Maserati has always had a way of mixing history into its promising future, and the 2025 Maserati International Rally showcased that balance perfectly. Held in the Belgian Ardennes, the event brought together more than a hundred Maseratis from every era, all rolling through scenic countryside roads and eventually arriving at the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. As much as the gathering celebrated the history of the brand’s lineup, the moment everyone seemed to be waiting for was the return of the MCXtrema to Spa, a track that still echoes with the sound of the MC12 from two decades ago.
The MCXtrema looked right at home sporting a black-and-blue livery that fans first saw earlier this summer at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. It’s a clear nod to the Vitaphone Racing MC12 GT1, the car that dominated Spa in the mid-2000s, starting with its first big win in 2005. Witnessing the MCXtrema carry that colorway across Eau Rouge and Raidillon seemed like a respectful throwback to the days when Michael Bartels, Andrea Bertolini, and the rest of the team turned the MC12 into a legend.
What stood out were the little details incorporated into the livery, like the oversized trident on the hood, the combination of black and blue along the body, and the typography on the doors and rear quarters that listed out Maserati’s most iconic models, circuits, and drivers. Fans lining the track knew exactly what they were looking at, a modern supercar carrying the weight of the brand’s past success without feeling like a museum piece.
Of course, the International Rally itself added plenty of atmosphere. From September 10–13th, Maseratis filled the streets of Durbuy, the tiny town that calls itself the smallest city in the world, before winding their way toward Spa. There were parades, track sessions, and plenty of connections between owners who live and breathe the Trident. But when the MCXtrema took to the track yesterday, the energy shifted. For a few moments, Spa-Francorchamps belonged once again to a Maserati that carried the spirit of the MC12.
Source: Maserati
