Even in Maserati’s rich, bizarre, dazzling, disastrous, triumphant, tragic, comedic and fascinating history, the story of the MC12 is quite a tale. It was conceived to return Maserati to top level motorsport and achieved multiple championships in a long career from 2004 to 2010. However, the twists and turns along the way are pure Maserati. Although, the first real controversy was that the MC12 was actually based on a Ferrari Enzo chassis and also featured its 6.0-litre V12 engine...
Initially, the MC12 had to fight to be homologated by the FIA. A battle it eventually won at the end of the 2004 season, despite having already competed in a number of races. The ACO, which organises Le Mans, simply wouldn’t allow the MC12 to race as it was too long and wide to suit GT1 regulations. Over the years the MC12 was subject to weight penalties, redesigned with a short nose configuration for the American Le Mans Series and gradually eroded from its ultimate form into a compromised, radically reined in shadow of itself.
But it continued to win. They couldn’t stop it. The MC12 was just so good right down to its (Ferrari derived) bones, that the race victories just kept on coming. Maserati chose to build on this legacy by, um, pulling out of motorsport again and still hasn’t returned at the highest level even as endurance racing enjoys a new golden era. It’ll be along eventually. Just when it all goes wrong, probably. It’s the Maserati way. Greatness must be followed by mediocrity, just as sure as pasta follows antipasti.
この記事は BBC TopGear India の September 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は BBC TopGear India の September 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
The Next Great Family MPV?
“Whoa, that’s a nice-looking Minivan!” Said no one ever.
MG COMET
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THOUGHT THIS CAR TO BE COMPLETELY useless when it came out.
BMW i7
WHEN THE i7 PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND PARKED ITSELF next to the Mercedes EQA and the MG Comet, it just struck me that this is how the future will be.
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
McLaren's finest faces off Corvette's nat-asp swansong as the Brits and the Americans square up... in a Spanish playground. Expect fireworks
NEXT LEVEL
Thought the 750S was fast? The McLaren P1's successor - the W1 is ready to spread its wings
MANUAL LABOUR
Two cars from opposite ends of the performance spectrum with one crucial thing in common...
PRO VS SLOW
At last, we have our hands on the Valkyrie. But is its performance only accessible for the pros... or can anyone enjoy it?
THE OUTBURST OF OFFROADING
The high-volume market is a point of interest for all manufacturers here in India.
THE BATTLE OF CRUISER-COMMUTERS
WHO DOES THE BEST COMMUTER WORK WHILE NOT BEING A TRUE COMMUTER MOTORCYCLE?
LEAVING EVERYTHING ON THE TRACK
FT. YMRP ROUND 3 From being second, I DNF'd from the race on the last corner