Who said Maserati doesn't race its cars?
September, 1996
The Maserati Pages

As reported in the April, 1966 issue of Motor Sport (UK) the gentleman drivers of Europe have never had it so good. According to the magazine the really rich ones can contest the BPR Global Cup in a McLaren F1, Ferrari F40 or Porsche GT2. Those slightly down the pecuniary scale can opt for the Grand Prix supporting Porsche Supercup. This year there are series for the Ferrari 355, the Light Car Company's rocket and even Lamborghini Diablos. Add to that the Maserati Ghibli Open Cup, which was only given the go-ahead in February 1995, but which enjoyed a maiden season encouraging enough for it to be installed as a near permanent feature of the International Touring Car supporting "package". Motor Sport notes that Maserati's Ghibli Open Cup should appeal not only to the jet-setting gentleman racer, but also to the young hopeful eager to impress.

Although only a small handful of Italians contested the entire 1995 series, several guestcars ensured that a World Rally Champion, a Grand Prix Winner, touring car stars and even an Indy 500 victor got to race in the Ghibli. In the final round, at Magny-Cours, Formula Opel Euroseries champion Jason Watt's performance was impressive enough for the Dane to be offered an Alfa Romeo test drive. He is now an Alfa Romeo ITC racer ...

Given the championship's late green light, it is hardly surprising that the Ghibli which raced in 1995 was hardly to optimum specification. Therefore veteran test driver Giorgio Francia and former Peugeot touring car engineer Marco Chiosso worked through the winter on an Evolution version of which 30 examples are available this year. Modified spoiler, revised gear ratios, improved Michelin racing tyres and an adjusted suspension emerged from the Turin workshops and, in the hands of Beppe Schenetti, the Ghibli lapped Misano only 0.2s slower than the Ferrari 355 lap record - which is held by Schenetti!

The basic Maserati utilises the near standard twin-turbo, four valves per cylinder, V6 engine. The 330 bhp is transmitted via a six-speed Getrag gearbox to the rear wheels. Front suspensions consists of modified McPherson struts with racing Bilstein shock absorbers and Eibach springs. At the rear its oblique arms with Bilstein shockers and Eibach springs. You stop this 1270 kg racer with competition ventilated and drilled discs, featuring four-pot aluminium Brembo calipers. ABS with servo assistance is also fitted.

There isn't much you can do to a Ghibli. In a bid to keep costs down, the engine, solenoid valve of the turbocharger system, gearbox and differential are all sealed before they leave the factory. Although initial purchase price in the UK is 50,000, running expenses for the championship are relatively cheap.

Much of the work completed by Maserati has been invested in improving its handling in tight complexes, something increasingly important on Europe's tight chicane-ridden circuits. But the handling of the car is really secondary to where you race and who it is in front of. After all Formula Vauxhalls and Ford Fiestas attract full fields in Britain .

The Ghiblis? They will play to packed ITC houses at Estoril, Helsinki, Silverstone Nrburgring, Magny-Cours and Mugello, as well as slightly more select BPR GT audiences at Monza and Jarama. Tens of thousands of Italian car-crazy Dutchmen will witness the Maserati antics at the Italia a Zandvoort meeting too. And at the end of it all you might even get Alfa Romeo to give you an ITC drive.