MC12 not accepted for homolgation in class GTS

[carrera4]

Da http://www.sportscarpros.com

Italian Job

The talking point of the weekend, of course, was the Maserati MC12 decision by

the FIA. Described by one eminent motor racing member as a “one of the biggest

fuck ups in motor racing history,” the car was not accepted for homologation. The

door is open for negotiation, and the car could still race this year, but the

message from the FIA is clear: I don’t care who you are, don’t screw this up.

The basic idea is that Maserati, or Ferrari, should have taken an Enzo, stuck

some slick tyres and a big rear wing on it, developed the brakes and engine along

the lines of N-GT rules, and placed it on the track. What Maserati has done is take

an Enzo, develop it enormously, and then re-homologated it as a road car and

present that for racing. The FIA said ‘no’. This is not the spirit, and crucially this

has been built into the racing homologation process.

Blow the Bloody Doors Off

From Maserati’s point of view, the car was built to FIA regulations (with Ferrari

doing quite well in F1, you couldn’t expect them to go with the ACO, now, could

you?) on the understanding that the regulations would fall into line in 2006. The

car is too wide, and the overhangs too long to be accepted into the GTS class by

the ACO, but when it is squashed into the dimensions, will be a GTS class car.

When the proposal to amalgamate the rules was brought forward to 2005,

Maserati was the only one to vote against it, as it would need to homologate one

car for 2004, and another for 2005. The Ferrari 575 would also need an ACO kit

over the winter, which would cost 150,000 Euro. On the grounds of cost, argued

Maserati, 2005 is not on. On the grounds of competition, now that the MC12 has

been refused homologation, 2005 is its only hope.

There is no Sanity Claus

Actually, it isn’t at all. Maserati has opened negotiation with other teams in the

championship and, if it secures unanimous approval, it can go for a fax vote from

the World Council and could still be on the track at Imola, no doubt heavily

handicapped.

The FIA has taken a tough stance against the Maserati and needed to. It is a

high-profile manufacturer, partner company with Ferrari. If they can’t get a car like

the MC12 through, the others don’t stand a chance. The result is that suddenly the

Ferrari 575, the 550, the Aston Martin, the Corvette C6, the Lamborghini

Murcielago and the Saleen S7R all retain their value next year. No longer will

teams be looking at the Maserati and waiting for something cheaper to come

along and beat it, which was unlikely ever to happen.

Other manufacturers thinking of taking on the Maserati with equally exotic cars

will now think again. There is no point in spending such sums of money, because

the car will race against those that cost far less, and may get beaten by them.

And in the End………………….

And finally, the GTS class is safely anchored where it should be – behind the

prototypes. There are those who always maintained that the GTS cars could never

beat an out-and-out prototype, but the point is that if manufacturers wanted to race

what they sold, and win with them, and the pressure to get rid of open top sports

cars would be huge. My preference has always been the closed prototypes, such

as the Audi R8C and the Bentley, and I would love to see the MC12 as a GTP car,

bored out, up-rated, and taking on Audi.

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Sadly, I believe, this dream will stay in my head. Back to reality, Silverstone, the

next round, in little more than a month, more great racing, more great drives. Six

hours on Saturday night, it was widely agreed in the pressroom, is the way to go.

Cracking racing, and home in time for Sunday lunch. Spot on.

Andrew Cotton

July 2004

[Velox]

Avevo già letto questa notizia.

A mio parere vogliono frenare lo strapotere della Ferrari SpA

[carrera4]

sicuramente non vanno molto d'accordo tra FIA e Ferrari...

[Omphalos]

Da più parti hanno lamentato il rischio di vedere il campionato cannibalizzato dalla Maserati... ovvio che tenteranno in tutti i modi di metterle i bastoni tra le ruote

[nicogiraldi]

Ma diciamo la verità... hanno pistolato loro!!!

Una Enzo da gara depotenziata per non essere piu' veloce della stessa Enzo (parlo di stradale).

Un progetto faraonico con tanto di giro a Shangai, prove in tanti circuiti PROST che guida.......

Finirà come le F50 gt1 , 288 gto evo ecc

Aspetterò le spiegazioni ufficiali della casa che se non sbaglio aveva già ingaggiato Mika SALO.

Poi credo che la MAserati abbia preso lo stabilimento ex qvale a Modena per il suo rep corse (anche Light e cup).

[nicogiraldi]

Ma diciamo la verità...

Una Enzo da gara depotenziata per non essere piu' veloce della stessa Enzo (parlo di stradale).

Un progetto faraonico con tanto di giro a Shangai, prove in tanti circuiti PROST che guida.......

Finirà come le F50 gt1 , 288 gto evo ecc

Aspetterò le spiegazioni ufficiali della casa che se non sbaglio aveva già ingaggiato Mika SALO.

Poi credo che la MAserati abbia preso lo stabilimento ex qvale a Modena per il suo rep corse (anche Light e cup).

[carrera4]

In effetti alla FIA non hanno tutti i torti però

[nicogiraldi]

In effetti alla FIA non hanno tutti i torti però

[Aymaro]

xke all'audi glie lo fanno fare alla 24 ore di le mans e alla maserati no?

:cry: cavoli, xo è un vero peccato.... spero il progetto venga ripreso e fatto gareggiare almeno x la mitica 24 ore....

[nogravity]

maserati ha già vinto. ed è giusto così. solo i perdenti fanno come fa la fia...