati Trofeo is based on the V8-powered Coupé Cambiocorsa. The changes made were primarily to reduce weight and increase safety. The changes to adapt the car for racing include:

Upgraded system with increased braking capacity.

Specific damper and suspension settings.

Safety 100 litre petrol tank.

Racing seat.

Safety roll-over bar and cage.

Larger wheels (9" x 18" front, 10" x 18" rear).

Slick tyres.

Aerodynamic kit.

Specific electronic racing mapping of engine.

THE MASERATI TROFEO - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

ENGINE.

Weight: 184 kg - 404 lb.

Cubic capacity: 4244 cc.

Bore and Stroke: 92 mm / 80 mm

Compression ratio: 11.1:1.

Max. power output: 303 kW/ 413 bhp at 7,000 rpm.

Peak torque: 460 Nm/ 340 lb ft at 4,500 rpm.

Max. engine speed: 7600 rpm.

Max. speed: Over 177 mph.

DIMENSIONS.

Length: 4523 mm - 178.1 in.

Width: 1822 mm - 71.7 in.

Height: 1305 mm - 51.4 in.

Wheelbase: 2660 mm - 104.7 in.

Front track: 1525 mm - 60.0 in.

Rear track: 1538 mm - 60.5 in.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Front wheels: 9 x 18 in.

Rear wheels: 10 x 18 in.

Fuel tank capacity: 100 litres - 21.9 gallons.

Dry weight: 1370 kg - 3014 lb.

Top speed: Over 285 km/h (177.2 mph) at 7600 rpm.

MAXIMUM SPEED IN GEARS.

1st: 72 km/h/ 44.7 mph.

2nd: 110 km/h/ 68.4 mph.

3rd: 147 km/h/ 91.4 mph.

4th: 187 km/h/ 116.2 mph.

5th: 230 km/h/ 142.9 mph.

6th: 285 km/h/177.2 mph.

Newsflash from NEWSPRESS - 5 July 2002.


TESTING STARTS AS MASERATI PREPARES FOR RETURN TO THE RACE TRACK As Maserati continues its preparations for next year's return to competitive motorsport, testing has started in Italy of a racing version of the new Maserati Coupé. The first two test sessions of the new 'Trofeo' version of the Maserati Coupé Cambiocorsa were carried out at the company's Fiorano Circuit in Maranello, with Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro's chief test driver, Luciano Burti, at the wheel. Incorporating a series of developments for the race track, including uprated spring and damper ratings, racing bucket seat, full safety roll cage, larger wheels and tyres and a specially modified engine management unit, the Trofeo Maserati completed 50 laps in its first test session, achieving a best time of one minute 26.605 seconds. After his first test session, Burti reported: "We have been working step by step on the car, testing different solutions and new features, like the rear wing, without any problems at all. We are only at the beginning of the development of this car, but we are very satisfied with the job we are doing so far." In the second test session, Burti continued development work on the car, watched by Company President Luca di Montezemolo, who also drove the vehicle himself. In 65 trouble-free laps, Burti achieved a best time of 1.25.093. After the second test, Burti commented: "I am very happy to have been able to try the Maserati Cambiocorsa Trofeo. The car has great brakes, good road holding and is handy to drive. The outcome of the past two days of testing is definitely very positive. Of course, there is still a lot of work to do, which is what one would expect at this stage, but the Maserati engineers know exactly what is now required." more... Testing starts as Maserati prepares for return to the race track...2 These tests mark the start of a programme that will see the marque return to the race track during next year. In 2003, the 'Trofeo Maserati' racing series will commence, taking in seven rounds of racing at the most important race circuits in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. Development tests of the Maserati Cambiocorsa Trofeo will resume next week, when Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro's other test driver, Luca Badoer will also spend time behind the wheel. The car will be seen in public for the first time at the Paris Motor Show in September. The new Maserati Coupé, on which the Trofeo is based, went on sale in the UK last month. It continues the successful concept of the high performance GT car - a unique combination of performance and roominess for four people while offering new levels of technology and sportiness for customers. The four seat Coupé features an all-new 4.2-litre V8 normally aspirated engine, which provides record performance for a Maserati with a top speed of 177 mph (285 km/h) and a zero to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) acceleration time of just 4.9 seconds. The new Coupé, which is now available through Maserati's 15 UK dealers, is priced at £59,950 for the GT version and £62,950 for the Cambiocorsa (racing gearbox) electronic transmission model.

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All photos are the copyright of Maserati SpA - © 2002-2003. All rights reserved.

Copyright: Enrico's Maserati Pages - © 2003-2004. All rights reserved.