Six Maseratis are being shown on the stand arranged in Trident formation. Two Coupes and two Spyders in GT and Cambiocorsa specifications one each in metallic maroon and metallic blue make up Maserati's road going range. These four lead towards the Trofeo car which appears in white with two blue stripes running full length and is positioned as the thrusting tip of the Trident at the most attention grabbing point of the stand. Complimenting them at the top of the display sits the famous Tipo 151 race car which brought many victories to the marque in its past.

Completing the stand is the Quattroporte model first seen at the "Artedinamica" exhibition in Japan earlier this year, along with static cutway engines and the Coupe's drivetrain which illustrates the rear mounted gearbox.

>>> Maserati Trofeo
>>> Maserati Coupe & Spyder
>>> Maserati Tipo 151
>>> Maserati Quattroporte model

Ferrari-Maserati Group President Luca di Montezemolo, introduced the Maserati Trofeo to the world's press here earlier this week ( image below ) and announced details of a race series for these cars to be run in Europe next year. 

The race prepared Coupe will form the basis of a seven round one marque series to be run during 2003. Two races will run at the British and Italian Grands Prix, four will be run in conjunction with the FIA GT Championship when two drivers will race, while the last event will be held at Ferrari's traditional end of season "Finali Ferrari" race days. To ensure equality all the cars will be prepared by Maserati.

>>> see the Maserati Trofeo at the Paris Motor Show
>>> Maserati Trofeo official press release

The Maserati Trofeo unveiled at the Paris Motor Show represents a first step towards an official return to racing.

The Maserati Trofeo, the model with which the Modena-based, Italian company will make its official return to motor racing in 2003, makes its world debut at the Paris Motor Show, today. 

Next year, the Trofeo will be the centrepiece of a single-brand championship of seven races, run on the most prestigious circuits in Italy, Great Britain, Germany, France and Spain. Two events, in Italy and Britain, will be held in conjunction with the local Formula 1 Grand Prix, and four will be mini-endurance events, combined with the FIA GT Championship. The last race will be held with the traditional “Finali Ferrari” racing days. 

There will be 26 cars on the starting grid, and it will be possible to enter two drivers for mini-endurance events.The Trofeo race cars will all be prepared and run directly by Maserati, to guarantee technical equality and similar performance. 

Before being presented in Paris, the car was put through an intense test programme, beginning in June 2002. It made its debut at Fiorano with Luciano Burti, and the tests continued in Imola with Luca Badoer and Fabrizio Giovanardi. Luca Badoer took the wheel of the Trofeo again in Fiorano and Mugello, then Fabio Babini tested the car at Vallelunga. Even Michael Schumacher had a chance to try the car out on September 8 at the Nurburgring and he announced that he was satisfied with the level of competitiveness achieved. 

29.09.2002  MASERATI TROFEO RUNS OUT AT INDIANAPOLIS
07.08.2002  NEW MODELS: MASERATI TROFEO
22.07.2002  LUCA BADOER OUT AGAIN IN MASERATI CAMBIOCORSA TROFEO AT FIORANO
10.07.2002  ALFA ROMEO ETC DRIVER FABRIZIO GIOVANARDI JOINS CAMBIOCORSA TROFEO TEST PROGRAMME AT IMOLA
22.06.2002  LUCIANO BURTI WRAPS UP TWO DAY TEST SESSION AT FIORANO WITH MASERATI CAMBIOCORSA
18.06.2002  MASERATI BACK ON THE RACE TRACK