Pagani Zonda R

Pagani Zonda R at a glance

The Zonda was Pagani's first model, designed by Horacio Pagani and built from 1999 to 2019 at San Cesario sul Panaro in Italy; about 140 had been built by 2019, including development cars. The Zonda R took the road car's concept to the circuit. According to the old 1cars text, it shares only about 10% of its parts with the road-going Zonda F. Pagani's story is told in the history of Pagani, and its models are in the Pagani catalogue.

Design and construction

At first glance the Zonda R resembles the road-going Zonda F, but the old 1cars text describes major changes. A roof-mounted air intake feeds the engine, the wheelbase is 47 mm longer than the Zonda F's and the track is wider. The car measures 4,886 mm long, 2,014 mm wide and only 1,147 mm high. A large front splitter, wide air intakes, small headlights, a large rear wing and four exhaust outlets give it a purposeful look.

The body and monocoque use carbon fibre combined with titanium, which makes the structure stiffer and lighter, while the front and rear subframes are made of chrome-molybdenum steel. According to the old 1cars text, the aerodynamics generate up to 1,500 kg of downforce at high speed, more than the car's own weight.

Interior

The Zonda R's cabin is focused on racing. The old 1cars text describes FIA-approved racing seats designed to work with the HANS head-and-neck restraint system, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and chrome air-conditioning vents. Many interior details could be specified to the individual customer's taste, in keeping with Pagani's tradition of tailoring each car.

Engine, gearbox and chassis

The V12 is mounted longitudinally behind the driver. Pagani measured 551 kW (750 PS) on the dynamometer. The old 1cars text describes a six-speed sequential gearbox with a magnesium casing and paddle shifters on the steering column, independent suspension with forged double wishbones, and adjustable Öhlins dampers. Like every Zonda, the R is rear-wheel drive.

Zonda R versus the road-going Zonda F

The comparison shows that the Zonda R is not simply a stripped Zonda F: almost every major component was redesigned for racing loads and circuit use, from the engine to the suspension and bodywork.

Timeline

Nürburgring record

In early July 2010 the Zonda R lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife about eleven seconds faster than the previous record holder, the Ferrari 599XX. The old 1cars text calls it one of the fastest cars ever to run on the Nordschleife.

Zonda Revolución

The Zonda R's successor, the Zonda Revolución, debuted at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed and went into limited production in 2013. Its V12 produces 588 kW (800 PS) and 730 Nm, while a lighter carbon-titanium monocoque keeps the weight at 1,070 kg. Only five were built, priced at €2.2 million plus taxes.

Rivals: how the Zonda R compares

The Zonda R belongs to the small class of track-only supercars sold to private owners. Its closest rival was the Ferrari 599XX, a track version of the Ferrari 599, which it beat at the Nürburgring. Other extreme cars of the period include the Koenigsegg CCX and the Gumpert Apollo. The Zonda R's strengths are its low weight, racing-derived V12 and Nürburgring pace; its weakness for most buyers is that it cannot be used on public roads.

Pagani after the Zonda

The Zonda was followed by the Huayra, Pagani's second model, and later by special editions such as the Pagani Huayra Imola.