Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo - 2013

The 2013 Maserati Trofeo MC World Series will kick off at Paul Ricard, in France, on 28 April. Maserati have updated their race car, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo although few changes have been made, meaning it features the same specs as the 2012 car. One of the cars has the number “99” indicating the company’s age, 2014 will be their 100th anniversary.

Since the new regulations have been reduced in this season, the car’s set up was tweaked with a widened track, and the overall weight reduced to 1,380kg. All of the Maserati GranTurismo MCs are made track-ready by technicians who work to even out the cars’ performance levels and set up for each weekend of racing. It will still feature the 4,700cc V8 engine and the same Pirelli tires.

After the Paul Ricard round, next will be the circuit of Nuerburgring, Germany, which is scheduled for 2 June despite its expected sale. Next will be Silverstone, on 14 July, marking the halfway point in the season. Silverstone will also see the season’s first title awarded, the Trofeo Europa which was won by Belgian driver Renaud Kuppens last year, healso went on to take the overall title.

Next half will head to Sonoma in California, USA for round four followed by Asia, on 3 November, and the circuit of Shanghai, China. Last year’s event closed at the circuit of Shanghai but this time round they plan to wind it up at Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, on 14 December.

Fifteen teams have signed up for the series and this season, each round will see the running of two 45 minute practice sessions and two official qualifying sessions lasting 20 minutes each. There will also be two 30 minute races and one lasting 50 minutes with a compulsory pit stop for crewed cars.

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo - 2013

New excitement will come through the new handicap rule for the quickest drivers: the drivers who place in the top five in the first two races in each round will have to pit for more than the obligatory 45-seconds in Race 3. This added time will range from 5 seconds for the fifth-placed driver to 20 seconds for the driver in top spot.

The cost of 1 test and 6 rounds is €120,000 net of tax while that of participation in the first round, at Paul Ricard including the Misano session is €30,000 net of tax. As for the Trofeo Europa which comprises of Paul Ricard, Nuerburgring and Silverstone, as well as the Misano test session, teams will pay €70,000.

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