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Maserati Trofeo Series with GranTurismo?

Discussion in 'Maserati' started by TeamF1Jr, Aug 2, 2008.

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  1. TeamF1Jr

    TeamF1Jr Formula 3

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    #1 TeamF1Jr, Aug 2, 2008
    Just curious if anyone has heard anything about the Trofeo Maserati series in Europe switching from the GranSport to the GranTurismo?
     
  2. wbaeumer

    wbaeumer F1 Veteran
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    #2 wbaeumer, Aug 2, 2008
    May I kindly ask from wich source you heared that???

    The GranTurismo is far too heavy and too big! I would wonder if we will see a GT-racer on a circuit other than Le Mans which might suit the very long wheel-base of the car!

    Ciao!
    Walter
     
  3. TeamF1Jr

    TeamF1Jr Formula 3

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    #3 TeamF1Jr, Aug 2, 2008
    I didn't hear that anywhere, my post was a question. Regardless of how much the GranTurismo is not a racer, if the Nascar guys can race those Car of Tomorrow pigs, they can convert a GranTurismo into a stripped out racer especially when its racing in its own series against all the same cars as the Trofeo does now.
     
  4. wbaeumer

    wbaeumer F1 Veteran
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    #4 wbaeumer, Aug 2, 2008
    You REALLY think so????? The Trofeo is much lighter and shorter than the GT/S. You can`t compare both. NO - the GT is definitely NOT a race car! Forget it!

    Ciao!
    Walter
     
  5. TeamF1Jr

    TeamF1Jr Formula 3

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    #5 TeamF1Jr, Aug 2, 2008
    I prefer Maserati be in racing period. Not sure how long they will be racing the MC12 in the FIA GT series. The current Trofeo series doesn't make sense to race a car no longer produced. The Ferrari Challenge doesn't allow 355 or 360's so why not a GranTurismo Trofeo? Of course its not a race car, but I'm confident Maserati Corse could make something out of it for a spec series. We're not looking for it to compete against other manufacturers, just other GranTurismos as in the Ferrari Challenge series. Hell, I drive a CLK Black Series and the standard CLK isn't a racer either, but with a few mods they created a Black Series version that can hold its own with 911 Turbos and GT3's all day long at the track, that leads me to believe that Maserati can do the same with the GranTurismo.
     
  6. staatsof

    staatsof Nine Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 staatsof, Aug 3, 2008
    The Trofeo and Trofeo Lite weren't much as race cars and this suggestion would yield an abysmal result. Why make things worse and tarnish the results of the MC12 which was a big surprise to me for such a small struggling company. Someting like the early 90's Barchetta series would be a very pleasant move for a racing effort but makes no sense for their market. They make big heavy cars now mostly for people who don't know squat about such things. The MC12 was perfect for them, big, fast, showy and every teenage boy wants a poster of it.

    Bob S.
     
  7. wbaeumer

    wbaeumer F1 Veteran
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    #7 wbaeumer, Aug 3, 2008
    The MC12-programm was too expensive for Maserati. I doubt that it will get a successor. Yes, the Trofeo is outdated now and was by far not so successful as the mid-engine 355/360/430-challenge! You have to take out 500 kg out of the Gran TUrismo to make it work as a race car but it still has its too long wheelbase!

    On every race circuit a GT3 drives circles around EVERY Mercedes "Black Series". And a Ferrari "Suderia" will do the same. The MB`s are still heavy birds - although fast ones. But speed alone is not the key to become a race car!

    Ciao!
    Walter
     
  8. italiancars

    italiancars F1 Rookie

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    #8 italiancars, Aug 3, 2008
    Here's one I predicted many many years ago. If Maserati were to do some type of racing program the best area for them to focus on would be as an engine supplier to a US based open wheel series that competes at Indy once CART and IRL merge. (They have now merged)

    They obviously can't go into F1, that is Ferrari's domain. While they have done well with the MC12 in the GT series, that series is a better fit for remarketing Alfa Romeo given their history at Le Mans and in distance racing.

    Maserati has a successful historic connection to racing at Indy (Something that Ferrari, and Alfa Romeo don't have nor Porsche for that matter). Indy does get world wide exposure, and the US is their Maserati's market. As an engine supplier only, the budget will be much lower than a full racing effort. They will obviously have access to Ferrari's F1 expertise for the effort and would have an advantage of being the only engine supplier based near the chassis supplier of choice in the series (Dallara).

    Marco Andretti or Danica Patrick winning the Indy 500 in a Maserati would be the perfect Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday scenario for Maserati.


    Joe
     
  9. wbaeumer

    wbaeumer F1 Veteran
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    #9 wbaeumer, Aug 3, 2008
    Joe,
    you are wrong on this point! Indy doesn`t interest much people either in EU nor in Asia! Yes, the US are the main market for Maserati but I doubt that they want to compete in a serie that does not show any real technical advantage.

    Ciao!
    Walter
     
  10. TeamF1Jr

    TeamF1Jr Formula 3

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    #10 TeamF1Jr, Aug 3, 2008
    I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. Regardless of wheelbase, Maserati has a choice..... continue to race or not. If they don't see any value to it, they'll stop. Wheelbase doesn't stop Audi or Benz racing with 4 doors in the DTM series and more importantly, how many guys do you see at SCCA events spending money they don't have just to have fun and compete and to me thats the heart of it. The Trofeo is a spec series, where not looking for it to compete against Porsches in the ALMS, so strip it out, revamp the suspension and run it. With the MC12 soon to be put in the garage for good, we may face a gap where Maserati is not involved in any racing otherwise.

