The Maserati Quattroporte has been chosen by the Swiss team as the weapon of choice for the Superstars Series touring cars series. Andrea Chiesa, ex-F1 driver, is driving the car.
Maserati will be returning to the track in a number of ways. The Italian manufacturer has introduced the Gran Turismo MC GT4 and is now introducing a bigger racer. Quattroporte, a four-door car, will be on the track for the European 2009 Superstar Series.
The Superstar Series, a touring car series, features cars from a variety of generations including the BMW 5-Series and Audi RS4, Cadillac CTS-V, Jaguar S-type R and Jaguar S-type R. Andrea Chiesa, ex-Formula One driver, will take the wheel. The rear-drive Maserati features a 4.2-liter V8 that produces over 450 horsepower (336kW) and a rear mounted Sadev sequential gearbox. Although the large body has been reduced to 1430 kilograms, the Quattroporte’s bodywork remains unchanged from production spec with minor aerodynamic modifications.
This is Chiesa’s first time driving a touring car. The Swiss team has yet to choose a driver, but plans to field another car throughout the season. The team is currently testing the first Quattroporte and hopes to have the chassis ready for the Superstar Series opener at Imola in April 19.