By Otsile Kadiege

At this year’s recent Monterey Car Week, Maserati lifted the veil off the new GT2 Stradale which is a road-legal GT2 race car based on the MC20. Compared to the MC20 it’s based on, the track-day ready supercar gets increased power, reduced weight and other go-fast mechanical bits and bobs.

Performance

Straight-off the bat, the GT2 Stradale is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 engine delivering 471kW and 720Nm – that’s 8kW more than the standard MC20. Weight has been reduced by 60kg to 1,365kg – the standard MC20 weighs 1,500kg. The rear wheel-drive GT2 Stradale is paired with an 8-speed dual clutch transmission and sprints from zero to 100km/h in a claimed 2.8 seconds. Its top speed has been reduced by 1km/h to 324km/h.

Stopping power comes in the form of centrelock wheels wrapped with semi-slick tyres (measuring 245/35 R20 up front and 305/30 R20 at the rear) and carbon ceramic brakes.

Functional exterior design and styling

Outside, the GT2 Stradale boasts purposeful track day ready cosmetic updates. These include a broadened front ’mouth’ for improved air flow, three air vents on the carbon-fibre bonnet to expel hot air and two more vents on the the front wheel arches and the rear windows. It’s also fitted with a large, multi-position carbon-fibre rear wing and a redesigned rear diffuser.

Four colours are available, referring to four worlds frequently explored by Maserati: the essential, heritage, contemporary and location-based worlds.

1) Nero Essenza – an agile glossy colour, perfect for an assertive car
2) Blu Infinito – an iconic colour that can never be left out from a Maserati
3) Gloss Giallo Genio – with a blue mica reminiscent of Modena’s colours
4) Matte Bianco Audace – a pure white with a blue mica.

Motorsport inspired interior

Inside, the GT2 Stradale features a carbon-fiber and Alcantara steering wheel with integrated racing shift lights, carbon-fibre appointments on the new lightweight center console, paddle shifters and air vents as well as lightweight carbon-fiber racing seats which come in two sizes to suit different sporting personalities and 4-point seat belt to help keep drivers glued to their seat. Other noteworthy features include ‘GT2 Stradale badging on the dashboard, a dedicated logo on the centre tunnel, an optional 12-speaker Sonas faber premium sound system and a 10.25-inch touch display.

Availability

Maserati South Africa is yet to confirm if a few units of the GT2 Stradale have been reserved for South Africa.