    I do agree with Joe above that being a power plant choice in IndyCar would be a positive move. Fiat representatives were at the recent meeting Tony George had to discuss the future of Indycar post-reunification so maybe there is a thread of possibility to that scenario.

    Side note to the Black Series comments, I didn't say beat, I said "hold its own" and I certainly didn't say it would beat a Scuderia. The car is more daily, usable driver than its competition and can surprise a few at track events. Its been the topic discussed many times on Porsche and Benz boards. If the Stig calls it the most entertaining car he's driven in years given the caliber of cars he's driven, its sure as good enough for lowly me.
     
  11. wbaeumer

    wbaeumer F1 Veteran
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    #11 wbaeumer, Aug 3, 2008
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2008
    Do you really believe this cars have four doors??? Do you really believe the cars in the DTM have anything to do with the cars the common customer buys???

    Those cars are Starwars compared with those vehicles that compete in the IMSA!

    I bet we`ll not see any Maserati compete in Indy and I am very curious if they will compete again in any way....until the announced small Maserati will see the light.

    Ciao!
    Walter
     
  12. TeamF1Jr

    TeamF1Jr Formula 3

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    #12 TeamF1Jr, Aug 3, 2008
    Thats why I followed up in that statement of SCCA racing, it doesn't have to be Star Wars, just like current Trofeo series isn't Star Wars. This is a beating a dead horse kind of argument at this point. I agree however with the light of the end of the tunnel with the small car. I would love to see club racer, 2-seater, sized Maserati in that $100K range. We'll find out in the next few years.
     
  13. italiancars

    italiancars F1 Rookie

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    #13 italiancars, Aug 3, 2008
    Walter, there are 3 races that are on a different level than all others. The Indy 500, 24 of Le Mans and the Monaco GP. Win any of those and you've got world wide free press. Not too many people care about Le Mans anymore (which Audi is going to win?) There is more interest in the Classic Le Mans than the current running. But look at the press that Bentley got by winning in a rebadged Audi.


    The bottom line is to sell cars. Winning Indy again will help them do that.

    Joe

    Here's a triva question for everyone, Walter you probably already know the answer. Name the only car manufacturer to win the 4 most prestigous races in the world.
    Le Mans, Indy 500, Monaco GP and the Mille Miglia?
     
  14. staatsof

    staatsof Nine Time F1 World Champ
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    #14 staatsof, Aug 4, 2008
    I think I'm going to agree with Walter on this one Joe. My feeling is that Indy is living off of it's past at this point and it's getting long in the tooth. Let's face it, over here it's Nascar. UGH!
    The only good thing about Nascar is that it is at least keeping the various road racing series alive here. That I like.

    Now, a Maserati engine in an Indy car? All of their engines are built (designed) by Ferrari now. I can't see Ferrari agreeing to this nor can I see Maserati being able to fund the research.


    Bob S.
     
  15. staatsof

    staatsof Nine Time F1 World Champ
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    #15 staatsof, Aug 4, 2008
    Well there is one form of racing in which Maserati dominates supremely ... The drag race to replace CEOs as quickly as possible.

    Bob S.
     
  16. wbaeumer

    wbaeumer F1 Veteran
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    #16 wbaeumer, Aug 4, 2008
    ::))))!!!

    And here comes the news: both VITAPHONe-MC12 won the 24hrs Spa Francochamps with 8 (!!) laps ahead of the 3rd. OA in very difficult weather conditions!!!
    This is incredible for an "old" car like the MC12!!

    Ciao!
    Walter
     
  17. TeamF1Jr

    TeamF1Jr Formula 3

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    #17 TeamF1Jr, Sep 8, 2008
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  18. Derek at FoD

    Derek at FoD Formula 3
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    #18 Derek at FoD, Sep 8, 2008
    Well...if Aston Martin can do it ;)
     
  19. staatsof

    staatsof Nine Time F1 World Champ
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    #19 staatsof, Sep 8, 2008
    There's almost nothing left of a road Aston martin left in their race car. This picture does look like a road car with a roll cage. OMG it must weigh a ton, no a couple of them.
     
  20. isuk

    isuk F1 Rookie

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    #20 isuk, Sep 9, 2008
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  21. AustinMartin

    AustinMartin F1 Veteran

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    #21 AustinMartin, Sep 10, 2008
    Look at the exausts they are stacked, cali prototype???
     
  22. TeamF1Jr

    TeamF1Jr Formula 3

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    #22 TeamF1Jr, Sep 25, 2008
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  23. TeamF1Jr

    TeamF1Jr Formula 3

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    #23 TeamF1Jr, Sep 25, 2008
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  24. isuk

    isuk F1 Rookie

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    #24 isuk, Sep 25, 2008
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  25. Stackhouse

    Stackhouse F1 Rookie
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    #25 Stackhouse, Sep 25, 2008
    SLAM DUNK !!!

    Watch Out Ferrari!!!

    This car is S I C K !!!

    There better be a Street Version!
     
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