LM24 Maserati Le Mans

TerryC · 12 Jan 2005, 11:57 (Ref:1198881)

News from DSC suggests that we might not see the MC12s racing at Le Mans next year because they are yet to resolve the homologation issues and that they have to finalise it before next week to stand a chance of being considered by th ACO.

I wonder why has Maserati left it that late?

Audi R8R · 12 Jan 2005, 12:22 (Ref:1198899)

Probably because they've realised that they produced a car too expensive for teams to purchase and run! Why bother going to the expense of homologating it for Le Mans when they still might get their faces slapped by GM, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Saleen and still without people being able to afford to run them properly?!

TerryC · 12 Jan 2005, 12:33 (Ref:1198915)

Very true. The car is ridiculously priced for the proposed privateer teams to buy/lease and be able to compete in a cost-effective manner. So in short, Maserati has successfully created a car that nobody wants. Doesn't make much sense at all.

Fogelhund · 12 Jan 2005, 12:36 (Ref:1198916)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerryC

I wonder why has Maserati left it that late?

It's within reason to believe that they just haven't managed to get those changes done, without completely ruining the functionality of the aero on the car.

It is also possible that the cost is an issue, particularly when there are less expensive more proven packages.

Gabrio · 12 Jan 2005, 13:20 (Ref:1198952)

I think they are working with an eye to ALMS which is an important market for Maserati. They have not had time and resources to modify the MC12 yet. They have said in the past in interviews that they would like to race in Le Mans, probably they will modify the cars for 2006.

**Dani Filth** · 12 Jan 2005, 13:25 (Ref:1198956)

oh they want the car .. i'm sure of that ... they've seen what i cant do ... affording it is another thing ..

Fogelhund · 12 Jan 2005, 14:06 (Ref:1198973)

Curious - how do they expect to run in the ALMS if they aren't ACO legal? Bad precedent coming down the pipe.

Gabrio · 12 Jan 2005, 14:10 (Ref:1198975)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Curious - how do they expect to run in the ALMS if they aren't ACO legal? Bad precedent coming down the pipe.

They hope that ALMS will accept the FIA rules for the MC12. See the link (in italian) could not find it in other languages :
http://www.racingworld.it/fiagt/noti...?idtitolo=1243

Audi R8R · 12 Jan 2005, 18:01 (Ref:1199127)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabrio

They hope that ALMS will accept the FIA rules for the MC12. See the link (in italian) could not find it in other languages

Perhaps they think they'll get to do whatever the hell they like just like the parent Ferrari company does in F1..?

**Aysedasi** · 12 Jan 2005, 18:50 (Ref:1199175)

I thought that was agreed as likely a long time ago.........

SALEEN S7R · 12 Jan 2005, 19:54 (Ref:1199247)

Ferrari dosent do whatever the hell they like in F1. Rules can and sometimes are forced through by the FIA - and theres nothing anyone can do about them. The changes are normally made on safety grounds. Normally any modifcations to the rules have to have unanimous support by all the teams, or say 7 of the 10 teams. Its not Ferrari's fault if in F1 they simply have the biggest budget and more recources than everyone else. Maserati in sportscars on the other hand is a differnt story, and hopefully the situation will be resolved soon, either by Maserati producing a slightly smaller car in width, or the ACO/FIA agreeing to some sort of additional penalty, most likely in the form of some kind of ballast. But the Ferrari F1 car is 100% compliant with the technical regulations of the FIA, lets not get mixed up here guys.

**Aysedasi** · 12 Jan 2005, 22:07 (Ref:1199380)

OK fair enough on that basis Saleen, what I was basically saying (or agreeing to) is what has been said many times before that I'm sure the people concerned thought full well that the rules would be bent for them......

rdjones · 12 Jan 2005, 22:16 (Ref:1199396)

I am sorry to say this but have to say I am getting a little bit tired of the Maserati MC12 saga, its seems to have dragged on for far too long.

OK it raced in the FIA GT Championship last year when it wasn't homologated, it looks as if the same thing is going to happen with ALMS too. From what I can work out the car seems to have not been built to either the FIA's or the ACO's rules, if everyone else can do it, why can't Maserati?

**Aysedasi** · 12 Jan 2005, 22:18 (Ref:1199398)

You know what this means though don't you Rob? My Daewoo must be eligible as well!

One last chance before it goes some time next month.....

ss_collins · 12 Jan 2005, 23:33 (Ref:1199460)

Ferrari do tend to have a habit of getting thier own way in F1...

not saying they do anything they want but... I'd be suprised if they didn't get thier own way on this issue...

**Dani Filth** · 13 Jan 2005, 02:09 (Ref:1199517)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

oh they want the car .. i'm sure of that ... they've seen what i cant do ... affording it is another thing ..

bloody typo.. they've seen what it can do .. grrrrr

Gabrio · 13 Jan 2005, 11:03 (Ref:1199725)

I'm not a Ferrari fan. I do not think Ferrari does whatever they want. But obviously FIA and Bernie know that F1 without Ferrari would sell less. Furthermore Williams and Mc Laren have both done an awful job lately, and that is why BAR got results last year. Maserati is a different story : Ferrari has it in its books and has to revive it quickly because it costed a heck of a lot of money. Therefore they are trying to rebuild the brand image by having the brand race.

Paddy_NL · 13 Jan 2005, 13:41 (Ref:1199817)

From lmsr.net>>

Nope, definitely no Maserati this year, shame really

Edited by Ayse on 13.1.05. Please don't quote at length from other sites. Please use a link if necessary.

Gabrio · 13 Jan 2005, 14:04 (Ref:1199854)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabrio

They hope that ALMS will accept the FIA rules for the MC12.

See....... ?

TerryC · 13 Jan 2005, 16:13 (Ref:1199951)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabrio

See....... ?

Does "hoping" involve bribery

? I doubt Maserati in sportscar would have the same pursuading power as Ferrari has in F1.

Gabrio · 13 Jan 2005, 16:25 (Ref:1199961)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerryC

Does "hoping" involve bribery

? I doubt Maserati in sportscar would have the same pursuading power as Ferrari has in F1.

Nah....not bribery, more like whining

tblincoe · 13 Jan 2005, 18:08 (Ref:1200056)

the main question in my mind is: why didn't maserati just avoid all of this and build a car within regs in the first place???

**Aysedasi** · 13 Jan 2005, 18:45 (Ref:1200094)

Far too simple.

Gabrio · 13 Jan 2005, 19:10 (Ref:1200117)

Dunno.........

Dov · 13 Jan 2005, 20:09 (Ref:1200187)

Has ACO ever let an illegal car race before at the 12 Hours of Sebring or any other ALMS event??

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