29.06.2004 The Maserati MC12 has been driven for the first time at a European public event during the Goodwood Festival of Speed with new CEO Martin Leach at the wheel

The Maserati MC12 has been driven for the first time at a European public event during the Goodwood Festival of Speed with CEO Martin Leach at the wheel.

The 630bhp, 205 mph long-tail spider made a dramatic charge up the hill and wowed the crowds in the Supercar paddock in its striking white and blue livery which harks back to the old Trident Tradition from the Scuderia America Camoradi team in the 1960s when Sir Stirling Moss was the lead driver.  

Martin Leach drove the car at its European public debut during the festival and the car was piloted by the MC12 development driver Andrea Bertolini for its second outing on the hill in the sunshine on Sunday.

It is 37 years since the last victory for Maserati in international championship racing, a Cooper Maserati F1 at the 1967 South African Grand Prix, and this new road-going Grand Tourer is being developed into a GT racing version with its V12 engine sprinting the car from 0 to 62mph in just 3.8 seconds.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed also featured many legendary cars from the famous Trident including a 1957 Maserati 250F and the stunning 1963 Maserati Birdcage driven by Matteo Panini.

Also making an appearance was a rare 1954 Maserati A6 GCS Berlinetta featuring beautiful coachwork by Pininfarina, and incidentally the last work for Maserati before the famous Italian styling house created the new Maserati Quattroporte, and the 1957 Maserati 450S Zagato a 420bhp, 200mph car which for many years was the fastest road car in the world.