Maserati enthusiasts who attended the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year were entertained by a host of famous racing drivers of the present and the past who took it in turn behind the wheel of an amazing selection of Trident cars. Maria Teresa De Filippis, the first woman ever to participate in a Formula One Grand Prix in 1958, was reunited with a Maserati 250F, which she raced during her Grand Prix career. She also drove a Maserati GranSport Spyder, at its UK debut, in the Supercar batch. The GranSport MC Victory, also at its UK debut, was piloted by Christian Klien, the Red Bull Racing F1 driver, who enjoys a close association with Maserati, having a Maserati GranSport at his disposal throughout the F1 season.

The GranSport MC Victory is a limited edition model, produced to celebrate Maserati’s victory of the FIA GT Championship in 2005. Maserati drivers’ line-up for Goodwood was completed by Supermodel Jodie Kidd, Troy Bayliss – the former World Superbike Champion – and Freddie Hunt, the son of legendary James Hunt, who made his debut behind the wheel of a race car. They all drove a Maserati Trofeo GranSport, which competes in the Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europe.

The transmission is also controlled by specific software which in the Sport mode, offers 35% faster gear changing than the Spyder Cambiocorsa. The Skyhook electronic suspension control system is offered as standard on the GranSport Spyder too and instantly adapts the car’s damper calibration to suit the road surface and driving conditions. Thanks to all of the technological features, the GranSport Spyder delivers a fantastic 285 km/h top speed and 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in a mere 4.95 seconds.

The Maserati GranSport MC Victory now officially on sale in the UK, with only 180 individually numbered units being produced worldwide, boasts a higher level of standard equipment than the Maserati GranSport on which it is based, and also offers a variety of new features that clearly link it to the Maserati MC12, and enhance its driving dynamics. Externally, the Maserati GranSport MC Victory is immediately identified by its blue carbon fibre front and rear spoilers and the Italian flag recessed into the front wings. The enlarged front splitter of the Maserati GranSport MC Victory generates more downforce at high speeds, as do the extended side skirts, modifications which improve the car’s high speed stability and dynamic responsiveness. Its agility is further improved by more direct and precise steering. The cabin’s carbon fibre components are in blue to match the exterior spoilers. They are combined with a selection of leathers and Alcantara trim, which cover the upper dashboard, the door panels, the steering wheel - making it easier to grip – and the centre sections of the carbon fibre racing seats, the overall effect dramatically heightening the interior’s sporting ambience.

The Maserati Trofeo GranSport is the racing version of the Maserati GranSport. Built at the Maserati factory in Modena on the same production line as the GranSport, the Trofeo was designed to offer the driver an easy-to-drive car capable of stirring the emotions on the race track. The 4200cc V8 engine produces 415 bhp and coupled to the six-speed gearbox from the standard road car it allows the driver to make the most of the power without compromising the torque. The ride height has also been reduced by 50mm. All non-essential accessories have been removed substantially reducing the weight of the Trofeo and improving the handling of the car. Pirelli are a sponsor and sole tyre supplier of the Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europe. Pirelli P0 tyres, especially developed for Maserati Trofeo GranSports, guarantee a great level of grip and performance in all weather conditions and temperatures.