02.12.2003 MASERATI TO UNVEIL LIGHTWEIGHT GT RACING BOUND TROFEO AT THE BOLOGNA MOTOR SHOW

Maserati will unveil a lightweight GT racing version of their Trofeo GT racer at the Bologna Motor Show later this week. The Maserati Trofeo Light will be ready to enter sportscar racing, including the GT class in the American Le Mans Series and GrandAm, the European FIA GT Championship as well as national GT series worldwide.

The Trofeo Light is based on the Trofeo GT which was developed for the Vodafone Trofeo series this year for identical factory prepared cars won by Emanuele Smurra. The Trofeo GT is itself drawn from the roadgoing Coupe Cambiocorsa. The 'Light' will be pitted against GT class racers including the new Porsche 996GT3 RSR and the Ferrari 360 Modena.

The 'Light' features weight reduced from the 1400kg of the Trofeo GT down to 1155kg, while power output is raised to 430cv. Interest in the new car has been strong, with two 'Lights' already despatched to Australia, confirmed runners in the CSAI-organised Italian GT Championship, while cars are also expected to feature in the British and Spanish GT series'.