Maserati's CEO Antonello Perricone visited the third round of the Vodafone Maserati Trofeo last weekend at the Nurburgring where the series for Maserati-prepared Coupe's supported the DTM event. Perricone was highly enthusiastic about the DTM ideals, commenting that the mix of advanced technology and racing fitted perfectly with the Italian marque's strategies.

With Maserati gearing up to enter the FIA GT Championship next year with a car based on Ferrari's 600bhp 6.0-litre V12 Enzo supercar, a DTM appearance would be a longer term aim. With the current Coupe and Spyder slated to be replaced late next year, a DTM campaign based around the new model would be an ideal way of raising its profile.

The Ferrari Enzo-based FIA GT car, under construction in a new on-site purpose-built factory unit is expected to have its production raised. Initially it was planned to build 25 cars to meet homologation requirements, but production is now expected to be raised to around 40-50 cars. 

Meanwhile a new Board of Directors has been decided upon at a meeting of members of the Ferrari Maserati Group last month. A Maserati Spa board meeting was held in order to reappoint some of the three-yearly positions. Antonello Perricone was confirmed as CEO and the number of directors on the board was brought down from 6 to 5. 

With the departure of Alessandro Barberis, Maserati Spa's board is now made up of: the President Luca di Montezemolo, the CEO Antonello Perricone and directors Diego Della Valle, Giuseppe Perlo and Eduardo Teodorani Fabbri.