Maserati anticipates the in-development MC20 GT2 car to make its competition debut in the middle of next year, according to the Italian manufacturer’s director of motorsport.
Giovanni Tommaso Sgro explained that the Stellantis group brand is taking the next few months to concentrate on the development of its latest racing product, which is designed for SRO Motorsports Group’s fledgling GT2 formula.
Maserati last month announced its return to GT racing with a competition version of the new MC20 road-going sports car that will be designed for customer teams to operate.
It will appear in next year’s Fanatec GT2 European Series, but the first race outing won’t come until midway through the campaign. Precisely when the Maserati MC20 GT2 will arrive on the grid is uncertain, with the middle of next season’s calendar consisting of a June fixture at Dijon, followed by trips to Spa in July and Valencia in September.
Explaining the decision to debut in mid-2023, Sgro told Sportscar365: “It’s the development timing, developing, testing and getting the car ready.
“There was no point rushing. We want to make sure it’s performing the way we want it to. So we’re aiming for mid-season next year.
“We’re in the early phases of the development. Matilde [La Guardia, head of Maserati racing projects] is a principal part of that development, but we also have Andrea Bertolini who is our racing advisor and chief test driver.
“So when it comes to the development of cars like MC20 and the GT2, it is fundamental to make sure that the car is getting to the level that we want it to be.”
La Guardia explained that simulation activities are due to begin next month, while the first track tests are projected to come early next year. The car has been presented in sketches so far.
“We have to start at the beginning of September with the virtual engineering process, on our simulator,” she told Sportscar365.
“And then with physical testing, in February of next year. It is in order to anticipate problems and allow us to have a consolidated database available in advance of the track development.
“We expect that when we go on the track, a lot of problems will be already solved virtually.”
While the MC20 road car provides the base and main architecture for the GT2 model, the racing version will be specially developed to comply with SRO’s newest formula.
La Guardia hinted at some small adjustments to the 3-liter turbocharged V6 engine in order to optimize fuel consumption for the 50-minute GT2 European Series races where refueling is prohibited. The engine will remain in the road car’s central-rear position.
She also highlighted “aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics” as key areas of development for Maserati’s motorsport technical team.
“The main strength will be keeping the carbon monocoque of the road car, which is an excellent starting point for the power to weight ratio,” said La Guardia.
“A lot of potential will be given to the development of the vehicle dynamics. The GT2 will have the same suspension geometry of the road car, with the double wishbone.
“This allows to have a greater driving position and allows to absorb the curbs.
“A lot of attention will be on the development of aerodynamics. The main aerodynamic features of the road car will be kept, but we will improve the vertical load.
“For example, on the hood we have a vent to improve the front load and to increase the efficiency of the engine cooling. Big attention will be on the balance of aerodynamic load.
“This is very important for the driver and setup. The bottom of the car will be specifically developed to work best in synergy with the front splitter and rear wheels, for aero balance.
“Aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics are very important, and areas of much attention for us.”
Maserati Views GT2 as “Perfect Fit”
Sgro described the GT2 formula as the “perfect fit” for Maserati as it extends its motorsport involvement into new areas.
The manufacturer is gearing up for an ABB FIA Formula E World Championship program next season and recently announced the ‘Project24’, which is a planned track-only derivative of the MC20 producing 110 horsepower more than the homologated GT2.
“We evaluated and made a decision that this is great for us, and also what our drivers are expecting,” Sgro said regarding Maserati’s selection of GT2.
“This made a big difference. GT2 is an amazing opportunity and I think Stephane [Ratel, SRO founder and CEO] is going to continue doing a great job of promoting it.
“We feel we have something to contribute to GT2 in particular. The MC20, Formula E, Project24 and GT2… it’s all part of an overarching strategy of going back to racing.
“This really completes that process for us.”
Sgro indicated that Maserati is not currently considering expansion into the more established GT3 formula, where cars are regulated to be less powerful than in GT2.
“Right now we have so much that we’re committed to,” he said. “We’re focusing on that, and we find GT2 to be the right fit.
“We’re such a resilient manufacturer, that is this going to be the [extent] of our involvement? I don’t know. But we’re super excited about what we’re going to do.
“We’ve done a lot over the last few months that confirms what we said a while ago, when we wanted to go back to racing.”
Maserati has a “base benchmark” of producing and selling approximately 50 examples of the MC20 GT2.
While it is unlikely that 50 cars would appear in the GT2 European Series, it reflects a hope from the brand that its customer racing program can be intercontinental in nature.
GT2 cars are also eligible to race in the single-driver GT America powered by AWS series alongside GT3 and GT4 machinery. However, Europe has the only standalone GT2 arena.
“Right now we’re committed to the European series, but if drivers are interested in having this car, it is something we would look at,” Sgro suggested.
“As long as they are competing in a championship… we were born on the track, and we have this competitive spirit.
“When you produce the car, you give the car to a driver or team and you want to see the car perform well, at the top of the grid. That’s just what we want to do.
“For us to see it in a garage is one thing, but to see it on the track is different.”