2003 Pagani Zonda GR

Hasselt, Belgium (1 March) - Just two weeks before the ALMS racing season gets underway with the 51st Sebring 12 Hours, Carsport Modena debuted their fascinating new GTS project - the Pagani Zonda GR. The first GR, which had just completed a successful rollout test, made its press debut in high style at a Belgian nightclub, and was attended by all the principles involved in the project, including Paul Kumpen, Toine Hezemans and Tom Weickardt, plus drivers Anthony Kumpen and Mike Hezemans. The GR will make its racing debut at Sebring under the new 'Carsport America' banner (formerly American Viper Racing), which will also field one of their Viper GTS-R's for the 12 Hours.

The shakedown test of the car last Friday went rather well. Hezemans and Kumpen drove around 40 laps on the new Adria track, near Venice. According to both drivers, the car feels very stiff and has the character of a single seater. Though the project is still young, there has already been interest in a customer car, which Carsport Modena plans to develop in 2004, and which would hopefully fulfill the same role as the (Oreca-built) Vipers have played over the past years.

Tom Weickardt expects a lot of the car. The amicable American said that the car which was presented in Hasselt will stay in the ÚS after competing in Sebring. Carsport America (the ÚS equivalent of Carsport Modena) plans to run the car during the complete ALMS series this year. The young Mexican driver Ricardo Gonzales will pair up with French ace Jean Philippe Belloc. The second car is currently under construction at the Pagani factory near Modena, Italy. This car will be driven at Le Mans this year by Mike Hezemans, Anthony Kumpen and David Hart. Hart, who drove for the Carsport Team in 2000, could be in line for the third driver slot at Sebring.

Source - Pagani