With just over a dozen days into 2022, some petrolheads are already itching at the sight of Maserati returning to the racetrack from next year. Although this time around there will be no iconic sound of lean air to fuel mixtures coming together in the cylinders and out through the crafted exhausts since the Italian brand that has the Trident of Neptune fashioned on their badge will be looking towards the future by entering the Formula E from 2023.
While Maserati’s racing portfolio is dabbled with success stories of exaltation throughout the years, the brand was born on the race track from audacity with Alfieri Maserati winning their debut race in the 1.5-litre class at the 1926 edition of the Targa Florio. Later on, the famed marque would take their maiden Formula 1 championships with all time great Juan Manuel Fangio equipped with rudimentary goggles and a leather helmet behind the wheel of the sleek, blood-red 250F in 1957.
While racing would continue sporadically throughout the 20th century, it has been over a decade since Maserati last appeared in racing with the Ferrari Enzo’s twin; the unstoppable MC12. Winning 22 races and 14 Championship titles across Constructors’ Championships, Drivers’ Championships and Teams’ Championships in the FIA GT series. Its reign between 2004 and 2010 also includes 3 victories in the prestigious 24 Hours of Spa. Thus Maserati’s CEO Davide Grasso stated that “We are very proud to be back where we belong as protagonists in the world of racing taking the Trident forward into the future”.
Maserati will debut in the 9th Season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with their rendition of the updated Gen3 derivative which will be the fastest, lightest and most powerful racing car to compete in the series. The Gen3 is also stated to be the most efficient racing car which utilizes industry leading design, production and technological innovations.
Senior Stellantis VP Jean-Marc Finot states that the Maserati Formula E works team will be their “technological laboratory to accelerate the development of high-efficiency electrified powertrains and intelligent software for our road sports cars”. This foresight advantage will play into the hand of the Stellantis brand that has its sights set on full electrification in the near future with all new Maserati models available in 100% electric solutions including the Grecale, GranTurismo, GranCabrio and the MC20.
Words: Alex Shahini
