Autosport Plus

World GT1: Runners and riders

A new era of GT racing has dawned as the FIA GT1 World Championship kicks off in Abu Dhabi this weekend, boasting some pretty strong line-ups

Maserati MC12

The ever-controversial Maserati MC12 continues its career thanks to the efforts of Vitaphone boss Michael Bartels. He led the push for the car to be grandfathered along with the Chevrolet Corvette and Aston Martin, even though carbon-chassis supercars of its ilk are a no-no under the new GT1 regulations.

Pragmatism ruled the day, and the most successful team in FIA GTs was able to seemlessly move across to the new championship. The next hurdle for Bartels was to find a second team to field a pair of MC12s, no mean feat given that it is the most expensive car to run. His solution was to field a second pair of MC12s himself under the Hegersport banner of old mate Altfrid Heger.

Share Or Save This Story

Author Gary Watkins

Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.

Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.