03.10.2004 Pagani's first ever GT-racecar, the Zonda GR, is headlining their three model line-up at the Paris Mondial de l'Automobile this week

Pagani's first ever GT-racecar, the Zonda GR, is headlining their three model line-up at the Paris Mondial de l'Automobile this week.

This racer, built early last year, is based around Pagani's fearsome 7.3-litre V12 Mercedes-Benz powered Zonda C12 S. The Zonda GR was scheduled to take the young company, which is based in Modena, into the competitive world of GT racing for the first time.

Originally built early last year by Dutch racing outfit, Carsports Holland, the Zonda GR was shipped over to the USA for its race debut in the legendary Sebring 12 Hours. The car ran in qualifying with a standard version of the Zonda's 7.3-litre AMG-tuned Mercedes-Benz engine, as the race engine was not ready. However, it successfully made the starting grid, only for the engine to expire within a few laps of the start of the 12 hour race.

A slightly over ambitious programme saw the Zonda GR next move onto Le Mans to take part in last summer's edition of the famous 24 hour race. After another early race exit, a proposed American Le Mans Series schedule was canned in favour of further testing and development.

Over last winter former French F1 driver Phillippe Alliot's team, Force one Racing became involved with the programme. A setback occurred when the chassis was written off while testing at Vallelunga. After an unsuccessful outing at the Le Mans preliminary test day when electrical and braking problems severely hampered on track time, Force One withdrew from the project.

Where this leaves the Modena-based firm's racing ambitions is unclear, but as an attractive and interesting race car we have to hope their is still life in the project.

The Zonda GR on display in Paris is joined by two of the company's C12S models on a compact stand. The racer, finished in Pagani's traditional silver colours, is instantly identifiable by its dark blue racing rear view mirrors, which are attached to the doors on the GR, rather than on the road version where they are mounted on the A-pillar.

The engine cover air intake, and the lower sections of both doors are also finished in a similar blue paint. The road-going Zonda presents polished carbon-fibre on the front lower spoiler, headlight bezels, side skirts, rear wing and rear panel, and this effect is continued on the racer which additionally has the roof, A-pillars, and air-vents positioned above the front wheels, all finished in carbon-fibre.

Revised rear underbody aerodynamics, chunky 5-spoke Speedline racing wheels, and a race-style petrol filler flap, complete subtle the changes.

Inside, it is a pure racing car. Vast swages of carbon-fibre, covering every surface, fill the cockpit, an effect which is very reminiscent of the Maserati MC12. An alloy roll cage dominates proceedings, with a chunky cross-bar chasing its way across the front bulkhead.

An electronic, race-style, instrument cluster sits astride the steering column, while an aluminum panel on the centre console is home to adouble bank of auxiliary switches. This panel, interestingly, is engraved with the words, 'Zonda Monza', presumably a name that Pagani have now given to this car.