Maserati Confirms Arrival to PWC GTS, Other GT4 Championships

Maserati Corse has confirmed its presence in championships with GT4 specifications for 2016, with the GranTurismo MCs shifting from single-make series to private teams.

Maserati has announced that more than 20 cars from 10 different teams will appear next year. Those teams have taken delivery of the cars and made the necessary tweaks to bring them into line with the new category’s regulations.

Changes to get them to full GT4 homologation center around the engine and aerodynamics. An air scoop will reduce the power output from 488 horsepower down to 430, while a newly-designed rear spoiler and modified diffuser will bring the car’s performance into line with that of the other GT4 cars.

The GranTurismo MCs final setup will be established during the official pre-championship BoP tests, where the GT4 SRO homologation standards will be completed.

Included among the series where the car will race is Pirelli World Challenge, where Maserati will compete in the full GTS season.

The GranTurismo MCs ran in two “test races” this season, with two cars at Road America and then five at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca season finale. The latter race also featured a Maserati hospitality unit outside the paddock area for all five cars.

The cars were not eligible for points and ran with draft homologation. As World Challenge is set to introduce more GT4-eligible cars in 2016, technical details of which may be forthcoming this week, the Maserati would become a fully homologated car into the series.

Drivers included Nick Mancuso, Gianmarco Raimundo, Jeff Courtney, Derek Hill, Freddie Hunt, Patrick Byrne and Vafa Kordestani. Mancuso’s sixth place out of a 21-car field at Road America marked the car’s best result, with Hill seventh in a 27-car field in Monterey.

“The Pirelli World Challenge, and the updated European GT4 series, is an excellent opportunity for Maserati and all those teams and clients who would like to race with marque steeped in character and history,” said Roberto Bozzi, Sales & Marketing Motorsport Manager for Maserati.

“The budget is accessible and the series highly competitive and professional.”

Incentive programs for the best Maserati driver and team are also set to be introduced.

Maserati is concluding its single-make season this weekend with the Trofeo World Finals at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.