Maserati will take part in the 2005 ALMS Championship

[|Nuno|]

From italiaspeed.com:

Maserati today announces that it will take part to all race events of the 2005 ALMS Championship in North America, after finalizing discussions between IMSA and Maserati Corse. After 48 years, Maserati is back with a factory racing car, in its biggest market. This new Maserati team will start once again in Sebring, where in 1957 Juan Manuel Fangio and Jean Behra won the 12 Hours race with a 450S, the last victory in the US with a factory car.

A NEW CHAPTER IN AMERICAN RACING HISTORY

Racing has always played a fundamental role in Maserati's history. And so much of Maserati’s illustrious racing history, took place in the United States. From winning the Indianapolis 500 back-to-back to dominating roadracing at some of the top events in the US: motorsports in the United States has had many chapters written by Maserati.

In 1939 and 1940, Wilbur Shaw drove a Maserati “Tipo 8CTF” to two consecutive victories in the Indianapolis 500. Maserati is the first Italian car to have won “The World’s Most Famous Race.” The Boyle Special Maserati now resides at The Hall of Fame Museum at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In 1946, Luigi Unser won his class in the Pike’s Peak with a “Tipo 8CTF”. In 1957, in addition to victory in Sebring by Fangio/Behra, Carrol Shelby won two races, in Palm Springs with a 300S and in Riverside with a 450S.

In 1957 Juan Manuel Fangio won his second Formula 1 World Championship at the wheel of a Maserati 250F, after the first one in 1954.

At the beginning of the Sixties, Camoradi and Cunningham private racing teams, was successful with the famous “Birdcage” and drivers like Lucky Casner, Masten Gregory, Stirling Moss, Dan Gurney. Another driver, Walt Hansgen, with a “Tipo 61” won at Laguna Seca in 1960, and the SCCA Championship in 1961.


MASERATI MC12 - A PROVEN RACE WINNER

Last year Maserati sealed its triumphant return to motor racing with a fantastic one-two finish in Zhuhai, China, the last round of the FIA GT Championship.

The two MC12s – numbers 33 and 34 – fielded by the AF Corse team in the last four races of the season, clocked up two wins (the first one in Oschersleben, Germany), three seconds and one third between them, with Bertolini-Salo (who won two of the races) and Herbert-De Simone in their cockpits.

2004 was an outstanding year for Maserati, celebrating the 90th Anniversary, growing worldwide, setting new sales and production records, achieving best quality and customer satisfaction, launching four superb new products and returning to winning ways in international motorsport.

In spite of the significant growth, Maserati continues to be one of the world’s most exclusive marques combining unique Italian design with luxury and a sporting spirit.

Claudio Berro, Maserati Corse Director says: “Maserati Corse is pleased to have the opportunity to display our car in front of audiences in North America. This is the most important sales market for Maserati, so this development is very important for our sales and marketing efforts as well”.

Maserati will participate with one MC12 directly managed by the Maserati Race Dept. in compliance with the rules of IMSA.

It has been made possible also thanks to the deep co-operation of important partners, including Pirelli and the Team Risi, that will support Maserati logistically.

Factory tester Andrea Bertolini will drive the car. Only for Sebring Fabio Babini (Pirelli tester) will join him. The name of the third driver will be communicated shortly.

[666fast]

What the article doesn't say:
There will be two cars, but it's been indicated that only one will run at first. With the other coming in the middle of the season. No idea why.
The MC12 will be able to take race wins and such, but cannot acquire championship points untill the new, rule compliant MC12 comes out next year.

Either way, I'm glad to hear they are coming!

[Vansquish]

Sweet!!! Glad to see that they're letting Maserati come out to play!

[FoxFour]

I just saw this on the A.C.O website:
Friday 25 february 2005
THE MASERATI AT SEBRING: THE A.C.O’S OFFICIAL POSITION



The ‘AUTOMOBILE CLUB DE L’OUEST’ has noted the decision taken by the AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES to put the MASERATI MC 12 on the list of entries for the coming SEBRING 12 HOURS.

The ‘AUTOMOBILE CLUB DE L’OUEST’ reminds the parties concerned that the MC 12 does not comply with the Technical Regulations and is not homologated. Thus, this car is not allowed to take part in events run under the ‘LE MANS’ label.

On no occasion did the A.C.O officials have any contact with either the F.IA. or I.M.S.A concerning the control of the performance of this car.


Daniel POISSENOT
Assistant General Manager


I guess the car won't be qualified to run LeMans??

[666fast]

I guess the car won't be qualified to run LeMans??

Probably not. There is a reply from ALMS and IMSA on americanlemans.com to the ACO, they basically tell the ACO "too damn bad". I just wonder what the ACO will have to say about it. They also say the ACO WAS notified.
In the end I don't think anyone will care.

[666fast]

Originally Posted by Ronin005 oh this is bad news, but im sure they were well aware of this and probably were hoping someone would over look it. but beeing the beast that its suppose to be and all the hype, it got caught.

You are right on the beast part, I don't think anyone actually thought they could slip it in unnoticed. Afterall, Maserati racing anything is gonna make news.
The MC12 has been nothing but a bullet in the ass for the ACO and ALMS. Maserati got caught up in changing rules and regulations, I guess they thought they would still get granted permission, which they did. It wasn't totally compliant with the FIA and it's not totally compliant with the ALMS. Yet it's been accepted into both series now.

The biggest difference is that ALMS is allowing them to run on the condition that a new, rule compliant MC12 is raced next year. Whether Maserai does that or not, no one knows. I'd like to think they will though, afterall, what better way to revive a company than a win at LeMans? Which will require a new car that meets the rules.

Like I said before, in the end, no one is gonna care. It'll run, but it can't take a champonship away from a team that followed the rules. If the ACO has a problem with the ALMS doing what it needs to do to garner more attention, then so be it. They most definately aren't doing it to annoy the folks over at the ACO. They did what had to be done, for that, I appluad them.