In 1939 and 1940, long before any foreign brands were established in the United States, Maserati took the checkered flag at perhaps the world's most famous race, the Indianapolis 500. That car was a Modena-made 8CTF single-seater bearing the flamboyant name of “Boyle Special”, driven by Wilbur Shaw. Today, to mark the 70th anniversary of Maserati’s first win at Indianapolis, the Boyle Special is on display at Maserati’s exhibit at the 2009 NAIAS as a direct link to the newest and fastest of its products: the new Quattroporte Sport GT S.

The racetrack is where the name Maserati first became enduring and where the company continues to draw its central philosophy: a well balanced car capable of perfect feedback to the driver. The racetrack also continues to be the stage where Maserati collects international trophies in steady succession – with both Drivers and Teams FIA GT titles clinched in 2008 by Maserati’s MC12 to bring to 10 the total of FIA international titles the Maserati MC12 has collected over the last four racing seasons, primarily courtesy of drivers Andrea Bertolini and Michael Bartels (champions in 2006 and 2008) and of the Vitaphone Racing Team (four consecutive titles from 2005 through 2008).

In the course of the 2008 racing season Maserati clinched its third win in four years at the legendary 24-Hours of Spa race, placing three MC12s in the first four positions of the final standing.  The triumph in Belgium is the ultimate evidence of Maserati’s reliability that originates on the racetrack but translates into the quality and consistency of Maserati’s entire product range.

The ten international trophies collected in the FIA GT championship since 2005 at the wheel of a Maserati MC12 are: 2 Manufacturers Cup in 2005 and 2007; 3 Drivers titles (Bertolini-Bartels in 2006, Thomas Biagi in 2007, Bertolini-Bartels in 2008); 4 Teams titles (since 2005 with no interruption, always with the Vitaphone Racing Team); and 1 Citation Cup in 2007 with the amateur driver Ben Aucott.

Focusing on its racing vocation and fresh from its latest international triumph in the FIA GT championship, Maserati has developed a special series of new options named “MC Sport Line”, which made its worldwide debut at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy in early December 2008. The new contents of the MC Sport Line add to Maserati’s already extensive range of personalised features on offer. The MC Sport Line is designed to enhance the sporty DNA of Maserati vehicles for those customers who like to display their passion for racing through a dynamic look and a choice of technical solutions that increase the driving fun without compromises.

The name “MC Sport Line” sums up the experience acquired on the track by the Maserati Corse department, whose contribution to the design of the functional components has been invaluable. The world of motor racing also inspired Maserati’s designers when it came to styling, hence the extensive use of carbon fibre, very popular among racing enthusiasts thanks to its direct connection with racing competitions.