2006 Maserati Trofeo Europa

The 2006 edition of the Maserati Trofeo Europa reached its climax in Spain, at the Valencia circuit. The series went right down to the wire, and was decided only when the final checkered flag fell. Alberto Cerrai took the victory, his fifth in the seven-race series – yet it wasn’t enough. The Championship was claimed by Maurizio Fabris, who took second to maintain his astonishing record of consistency – two wins, four seconds and a fourth place finish.

It was this consistency that meant he beat Cerrai by just two points; the difference between the two drivers was that Cerrai failed to score in the race at Oschersleben.

The two proved that the Maserati Trofeo championship is one of the greatest ‘arrive and drive’ series in the world; the comprehensive package on offer, coupled with the superlative performance of the cars, has attracted some truly talented drivers.

The series uses the Maserati Trofeo GranSport, a car which takes the world-class performance of the road-going GranSport to an almost unbelievable level. The engine has been subject to a mild reworking, taking peak power to 425bhp and top speed to somewhere over 180mph. The aerodynamics have been revised with a new front splitter, redesigned undertray and rear wing. Helping to keep all the power under control is an improved competition braking system with re-routed cooling ducts; to assist the handling, the center of gravity has been lowered and the suspension geometry modified.

As important as the machinery is the supporting package, and Maserati aim to provide everything the drivers may require. Full hospitality is laid on at each race in the series, with a gourmet buffet lunch available at the circuit each lunchtime. Hotel bookings are taken care of, and dinner for the entire group is arranged, to help foster an air of friendly competition.

The cars receive equally comprehensive care; there is a mechanic for every car, at every race, a chief mechanic for every six cars, and a technical director. As you would expect, a full range of spare parts is taken to each race; in case a problem cannot be resolved, there are four spare cars.

A second series, the Trofeo Brasilia, is part-way through the season. The prestige of the series can be judged by the fact that it has been chosen as a support race to the Brazilian Grand Prix, the deciding race in the Formula One World Championship.