Model history:
The Maserati MC12 (Tipo M144S) was built as a limited production two-seater sports car to allow a racing variant to compete in the FIA GT Championship. The car entered production in 2004, with 25 road cars produced. A further 25 were produced in 2005, making a total of 50 cars available for customers. With the addition of 12 cars produced for racing, only a total of 62 of these cars were ever produced.

Maserati, at that time owned by Ferrari, designed and built the car on the chassis of the Enzo Ferrari, but the final car is much larger and has a lower drag coefficient. The MC12 is longer, wider and taller and has a sharper nose and smoother curves than the Enzo Ferrari.

The MC12 was developed to signal Maserati's return to racing after 37 years. The road version was produced to homologate the race version. One requirement for participation in the FIA GT was the production of at least 25 road cars.

Specific history of this car:
This MC12 GT1, chassis 003, and its sister car, 006, were Maserati’s lead cars for the 2004 FIA GT Championship and were run with full 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. 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.  

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 5th position at the famous 12 Hours of Sebring, 003 served as a proud representative for the Modenese marque, regularly placing on the podium throughout the 2005 ALMS season.  

Based on the foundations of the initial factory cars 003 and 006, 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.

Chassis 003 is the most original and complete example of the 12 MC12 GT1’s. After the car finished the 2005 ALMS season it was taken back to Risi Compitizione where it was then acquired by a collector who wanted to preserve the car completely as it had raced. It has everything from the suspension setting notes still on the car all the way down to the over temp stickers still attached. The car has been recently inspected and has been found to be in a remarkable condition. All checks went well including a compression test on the motor. 

Racing history:

2004 FIA GT Championship, race number 34. Campaigned by AF Corse:

5.9.2004, FIA GT, Imola, Herbert / de Simone, 3rd
19.9.2004, FIA GT,  Oschersleben, Herbert / de Simone, 8th
8.10.2004, FIA GT, Dubai, de Simone / Herbert, 2nd
14.11. 2004, FIA GT, Zhuhai, Herbert / de Simone, 2nd

2005 American Le Mans Series, race number 35. Campaigned by Maserati  Corse:

19.3.2005, Sebring 12 Hours, Bertolini / de Simone / Babini, 5th
17.4.2005, ALMS, Road Atlanta, Bertolini / de Simone, 4th 
22.5.2005, ALMS, Mid-Ohio, Bertolini / de Simone, 4th
4.7.2005, ALMS, Lime Rock, Bertolini / Babini, 4th
17.7.2005, ALMS, Sonoma, Bertolini / de Simone, 4th
30.7.2005, ALMS, Portland, de Simone / Salo, 4th
21.8.2005, ALMS, Road America, Bertolini / de Simone, 4th
4.9.2005, ALMS, Mosport, Bertolini / de Simone, 3rd
1.10.2005, Petit Le Mans, Bertolini / Babini / de Simone, 3rd
16.10.2005, Laguna Seca 4 hours, Bertolini / de Simone, 3rd