For 1953 – 1954 she moved on to an Osca 1100 cc in which she won the 12 Hours of Pescara, the Trullo
d’Oro, the Catania-Etna, and the circuits of Caserta and Syracuse.
1955 was the year Maria Teresa de Filippis transitioned to a Maserati 2000 A6GCS. In an article she wrote
about her racing years, she said: “… a powerful car with which I felt I could do anything… and I did”, adding,
“Poor car! So many spectacular accidents, but also so many victories!”. Chief among which was the victory
in the Catania-Etna in record time, which remained undefeated for the next three years. She arrived in
second place in the 2000 cc class championship of 1955.
In 1958 behind the wheel of a private Maserati 250F, Maria Teresa de Filippis made her debut in the Grand
Prix of Syracuse and then competed in her first Formula World Championship Grand Prix in Belgium. A
number of women racing drivers have competed in motor sport over the years, but only Maria Teresa holds
the unique record that cannot be broken or even equaled of being the first woman to compete in Formula 1.
Able to stand out in an environment that had previously been considered exclusively male, Maria Teresa
earned the respect and esteem of her rivals on the field and brought to the track the values ??that still guide
Maserati today: excellence, elegance and power.
Maserati and Maria Teresa de Filippis represent a winning combination. A story of tenacity, courage and
audacity. The desire and resolve to face technical, physical and personal challenges and to transform them
into opportunities to be seized, looking to the future with determination.
Five years after her death, the strength and importance of the accomplishments of Maria Teresa de Filippis
continue to define the values ??of Maserati and also inspire all the women who work for the Brand today. A
special video, released on social media on the occasion of 8 March, unites and celebrates them.
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