Ghibli Open Cup

Maserati returned to the track with a production car modified for racing at modest cost for a single-make championship. 22 Ghibli 2.0s were developed by the factory and built up at Alfa Corse to Group N specifications. Changes to the Ghibli road car followed earlier experience by Elio Imberto with a Biturbo in the 1987 European Touring Car Championship. The 2-litre twin-turbo V6 was tuned to 320 bhp at 7,000 rpm and mated to a Getrag 6-speed manual gearbox. The lowered and stiffened suspension featured Eibach racing springs and Bilstein dampers, while the brakes were uprated with Brembo racing units. The car cost 120 million Lire and the starting fee for the entire season was a modest 23.8 million Lire, with 300 million in prize money to be won.

Eight races were held on Italian and European tracks during the 1995 season. The Gentleman's class in the Selenia Ghibli Open Cup was won by a teenage Denny Zardo, a car mechanic of limited means from Treviso; the team consisted of himself, father Valerio and their toolbox. The victory in the professional class went to Federico D'Amore of Milan, who in the final race at Magny-Cours in France beat guest driver Arturo Merzario right on the finishing line.

The 1996 model was closer to Group A racing specifications, with a very deep front apron, a tail spoiler and the engine now giving 330 to 340 bhp. The 18-inch wheels were by Tecnomagnesio and the revised suspension featured uniball rose-joints. The car was also 30 kg lighter (at 1,265 kg) than the 1995 model. The kit for updating the 1995 Ghibli Open Cup to 1996 specification cost 33.6 million Lire. With nine European races scheduled with in the framework of the ITC Touring Car Championship for the 1996 season, the Selenia Ghibli Open Cup was suspended mid-year.