A Pagani Zonda will act as the 999 Sweep Car for this year’s Targa Tasmania, which starts in Launceston today; the Sweep Car follows the last competitor through each stage before it is reopened to the public.

The only Superar that can be legally registered in Australia, the Pagani Zonda C12S Roadster, will make its Targa Tasmania debut in 2008.

The amazing Zonda, powered by a 487kW, 7.3 litre V12 engine, will act as the 999 Sweep Car for this year’s Targa, which starts in Launceston today (April 15). The Sweep car follows the last competitor through each stage before it is reopened to the public.

Spectator interest in the Zonda C12S 999 Sweep Car will be huge, thanks in part to the car’s appearances on the top-ranking Top Gear motoring program.

The car will be crewed by Supercar Investments Managing Director, Adam Kaplan, and his brother David, who usually compete in the distinctive yellow Giocattolo Group B. "With the Giocattolo still a little bent after Classic Adelaide last year, David and I really didn't want to miss this year’s new Targa course," Adam Kaplan said. 

"We think Mark Perry and the team at Targa Tasmania have done an outstanding job of reacting to competitors’ comments and we wanted to support the event. We also didn't want to miss what is promising to be the best Targa ever, just because of a little ‘off’ in Adelaide."

The Zonda’s 487Kw engine is supplied to Pagani by Mercedes tuning division, AMG.  With 780NM of torque and an all-up weight of only 1250kg, acceleration is nothing short of sensational. It will go from 0-100km/h in only 3.6 seconds. Fortunately, the Zonda also has brakes to match, bringing the car from 200kh/h to a standstill in only 4.4 seconds.

"We're looking forward to seeing Targa from the other side of the fence for once," David Kaplan added. "We've been competing for 15 years, but this year perhaps we can give something back to the event."

The Zonda has never been seen in Tasmania before and with the full production run of only 100 vehicles (40 Roadsters) already sold, this will probably be the only Zonda ever to grace Australian shores. Spectators will have the chance to have a close-up look at the Zonda at Targa Tasmania’s night expos.

The Targa Tasmania is set to start in Launceston today (April 15), taking the field through the heart of Tasmania, before the Hobart finish line at Wrest Point on April 20.