PROVENANCE
AF Corse, Piacenza, Italy (acquired new via Maserati S.p.A)
Risi Competizione, Houston, Texas (acquired from the above in 2005)
Current Owner (acquired from the above via Ferrari of Houston)

RACE HISTORY
FIA GT Imola, September 2004, Herbert/de Simone, No. 34 (3rd Overall)
FIA GT Oschersleben, September 2004, Herbert/de Simone, No. 34 (8th Overall)
FIA GT Dubai, October 2004, de Simone/Herbert, No. 34 (2nd Overall)
FIA GT Zhuhai, November 2004, Herbert/de Simone, No. 34 (2nd Overall)
Sebring 12 Hours, March 2005, Bertolini/de Simone/Babini, No. 35 (9th Overall)
ALMS Road Atlanta, April 2005, Bertolini/de Simone, No. 35 (7th Overall)
ALMS Mid-Ohio, May 2005, de Simone/Bertolini, No. 35 (11th Overall)
ALMS Lime Rock, July 2005, Bertolini/Babini, No. 35 (6th Overall)
ALMS Sonoma, July 2005, Bertolini/de Simone, No. 35 (11th Overall)
ALMS Portland, July 2005, de Simone/Salo, No. 35 (9th Overall)
ALMS Road America, August 2005, Bertolini/de Simone, No. 35 (8th Overall)
ALMS Mosport, September 2005, Bertolini/de Simone, No. 35 (9th Overall)
ALMS Road Atlanta, October 2005, Bertolini/Babini/de Simone, No. 35 (8th Overall)
ALMS Laguna Seca, October 2005, Bertolini/de Simone, No. 35 (DNF)

THIS CAR
The MC12 was born from Maserati’s desire to return to the competitive racing scene after a 37-year absence, and the company’s project resulted in the production of 50 MC12 road cars over a two-year span for homologation purposes. Based on Ferrari’s iconic Enzo supercar, the exotic MC12 was designed by influential American stylist Frank Stephenson and clothed in sleek carbon-fiber bodywork. Fitted with Ferrari’s monstrous six-liter F140 V-12 engine, the MC12 was a hugely capable performer, even in standard trim, with 0 to 60 mph times in less than four seconds and a 205 mph top speed.

In 2004, Maserati proudly unveiled the MC12 GT1 in grand style – staging three of the completed racing cars in a hall alongside numerous MC12 road cars. Essentially an evolution of Ferrari’s abandoned F50 GT1 project, the MC12 GT1 was a full competition version of Maserati’s exclusive Enzo-based supercar, built to contend the popular FIA GT Championship. Though the MC12 GT1s were assigned standard 17-digit VINs for homologation purposes, an internal three-digit production number was assigned to each car for easier identification.

This MC12 GT1, 003, and its sister car, 006, were Maserati’s lead cars for the 2004 FIA GT Championship and were run with factory support under the AF Corse banner. Established by Amato Ferrari in 1995, the Piacenza, Italy-based AF Corse team has maintained a close relationship with the Ferrari and Maserati factories since being contracted to develop, maintain, and support the Trofeo Cup, a one-make series based on the Maserati Coupe. In fact, AF Corse aided Maserati in early testing and development of the MC12 GT1, and it was their cars – 003 and 006 – that reintroduced Maserati to the world’s stage at Imola in September 2004.

Although the MC12 GT1’s design did not meet all of the rules for FIA GT1 competition, the cars were allowed to race without initially earning points toward the championship. Two race wins followed, and a later reversal of the points-earning decision allowed the cars to place 7th in the teams championship. Throughout the 2004 FIA GT1 season, 003 was run with great success, capturing podium finishes in three of its four starts.

For 2005, Maserati decided to take its MC12 GT1 racing in the American Le Mans Series, or ALMS, and enlisted the Risi Competizione team of Giuseppe Risi to run the cars. Again, the MC12s exceeded the ACO’s length and width limitations. Despite again not being eligible for championship points and having to run with a weight penalty, Maserati decided that the US market was too important to ignore, and it ran 003 as the sole factory entry for the 10-round 2005 season. Following a remarkable 9th Overall finish at the famous 12 Hours of Sebring, 003 served as a proud representative for the Modenese marque, regularly placing in the top 10 throughout the 2005 ALMS season.

Rooted in the success of the original factory-backed AF Corse team cars, MC12 GT1s continued to be campaigned by privateers until at least 2010, winning 40 of the 94 races that they entered. Between 2004 and 2010, MC12 GT1s captured six team titles, six drivers championships, and two constructors crowns, making the MC12 GT1 one of the most successful models running in GT and GT1 competition in that era.

An integral part of the MC12 GT1 project, 003 was run as a factory entrant for the entirety of its racing career, having been part of both the 2004 FIA GT1 effort and the sole entry in Maserati’s assault on the ALMS for 2005. This 600 hp V-12 warrior has been driven by accomplished racers including Johnny Herbert, Mika Salo, Fabrizio de Simone, and Andrea Bertolini, and it stands today as an MC12 of superior provenance and quality.

Presented in its original Maserati blue livery, and still showing the subtle scars of competition use, this sensational machine comes to Gooding & Company from an important private collection, having been purchased by the consignor from Ferrari of Houston, itself a company with ties to Risi Competizione. Used for static display purposes during the last decade, the MC12 nevertheless remains in running condition, though careful preparation should be part of any plans to return the car to the racetrack.

Not only is the MC12 GT1 the ultimate development of Maserati’s Enzo-based supercar, it is a racing machine of significant historic importance and a symbol of the famed Italian marque’s resurgence at the highest levels of international competition. Chassis 003, with its factory competition history, should be on the shortest of lists for those searching for a Maserati thoroughbred of the highest order.