To celebrate Maserati's dominant victory in the 2005 FIA GT Manufacturers' Cup, the Italian company will produce a limited edition of the already fantastic GranSport. The subtly-tagged Maserati GranSport MC Victory makes its debut at next month's
Geneva Motor Show where Maserati CEO Karl Heinz Kalbfell will unveil the new car.
Sadly for those of you with the readies to purchase a Maserati, it is possible that it will be too late to buy the GranSport MC Victory once it is revealed in Geneva, as only 180 examples are being made.
Maserati's press release exaggerated the connection between the GranSport and the MC12 racecar that actually won the championship last year, stating that the changes adding up to the MC Victory "bring the driving experience closer to the exhilaration enjoyed by the racing drivers of the Maserati MC12". Waffle aside, the changes are significant. At the front, a larger splitter is fitted (in blue carbon fibre, as is the rear spoiler), said to increase downforce. The side skirts are also enlarged for the same reason, increasing high-speed stability. Thankfully, the MC Victory does without any 'Up Yours, We Won' decals, instead making do with a restrained Italian flag set into the front wings.
The only mechanical change is to the steering, which is quicker. Inside, the carbon fibre pieces fitted to the regular GranSport are now in blue carbon fibre. Leather continues to be used extensively, along with Alcantara (suede-effect) that extends to the steering wheel.
Shane O' Donoghue - 17 Feb 2006