The Maserati MC12 was conceived as a limited edition super car which would allow Maserati to return with a racing programme for the first time in 37 years.
The first batch of 25 cars was pre sold at US$ 600,000 each and delivered in 2004 with a second batch following in 2005.
I believe twelve MC12 Competizione race versions were also built and a one off chassis was turned into a Pininfarina bodied concept car called the Birdcage 75th that was first seen at the Geneva show in 2005.
After disputes regarding the legibility of the MC12 Competizione were settled in 2004 Maserati’s return to racing proved a success with Maserati claiming the 2005 FIA GT Manufacturers Cup, the following season the Vitaphone Racing representing Maserati won the 2006 FIA GT Teams Championship and the teams drivers Michael Bartels, seen waving above, and Andrea Bertolini shared the FIA GT Drivers Championship.
By 2009 Vitaphone Racing had won the FIA GT Teams Championship 5 consecutive times with Michael and Andrea claiming 3 FIA GT Drivers Championships. In 2010 Vitaphone Racing still representing Maserati, Michael and Andrea claimed the inaugural FIA GT Teams and Drivers World Championships.
With it’s Ferrari Enzo derived chassis the MC12 is carries body work that is bulkier than the Enzo in every dimension, too big to be used in the ELMS or ALMS series, but is much more aerodynamic than the Enzo.
The chassis for the MC Cent 100 was a ‘spare’ at the Maserati factory that became the first new MC12 to be built since 2005. The one off Cent 100 carries special paint work celebrating Maserati’s 2014 Centenary depicting Alfieri Maserati driving a Tipo 26, Stirling Moss driving a 250F and a map of the Goodwood Hillclimb on which Michael Bartels finished 2nd at this years event driving today’s featured car.
Thanks for joining me on this “Century Festival Painting” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Delage powered by a V12 aeroplane engine. Don’t forget to come back now !
