Maserati MC20 prototype honours Stirling Moss

On this day in 1956, Moss took his first Maserati F1 win; no better time to show off Maserati's next racing car

By Matt Bird / Wednesday, 13 May 2020 / Loading comments

In amongst his numerous achievements, Sir Stirling Moss was a formidable racing driver for Maserati. Competing alongside greats like Fangio, Alberto Ascari and Jean Behra, Moss wouldn't struggle for a fight; that he achieved two victories in a 250F, when Maserati only scored nine in total during its time as a Grand Prix manufacturer, is yet another demonstration of his fine racecraft.

One of those wins came at Monaco, in this day in 1956 in fact, with Maserati using the occasion to celebrate Moss once more - and give us another look at the upcoming MC20. Now covered in a Stirling Moss "signature", Maserati says the dedication is "no coincidence". The Trident is at pains to stress that the MC20 will return the famed brand to the world's racetracks. Not only that, but this car is said to be powered by a new engine "100 per cent designed, developed and produced by Maserati itself." Which is exciting, given we'd pondered EV status after previous "advanced electric powertrain" mentions.

That's about your lot on the MC20 for now, only to add Maserati's assertion that Sir Stirling would have approved of the new car. No, really. It's apparently a car "that fully embodies Maserati's truest values in terms of the performance, driving pleasure and innovative contents superlatively expressed in all Trident Brand models." Which, even for Maserati, is laying it on pretty thick, with the GranTurismo of 2007 being the last car to encapsulate those virtues. Let's hope the MC20 can emphatically address that issue.

Until then, we'll enjoy trying to peer beneath the disguise at this new Maserati sports car, admiring the Eldorado - a car Moss debuted in 1958 - alongside a 250F, and watching this video, filmed for Maserati's centenary, of Stirling Moss discussing its most famous racing car. If the Trident can strike upon another car and driver duo of such quality with the MC20, it really will be on to something.