Ferrari and Maserati will take centre stage at the Autosport International Show, being held at the Birmingham NEC for the next four days, with an exclusive premier of the Maserati Trofeo GranSport, a demonstration of the Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge and a public display of the Maserati GranSport road car.

2005 sees a return to active participation in motor sport by Ferrari Maserati UK Ltd now that the business is fully owned by the Ferrari Maserati Group in Italy. Autosport International is the showcase for the two racing teams that will be on-track this year with a close link to the road cars owned and loved by real car enthusiasts.

'Ferrari and Maserati were both born out of motor racing and it is entirely natural for us to return to the race track with these stunning cars in 2005,' says Massimo Fedeli, Managing Director of Ferrari Maserati UK Ltd. 'Maserati is a brand with a fantastic racing pedigree and we will now be highly visible with our own British car in the Trofeo Vodafone Maserati Europe series.

'For Ferrari it is time to re-enter the famous Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series with our own team of three drivers and fly the British flag now that the two brands are owned and run in the UK by the factory.'   
 
Maserati Trofeo GranSport

Ferrari Maserati UK Ltd is proud to announce the first UK team to compete in the Trofeo Vodafone Maserati Europe for 2005. British born Maurizio Fabris will be driving a Union Jack covered car in this highly competitive race series.

Having driven in the Vodafone Maserati Trophy series in 2004 in an Italian car scoring a 2nd place at Silverstone and Magny Cours, Maurizio Fabris says he is now determined to get on the podium in the all-English racing car:

'The Maserati Trofeo GranSport combines performance and drivability and really stirs the emotions as the V8 engine howls around the track. I want to see the British car taking the chequered flag in the races across Europe in 2005, and anyone who sees the car on the move at Autosport will understand how the noise and style of the car really motivate me to succeed.'

Technical Specification: Engine 4.2 litre 90 degree V8 normally aspirated; Max power 425 hp at 7200 rpm; Max torque 460 Nm at 4500 rpm; Top speed over 180 mph; 0-62 mph 4.5 seconds
 

Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge

For the first time since 2002 an all-British, Ferrari UK supported team will be competing in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series this year. The team will be managed by Almo Coppelli and the first race is in April at Hockenheim. There will be three cars challenging for the title and they will be driven by Peter Sowerby, Kevin Riley and a further driver yet to be announced.The contracts for the 2005 race season will be signed at the Autosport International Show.

With experience in the UK series Peter Sowerby said: 'The Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge is one of the best mid-engined track cars in the world and in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series it is real wheel-to-wheel racing for every point. I'm proud to be driving for the Ferrari UK team and it's time we put the British team back on the trophy.

'Ferrari fans will love to see and hear the car in action at Autosport International and will hopefully get a flavour of the action and then come to support us on the track in 2005.'

Technical Specification: Engine 3.6 litre 90 degree V8 normally aspirated; Max power 400 hp at 8500 rpm; Max torque 373 Nm at 4750 rpm; Top speed 183 mph; 0-62 mph 4 seconds

Maserati GranSport

Seen for the first time at Autosport International Show in Autocar magazine's Supercar Paddock, the latest addition to the Maserati range, the GranSport is a more aggressive alternative to the regular Coupé, which celebrates the sporting soul at the heart of the car by offering more power and even sharper handling in a model, focused on delivering high performance. 

The GranSport looks especially purposeful with its deep front spoiler, airflow-controlling side sills, discreet bootlid spoiler lip, chrome grille, lowered ride height and larger, 19" Trofeo racing-style alloy wheels.

Technical Specification: Engine 4.2 litre 90 degree V8 normally aspirated; Max power 400 hp at 7000 rpm; Max torque 452 Nm at 4500 rpm; Top speed 180 mph; 0-62 mph 4.85 seconds