Maserati recently launched a slew of new cars including its much-awaited MC20 and its convertible while the GT plus the Grecale compete in the range. Now, Maserati is taking part in the 11th Le Mans Classic with its yesteryear hits plus one-offs. The Le Mans Classic is all about the most beautiful vintage cars of all time; every two years, enthusiasts, gentleman drivers, and collectors gather there from all over the world. The 2023 event will see around 500 classic cars in the line-up – as usual, the models in the race will be the original ones that participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 1923 and 1981.
In terms of being the ultimate motorsport gathering, the Le Mans Classic is the one that celebrates the history of the event which dates back 100 years. While the event is usually held once in every two years, it is back for the third straight year for 2023. It is held on the grounds of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and it started in 2002 and will run in July on the entire 13.65km circuit which is also used for the annual modern 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 2002 Le Mans Classic event marked the first time since 1923 that the entire 24-hour circuit was closed specifically for an event other than the annual performance of the 24 Heures du Mans.
In terms of Maserati, there will be the 1961 Maserati Tipo 63 which will be on display – only 5 specimens were produced, with its characteristic “Birdcage” chassis and 12-cylinder V-shaped engine, as will be another memorable classic, a strong, powerful, and distinctly sporty 1974 Maserati Bora, with its popular mid-rear engine. Along with the classic cars, the GranTurismo One-Off Luce will also be there plus the full-electric Folgore engine, together with the MC20 Fuoriserie super sports car in Orange Glow, a “tailor-made” creation of the Trident.
A special area of the circuit reserved for constructors will also host a 1962 Maserati 3500 GT, a coupe with Touring bodywork and heir to the famous six-cylinder racing cars of the 1950s, the 220 hp of which exceeded a speed of 230 km/h. Also, on show, there will be the GranTurismo One-Off Prisma, with its roaring Nettuno V6 engine and bodywork in futuristic colors.
A Maserati fleet consisting of the GranTurismo Trofeo, Grecale Trofeo, MC20 Cielo, and MC20 Fuoriserie will be available for more than 13 km of track for hot laps along with the classic car competitions. Maserati is looking at the future with its electrified offerings going beyond the V8 allure of its earlier models. The Grecale Folgore is their first all-electric SUV while the Levante hybrid also flies the flag for the first of new models getting electrified. Then you have the new GranTurismo which is available with both the new V6 petrol engine, derived from the Nettuno and a 100% electric version: the GranTurismo Folgore. This means that it is the first car in the Modena-based brand’s history to have both EV and petrol versions. By 2025, all Maserati models will also be available in a full-electric version, and the entire Maserati range will be EV only by 2030.
This story originally appeared on Upscalelivingmag
