“I am very happy with what I have seen during today’s practice session, with our owner drivers at the wheel of the car derived from the road-going Coupé Cambiocorsa model” said Jean Todt. “The twenty six crews had to face this morning’s timed session in conditions rendered difficult by the heavy rain. Nevertheless, the cars seemed to cope very well”. 
 
Todt went on to confirm that this one-make series, run over seven rounds, represents the first step of Maserati’s return to competition and that the Trident marque’s GT competition programme was well advanced. “The GT car will test for the first time around the end of the year, with a view to making its race debut in the second half of the 2004 season”. 

The GT car, expected to be known as the 6000GT is based on Ferrari's 600bhp V12 Enzo supercar, although it is unconfirmed what engine it will use. A limited number will be built for the road, the demand expected to be strong particulary after Ferrari had to turn away customers from the Enzo despite increasing the build run.