After a 20-year hiatus, this Maserati Trofeo V8 is back in competition—and wins its very first race

Like many British drivers, Mike Hilton got his start at the Caterham Academy in 2020. This program is renowned across the Channel for training amateur drivers in a highly competitive environment. After several seasons behind the wheel of the small Caterhams, Hilton decided to make a complete change of pace by joining the championship in 2023. Alfa Romeo.

Hilton and the 4C Revolution in the Alfa Romeo Championship

His arrival did not go unnoticed. Rather than choosing a traditional Alfa 156 GTA, GTV, or Giulietta, he entered the race with an Alfa Romeo 4C—a first for the series in 2023. Since then, his choice has set a trend, and other highly tuned models—such as Jack Berry’s—have further strengthened the small sports car’s presence in the championship.

It’s a bold choice. Up against heavily modified large sedans and naturally aspirated V6 coupes, the 4C relies on a 410 ch turbocharged engine, its light weight, and its agility in fast corners. It became one of the top contenders in the Modified class, with Mike Hilton winning the championship in that class in 2024. However, the 4C has returned to the garage: it is currently being modified to accommodate a sequential transmission. In the meantime, Mike Hilton is back with a rather daring project. 

A New Challenge: The Maserati 4200 Trofeo

In 2026, there was a surprise in the paddock. Mike Hilton returned with a completely different machine: a Maserati 4200 Trofeo, which made its debut at the last Brands Hatch meet in July. That’s entirely possible, since the championship is indeed called «Alfa Romeo & Italian Inter-Brand Championship», allowing other Italian sports cars to go head-to-head with the Biscione models.

The Maserati 4200 Trofeo is not simply a modified 4200 GT. Developed by Maserati Corse in the early 2000s to create a one-make championship for gentlemen drivers, it heralded the Trident’s grand return to international competition, which would culminate in the legendary MC12 GT1. The Trofeo thus serves as the gateway to this world of motorsports.

Maserati's Revival in the 2000s

The base model is the Maserati GT coupe designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. But the transformation is extensive, featuring racing suspension and brakes, specialized electronics, an open exhaust system, and revised aerodynamics. The engine remains the famous 4.2-liter Ferrari-Maserati F136 V8, tuned to 430 ch, while the weight has been significantly reduced. Maserati replaced many components with carbon fiber and Plexiglas parts to reduce the weight from 249 kg to 1,400 kilograms.

The F136 is one of the most renowned Italian V8 engines of the past twenty years. It can be found, for example, in the Ferrari F430 and the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. A naturally aspirated engine with a flat crankshaft, it delivers spectacular acceleration and an instantly recognizable metallic sound. Unlike some heavily assisted GTs, the 4200 Trofeo remains an «old-school» car. The driver must contend with a large naturally aspirated engine, a Cambiocorsa sequential transmission, a particularly efficient transaxle layout, but very few electronic aids. Its sound is also one of its main assets: on a track like Brands Hatch, the naturally aspirated V8 literally drowned out the rest of the field and delighted the crowd.

A Champion's Role Model

The Trofeo entered by Mike Hilton—one of only 23 ever produced—is no ordinary car. Twenty years ago, it competed in the Maserati Trofeo championship driven by Maurizio Fabris. Behind the wheel of this car, bearing the No. 46 (a number that’s definitely a lucky charm for Italian drivers!), he won the 2006 championship with two victories and consistently strong performances.

What happened next? Fabris purchased the car at the end of that victorious season, but it was no longer running. The paint and interior were redone in 2022 to turn it into a display car. But in 2025, its fate changed: Mike Hilton bought it with the goal of getting it back on the track.

The Maserati is entered in the Modified class, but according to its owner, it is 100 % period-correct. The engine and transmission come from a production car and have been remapped. The shock absorbers are stock and cannot be modified, as the 4200 Trofeo is from a single-make series.

The result, however, was indisputable against the heavily modified Alfa Romeos: Mike Hilton posted the second-fastest time in qualifying for the first race at Brands Hatch, with a lap of 1’43”3, compared to Toby Broome’s pole time of 1’41”6 in a tuned 4C. At the second intermediate point, the highest V-Max was recorded by Mike Hilton in his Trofeo at 149.6 km/h, compared to 138 km/h for Jack Berry’s 4C. The video shows the thrilling battle between the Trofeo and the 4C at the start of the race: the small Alfa 4C, with nearly 500 CV for just 800 kilos, naturally has a formidable power-to-weight ratio compared to the Trofeo’s 430 CV and 1,400 kilos, but the Trofeo has stability and, above all, torque that allowed it to keep the 4C on its toes.

A Maserati Enthusiast

Taking advantage of the setbacks suffered by many “modified” Alfa Romeos—including Jack Berry’s, which was forced to retire—Mike Hilton won his first Trofeo race, finishing more than 20 seconds ahead of Andy Page’s Giulietta 116 (dwe had talked about). Still bearing the No. 46, this Trofeo took the win right off the bat in its first race in 20 years! What a story!

As a side note, you should also know that Mike Hilton is the owner of the only British MCXtrema. And here, too, it’s not just there to make up the numbers in showrooms. He’s already tested it on several iconic tracks, such as Donington and Silverstone, posting very promising lap times. In collaboration with Maserati Corse, his MCXtrema—adorned with a stunning wrap—competed in the famous hill climb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.