A title in boxed lettering and an outsized image of the car open the page-long article. The article is available online and the journalist, head of the Corriere della Sera’s Motori section, was especially struck by the backdrop to the test day, one held to celebrate the great actor Ugo Tognazzi. “It was a special day that ended with an evening at the Teatro Ponchielli where the famous actor was remembered with a harrowing documentary-film entitled ‘Ritratto di mio padre’ (Portrait of my father). The film was realised by Maria Sole, Tognazzi’s daughter, and includes a series of fascinating anecdotes”. Positive comments were also reserved for the new Maserati, considered one with a “dual personality” because, as Donelli writes, it will appeal to “pacy drivers who need a gentler car able to remind them of the track as well as gentleman drivers and Maserati enthusiasts who want a dash of pepper in their handling”.

The car’s performance and the power of the 450 bhp V8 engine were also appreciated. “When in ‘Automatic’ mode it is like travelling in a saloon but when the ‘Race’ button is pushed it becomes a competition-level single-seater”, going on to explain that the MC Stradale was developed from the experience track gained by the MC Trofeo and the GT4. Turning again to the engine: “You can appreciate it from a standing start and the straight used by Borzacchini when setting his record seems perfect”. In fact, on the very stretch used in the roadtest, Baconin Borzacchini, in 1929, set a flying 10 kilometre land speed record as he almost reached 250 km/h.

The car’s interior, rich in Alcantara and carbon fibre, is deemed comfortable, as are the sports seats. The new suspension arrangement, lowered profile and “surprising” roadholding are also applauded. For Donelli, the MC Stradale is a car born on the track that can be used every day.