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 US after competing in Sebring. Carsport America (the US 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.
Pagani Zonda C12 S
(Carsport Modena Press, 9 Feb) The Pagani Zonda C12 S plays the leading role in a new an ambitious project by Toine Hezemans. Under the banner of a newly created company, Carsport Modena, Hezemans is developing a race version of the Pagani Zonda C12 S. Massimo Del Prete (former Audi engineer) and the creator of the Zonda, Horacio Pagani, are key figures in the development process. Financial partners in Carsport Modena are, Paul Kumpen (BEL) and Tom Weickardt (USA). The goal of this project, Le Mans.
Carsport Modena has acquired the worldwide rights to develop, build and sell the GTS racer. This season the main objective will be the development of the car so a customer version will be available in 2004. Toine Hezemans: "In the end we hope we can play a role just like ORECA did with the Viper. The car has been built from scratch in just 3.5 months, which is a major achievement that would not have been possible without the dedication of our employees".
The project is on a tight time schedule, not only the car but also the engine is an in-house project. The 6 liter V12 Mercedes engine will be developed and tuned in cooperation with BTD in Belgium. The rear bodywork of the car has been narrowed by 4 cm to meet the regulations. The front section has been widened. The gearbox is a Hollinger 6-speed sequential. The weight of the car will be 1100 kg.
To meet the regulations the Pagani will have to do one race prior to Le Mans, this will be the 12 hours of Sebring. Sebring is known as one of the toughest races around. Under the banner of Carsport America (newly founded team by the three partners) one Pagani has been entered in the GTS class. Confirmed drivers are Mike Hezemans (NED) and Anthony Kumpen (BEL).
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