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Rare Maserati gets rare drive at Laguna Seca

Michael James

The last Maserati Tipo 151, one of only three made, will be driven by Derek Hill in the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, August 14-17 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Maserati is this year’s featured marque and will celebrate its 100th anniversary at the motorsports gathering. Derek Hill is the son of former world titlist Phil Hill.

Entered by Fratelli Auriana Racing from the collection of Lawrence Auriana, the Tipo 151 has been fully restored.

Since its restoration, chassis 151.006 has competed in three successive Goodwood Revivals and last year in the 2013 Le Mans Legend. This will be the car’s first visit to Monterey and the challenging 2.238-mile road course.

 

A one of a kind Maserati Tipo 151 will be driven at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
A one-of-a-kind Maserati Tipo 151 will be driven at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

The Tipo 151 will complement Maserati’s centennial display and provide a dynamic addition by having its pit crew working on the car throughout the weekend to keep it in race-ready condition.

Visitors also will see many other significant Maseratis that were responsible for propelling the Italian marque onto the racing scene.

Iconic Tipo 60s and 61s, nicknamed the Birdcage, will be running as will the sleek 300S and 450S models that once competed in the famed Mille Miglia, Nurburgring and other punishing races.

Additionally, the first-ever 4CL that Maserati produced in 1939, which was originally raced by factory drivers Luigi Villoresi, Carlo Felice Trossi and Franco Cortese, will be racing in Monterey.

““We are working closely with the Centennial team from Maserati North America and in Italy,” said Gill Campbell, CEO and general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “True Italian car enthusiasts won’t want to miss this event because of what they will only be able to see here on track and strolling through the paddock and marketplace. This is what makes the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion so special, seeing cars in motion that are normally housed in museums.”

In this year’s the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, 550 historic and period-correct race cars have been accepted to compete in 15 race groups over the four-day gathering. U.S. entries will be joined by cars from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

The oldest car accepted is Brian Blain’s 1910 National 40. Sporting 100 horsepower, the National was driven by Charlie Merz in the inaugural Indianapolis 500 held in 1911, finishing seventh at an average speed of 70.36 miles per hour and in so doing, collecting $700 in prize money.

Rolex has been Official Timekeeper for 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2001 and Title Sponsor of the Rolex 24 At Daytona in North America since 1992. In 1965, Rolex added the name Daytona to the dial of its Cosmograph line in tribute to this great race at the International Speedway. Ever since then, the presence of the Rolex brand in automobile racing has grown steadily.

For more information on the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion or to purchase tickets, visit www.MazdaRaceway.com or call 800-327-7322.

 

Article Last Updated: June 26, 2014.

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