The mid-engined MC20 has put Maserati back in the minds of supercar fans, and now a GT2 variant wants to do the same for the racing community. Called simply Maserati GT2, the MC20-based machine is designed to go toe-to-toe with other GT2 racing machines from the likes of Porsche, Audi, and Lamborghini. The GT2 will contest the final rounds of the 2023 Fanatec GT2 European Series ahead of a full assault on the title the following season.
As you’ve probably guessed, that remit means the GT2 is not legal for road use, and it incorporates some key mechanical upgrades to make it competitive on the track, including a new six-speed sequential transmission that takes the place of the eight-speed twin-clutch unit used in the street version of the MC20. Other mechanical mods include a race-spec limited-slip diff, forged 18-inch center-lock wheels with slick (or wet) tires, and manually adjustable two-way dampers.
There’s also a new exhaust for Maserati‘s 3.0-liter V6 that exits further north of where the road car dumps its gases. The twin-turbo Nettuno motor is rated at the same 621 hp (630 PS) as it is in road tune, though there’s a good chance it might be forced to run with less power depending on the conclusions of the people in charge of the mysterious balance-of-performance regulations that handicap cars deemed too quick in order to create closer races.
Related: You’ll Be Dreaming Of The Maserati MC20 GT2 After Watching This Video
But no GT2 car is going to get anywhere near the front of the pack without a ton of aero help, no matter how much downforce the donor road car generates. So the GT2 gains canards, a splitter, and saw-tooth front fender cutouts on the nose, plus a huge wing and diffuser at the rear, and a totally flat underbody. Improving cooling at sustained racing speeds was also a priority, resulting in the addition of larger rear fender air intakes and a massive roof snorkel. And since a cool driver is also a quick driver, there’s air conditioning inside the smart, but non-nonsense cockpit.
Maserati was the brand to beat in the middle of the last century and also in the early part of this one, thanks to the Enzo-based MC12, but how do you rate the GT2’s chances of success?
