File:1926-04-25 Targa Florio Maserati Tipo 26 Alfieri+Bertocchi.jpg

English: The first Tipo 26, chassis #11, here in its first (?) race, #5 in the 1926 Targa Florio, driven by Alfieri Maserati and Guerino Bertocchi (mechanic).[1] From [2]: "1926 - 25th April - Madonie 336 miles: Thirty-three cars were entered in the 1926 Targa Florio, the raucous Bugattis with an exhaust note likened to the tearing of calico; sports Alfa Romeos stripped for an out-and-out racing car event; quieter, more refined OM sports cars and, amongst the red of Italy, the first Maserati driven by its creator, Alfieri Maserati #5, with Guerino Bertocchi acting as riding mechanic. Technically the Maserati, the Tipo 26, was identical to its immediate predecessor, the 2-litre Diatto raced by the Maserati brothers in 1925. The twin overhead camshaft supercharged straight-eight engine had been reduced in capacity to 1,492cc (60 x 66mm) and in this form it was said to develope 120 bhp at 5,300 rpm, giving the Bologna car a maximum speed of close to 120 mph. The Tipo 26 had a wheelbase of 8ft 8in, a front track of 4ft 4¼in and weighed 1,591 lb. For the Sicilian race the normal streamlined tail was removed and it ran with a short, cut-off tail on which two spare wheels were mounted. On the front was the now famous trident badge which had been copied from a statue of Neptune in the main square at Bologna. Although the Targa Florio was a Formule Libre race to which cars of any capacity were admitted, the current Grand Prix formula was 1,500 cc with the additional requirements of a minimum weight of 600 kg and the fitting of two-seater bodywork. Riding mechanics were carried in the Targa Florio, but they had not been carried in Grand Prix racing since the start of the 1925 season. Constantini roared to victory for the second year in succession in this 336 mile race, ahead of other Bugattis driven by Minoia and Goux. There were twenty-one retirements, but the Maserati finished the race, enveloped in dust, streaked with oil, in ninth place, an hour and a quarter behind the winner (Alfieri's actual time for the race was 8hr 37min 11 sec), and first in the 1,500 cc class." Others say they ended in 8th place.[3]