If you own a Maserati MC20 or MCPura and want to get the most out of it, or you just want to rip a super sports car around an iconic track, then you’ll be pleased to know Maserati is offering the chance to do just that. Provided you can get yourself to Europe.
The legendary Italian sports car manufacturer has announced its range of on-track driving experiences for 2026. It includes two new circuits, an embrace of technology, and the chance to sample the company’s fastest road-legal car along with a couple of track based special editions.
You can race around a legendary F1 track
If you’ve ever sat watching the Italian Grand Prix and thought “I can do that.” you have an opportunity to put your money where your mouth is. Maserati’s track-based driving school is back at Monza for the 2026 season. The two other Italian circuits you can drive are Varano de’ Melegari, and Vallelunga. While Hockenheimring (Germany) and Circuit Paul Ricard (France) have both been added to the list of venues for the first time this year.
When the experience itself is more important than the history of the place, Vallelunga is an obvious pick. You’re not missing out on too much, it’s still an FIA-homologated track. It’s here you’ll get to experience the “GT2 Racetrack Academy.” This involves trying out the MC20 and GT2 Stradale in a series of “Lead & Follow” instructor sessions. Your telemetry will be gathered and reviewed with you afterwards. You’ll also get to see how a pro tackles the track first hand during a GT2 race car hot lap.
Vallelunga also offers a full day “GT Pro” experience. Both the GranTurismo Trofeo and GT2 Stradale are involved, and drivers can sharpen their skills with a number of intense activities. This includes a Driving Quality Telemetry Contest and an agility challenge on a handling track using the GranTurismo Trofeo. The day is rounded off with a double hot lap session, and awards are handed out to the top performers.
Varano de’ Melegari offers a similar experience to Vellelunga’s GT Pro experience, only this takes place over half a day. Instructors will guide you through several sessions, you’ll be judged via telemetry, you’ll get a hot lap in a GT2 Stradale then the top three drivers take a trophy home.
Finally, Modena. The home of Maserati also hosts a half day experience which centers on the GranTurismo Trofeo and MC20. Again, you’ll get a telemetry-based driving contest and a hot lap in a Stradale. You’ll also get a visit to the new Maserati historical museum and a tour of the Viale Ciro Menotti production plant. Plus you’ll get to tell all of your friends you spent a few hours lapping an Italian sports car around Modena.
While Hockenheimring and Circuit Paul Ricard are both hosting Maserati drive events this year, exact details on what is happening at both circuits is yet to be released but they’re easily the most iconic tracks on this list. Hockenheimring has hosted 37 German Grand Prix, and Circuit Paul Ricard has hosted the F1 French Grand Prix 18 times. They’re pretty much as iconic as race tracks can get, and you will be able to experience both at high speed if you have the funds.
Maserati goes digital on its drive experiences
Many of the sessions also involve a virtual GT2 Racer sim contest. Participants get comfortable in a virtual racing rig and then have to set a time on a particular circuit in a Maserati GT2. This partially gives participants a chance to show off what they’ve learned, and partially just allows them to let loose.
Personally, I’ve done many a track day. And you can’t really just go all out on the track itself.Even when you aren’t doing a lead/follow, you do tend to rein it in a bit. It may be that you don’t want to die or get horrifically injured, which will happen if you lose control and smash into a tire wall at 130 mph. Or it could just be that you don’t want to be the one who writes off over $200,000 worth of vehicle because your right foot was writing checks your driving ability couldn’t cash. Either way, you may find yourself acting pretty tame while on the tarmac.
In the sim racer, you can go all out. If you mess up and send it sideways into a floodlight mast, who cares? Repairing pixels is free. Yes, it isn’t exactly the same as real racing, you’ll feel nothing through your seat, there are no G-Forces bouncing you around, and the monitors don’t give you the same sense of speed. But it is competitive, and who doesn’t want to leave a track day with a trophy or two?
Spaces on Maserati’s driving experiences are limited and can be booked through the Maserati Driving Experience store page.
