In a move that is sure to open the eyes of the racing industry, Tom Weickardt (Owner, American Viperacing), Toine Hezemans (Owner, Carsport Holland), and Paul Kumpen (Owner, GLPK), have joined together in partnership to form a new company; Carsport Zonda. Scheduled for late February 2003 in Belgium, Carsport Zonda will officially announce that it has recently secured the exclusive worldwide rights in an agreement with Pagani Automobili to produce the newest addition to the racing world, the Pagani Zonda C12GTS race car. 

Based on the Zonda C12S and inspired by Juan Manuel Fangio, the car was created by Horacio Pagani, founder of Modena Design of Italy. It was first conceived after a private gathering at Fangio's home and was designed as a tribute to the great man's life and talents. It was most recently voted "Performance Car of the Year" in the December 2002 issue of Car Magazine and was quoted as a ".machine so fast you have to reorient your sense of speed", in the December 2002 issue of Motor Trend. 

The C12GTS will be produced exclusively at the new Carsport Zonda facility located in close proximity to the Pagani Automobili factory in Modena, Italy. The car will feature a chrome moly steel space frame attached to a carbon fiber center structure and the extremely reliable Mercedes AMG V12 powerplant. Production is already underway to create the first chassis, which will introduce the first Carbon Tub sports car to participate in the American Le Mans Series in 2003. As part of Tom Weickardt's own American Viperacing team, the car will make its official debut at the 12 hours of Sebring in March 2003, competing in the remainder of the American Le Mans Series throughout North America. 

The Zonda C12GTS promises to become a major player in the GTS class right away and a steady build of media excitement has already begun in anticipation of the official release of the new C12GTS super car. And with Carsport Zonda behind the wheel there is little doubt that this car is on the fast track to ultimately winning the GTS Team Championship. 

12.03.2002  NEW MODELS: PAGANI ZONDA C12S 7.3