12 July 2004
FIRST-EVER WOMAN TO SCORE A VICTORY FOR MASERATI
Famous 5th Gear presenter Vicki Butler-Henderson, together with co-driver and Autosport contributor Matthew Marsh won the third round of the Trofeo Maserati Vodafone at Silverstone yesterday. Vicki is the first-ever woman to score a victory for the Trident Marque, which made for a happy coincidence – Maria Teresa de Filippis, who raced a Maserati 250F in the Fifties, had been invited to hand the trophy to the winner.
An ecstatic Vicki was drenched with champagne by fellow Maserati drivers Matthew Marsh (her co-driver), Maurizio Fabris and Joe Macari (second) and the Italian duo Petrini-Grimoldi (third), who shared the podium with her. A smiling Vicki said: ‘It’s probably one of the best days of my life – after all these years of competing it was amazing to win such a prestigious race, especially at Silverstone and on the day of the British Grand Prix. It doesn’t get much better than this!’
Butler-Henderson and Marsh were driving the Maserati Trofeo VIP car, sponsored by Italian fashion label Ermenegildo Zegna.
Back in the paddock, supermodel Jodie Kidd was on hand to congratulate Vicki and Matthew on their victory. Jodie is no stranger to the Maserati Trofeo racer herself, having driven the coupe as part of her training for an International racing licence. She has already completed 50 laps in the Trofeo at the Ferrari-owned Mugello race circuit in Italy, posting a very promising 2 min 20 sec time by the end of the session. Her aim is to compete in the Trofeo series within the next year.
The Maserati Trofeo Vodafone is a one-make series aimed at gentlemen drivers, with an International race licence. There are currently two Championships, one in Europe - at its second season - and one in Brazil, which has just started. The entry fee for the Trofeo Maserati Vodafone Europe of €123.000 (plus taxes) is a true "arrive and drive" formula. It includes: entry to seven Maserati Trofeo Vodafone races at high profile events throughout Europe, all mechanical spare parts, tyres, fuel & consumable materials, a dedicated mechanic for each car, pre-season testing, Maserati Trofeo race suit and equipment, two passes per driver, full use of Maserati hospitality unit, Friday & Saturday hotel accommodation, open bar, lunches & evening meals, accident Insurance, access to spare car and second-driver option.
The Maserati Trofeo race car derives from the Maserati Coupe Cambiocorsa. All the cars are prepared and run by the Maserati factory's sporting division, ensuring technical equality and identical performance. The Maserati Trofeo race cars are fitted with 4.2-litre engines with revised electronics to boost power output to 413 hp at 7,000 rpm. Maximum torque is 340 lb ft at 4,500 rpm. To encourage close racing, each engine is tested, and certified to produce the same power, before being sealed for the season, also each car is fitted with the same hydraulic, F1 style, paddle shift gear change. The Trofeo racer has been stripped of the regular Coupe’s air-conditioning, sound-proofing, and all non-essential accessories. Total saving is over 460 lbs, cutting the racer’s weight to just 3,014 lbs. The car features a full FIA-standard safety kit, and an impact-resistant 100-litre fuel tank. Mechanical changes from the road car include an upgraded braking system, specific damper and spring settings, racing seat, safety roll-over cage, larger diameter and wider wheels (9" x 18" front, 10" x 18" rear), Pirelli racing tyres and aerodynamic additions to the 4,523 mm long body.
Maserati Trofeo
.... shame!
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