Maserati aims for a return to GT4 racing in 2028: Project GT4 unveiled

Maserati will unveil the Project GT4 for the first time at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed: a new project developed by Maserati Corse to bring the technical, stylistic and engineering DNA of the new GranTurismo to the racetrack. The car has been designed to enter one of the most dynamic international GT classes, building on the experience gained with the Maserati GT2, and has been developed with a specific aim in mind: to return to the racetrack in 2028 with a competitive project, to fight for victory and to reaffirm Corse’s role as the brand’s innovation hub.

Vincent Biard, Head of Maserati Corse: “Project GT4 represents a natural step in the development of the Maserati Corse programme and completes our vision for the future of GT racing. Building on the experience gained with the Maserati GT2, this project was launched with the aim of bringing all the technical, sporting and operational expertise developed in recent years to the GT4 class, whilst maintaining a strong link to the new GranTurismo on which it is based. Our goal is clear: we want to develop a car that is competitive and reliable, whilst remaining affordable for the teams and drivers who choose Maserati. The development process has only just begun, but we are already working towards launching a car by the 2028 season that can compete at the very highest level and challenge for success. In a year in which we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Trident and 100 years of Maserati in motorsport, the GT4 project is a further building block in our sporting strategy and confirms the brand’s commitment to continuing its investment in international motorsport.”

Project GT4 was launched to strengthen the link between the racetrack and the road – in keeping with a principle that has always been part of the Maserati philosophy: a continuous exchange of expertise, technical solutions and know-how between motorsport and series production.

The car will complement the Maserati GT2 – which has been competing in the GT2 European Series since 2023 – and the MCXtrema, known as the ‘Beast’, which is intended for a select group of customers who wish to try their hand at track driving.

The GT4 project, unveiled in a special year in which Maserati is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Trident logo, is based on the architecture of the new GranTurismo.

Developed in Modena and inspired by experience with the Maserati GT2, the project combines performance, Italian design and technological innovation. The car benefits directly from the technical improvements and stylistic refinements of the new model generation, bringing its most outstanding features to the racetrack. The integration of specific racing components complements and emphasises the new front end, whilst ensuring continuity with the design language of the production car.

The new GranTurismo serves as the ideal basis: the powertrain and bodywork of the Maserati Project GT4 are taken directly from the production car, demonstrating the extent to which the GranTurismo’s architecture can be seamlessly transferred from the road to the racetrack, and to keep running and maintenance costs to a minimum – a key consideration for a vehicle intended for racing.

The aerodynamic components have been designed according to purely functional criteria, yet are harmoniously integrated into the vehicle’s overall design. The interior retains the characteristic features of the GT dashboard, but features a layout designed for maximum ergonomics and efficiency on the racetrack. 

The technology employed draws on the experience gained on the racetrack with the Maserati GT2: the expertise developed in the areas of set-up, calibration, reliability and performance forms a solid foundation. The development of the car draws on the expertise of Maserati Corse and the experience of Andrea Bertolini, Maserati’s chief test driver and multiple world champion.

From a technical perspective, the Project GT4 features a longitudinally mounted 3.0-litre V6 Nettuno engine at the front, equipped with pre-chamber combustion technology derived from Formula 1. The “Made at Maserati” engine has already demonstrated its versatility, robustness and development potential on the racetrack, achieving an output of over 700 PS in certain applications.

The Project GT4 features a rear-wheel-drive layout, suspension derived directly from the GranTurismo Trofeo, adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars, and a weight reduction of around 400 kg compared to the road-going vehicle, with a highly optimised aluminium platform serving as the starting point.

Special racing components include a front splitter, aerodynamics optimised to increase downforce, front dive planes, a bonnet with specialised vents, a dedicated braking system with specialised cooling, a roll cage, a homologated seat and fuel tank, and 18-inch wheels that comply with GT4 regulations.

Like every Maserati, the Project GT4 combines the pursuit of performance with stylistic refinement – thanks to close collaboration between the development department and the Maserati Centro Stile.

In this year of such significance for the Trident, Maserati is dedicating a special paint finish to the new project at its unveiling in Goodwood. The design is characterised by a large trident stretching across the car from the roof to the rear, complemented by 100 small, colour-coordinated blue tridents. The white front end is reminiscent of some of the most legendary Maserati racing cars of the past, such as the 420M/58 Eldorado, and reinterprets the brand’s heritage with a contemporary flair, whilst the colours blue and yellow pay homage to the city of Modena, emphasising that the car was designed and developed entirely in the heart of Italy’s Motor Valley.

With this new project, Maserati aims to add an important new piece to the racing world’s jigsaw whilst raising its standards even further by strategically expanding its presence in the current GT scene. The international GT4 category is currently one of the fastest-growing segments in Gran Turismo competitions.

In GT competitions during the first decade of this century, the Trident played a leading role with legendary cars such as the glorious MC12, which dominated the GT1 seasons. Maserati now aims to build on its past successes in GT4 as well – with victories and achievements in the GT4 European Cup, the GT4 European Series and the Competition102 GT4 European Series, now with the Maserati GranTurismo GT4 and previously with the Maserati Trofeo Light GT4, which is based on the GranSport.

With the unveiling of ‘Project GT4’ at Goodwood, Maserati is marking the recent market launch of its new model range – the new GranTurismo, the new GranCabrio and the new Grecale – and adds another piece to the brand’s development strategy, looking ahead to the 2028 season with the aim of playing a leading role on the racetrack.