Assetto Corsa: 1964 Maserati 151/3 at Abulzz Targa Florio 0.2.03

For 1962, Maserati decided to simplify things and make a more traditional GT racer for the World Sportscar Championship, using a ladder frame, independent front suspension, and a de dion rear suspension which ended up modified to act like a swing axle. The engine was initially a downsized version of the 450 S, since the FIA was only allowing GT engine capacity of 4 liters for 1962. The body, designed by Giulio Alfieri, used all the common traits of GT racing in the early 60's: A long low hood, with a kahm tail ending abruptly behind the rear wheels.
The car was completed shortly before Le Mans, giving the teams little time to test. The results went as expected: a poor handling race car at the best of times, with excessive rear tire wear. Of the three cars entered at Le Mans, one overheated with radiator damage after a brake failure, one retired with transmission failure, and the Maserati France team withdrew during the night believing that the car was just too dangerous to drive.
Multiple revisions throughout the years followed, including the common decision to use even larger engines.
In 1964, a new chassis was designed, which was both longer and wider, to accomodate a 5 liter engine and much wider tires. Piero Drogo was contracted to redesign the body. Running in the GT 5 liter category, the 151/3 set the fastest top speed of any car that year, at 310 kph, but unsurprisingly failed to finish due to brake failure.
One final attempt was made the next year with larger brakes, but driver Lloyd Casner was killed after losing control in the rain at the Mulsanne kink and smashing into the trees.
Of all the 151's made, only chassis 006 remains.
thracing.de/wsc-legends-60s-p...
/ posts

[@aerospeeed]

😍 crazy, nice

[@Villoresi]

That guardrail wasn't having it as you were coming down to the Buonfornello.

[@Someguy1785]

I find new places to crash every month, and that was a first. Luckily there was nothing on the left side to hit.