meer nieuws over de Zonda..........nog een paar nachtjes slapen.
Carsport Modena Pagani Zonda - 7th February
An exciting new car will appear in the ALMS and hopefully the Le Mans 24 Hours this year, the Pagani Zonda C12S.
American Viperacing, previously a two car, Dodge Viper GTSR team competing in the full American Le Mans Series for the past two seasons, will be back for the full 2003 ALMS campaign with several changes.
This year the team will field only one of the Viper GTSR’s and replace the lead #45 Viper with the new Pagani Zonda. The Zonda, powered by a Mercedes V12, will make it’s world debut at the 51st running of the famed 12 hours of Sebring on March 15th.
The Zonda is being developed and manufactured at the Pagani factory in Modena, Italy by Carsport Modena. Carsport Modena is the new company formed by Toine Hezemans, Tom Weickardt, and Paul Kumpen, which has exclusive rights for the Pagani Zonda race car.
Team Owner Tom Weickardt, of American Viperacing, LLC., has moved the race team to his new facility in Glendale, Wisconsin, and changed the team name to Carsport America. Tom states: "The name change reflects the team acquisition of the Zonda and my involvement with Carsport Modena in the production of the Zonda race car. We are really excited about the Zonda, feel it will be a great addition to the series, and create a great deal of fan excitement. We expect to have initial development issues to over come, but we are confident the Zonda will be very competitive in the GTS class this year."
Emile van der Stel (
www.racefriends.com) recently visited the Pagani factory. Toine Hezemans told him a lot about the car and that they are running on a tight schedule. On March 1st the car will be presented to the press and there will not be much time left for a proper shakedown. The car is being developed by three people, Toine Hezemans, Massimo Del Prete (ex Audi engineer) and Horacio Pagani. The name of the company responsible for this project is called Carsport Modena. Financial partners of Hezemans are Paul Kumpen (father of Anthony and GLPK team boss) and Tom Weickardt (American Viperacing). After Sebring the car will stay in the US and will be entered in the ALMS by Tom weickardt under the Carsport America banner. Mike Hezemans and Anthony Kumpen are the confirmed drivers for Sebring.
Technical aspects of the new GTS racer:
The car has been narrowed at the rear to meet the regulations, from 2.04m to 2.00m. The front width will be increased up to 2.00m. A front splitter has been designed for the car and the rear diffuser has also been altered to meet the regulations. The cockpit is much more spacious than the cockpit of the Viper Mike found out during a seat position check. The quality (components) with which the car is being built can be compared to the high standards by which the road going version of the car is being built and appreciated.
The engine will be tuned at BTD in Malmedy (Belgium) . New components are being tested as we speak on a normal 6 litre Mercedes V12. Then there will be an intermediate engine for testing prior to the final race version that will be in the car at Le Mans. The gearbox is a Hollinger 6 speed sequential, originally a Porsche gearbox.
http://www.maisonblanche.co.uk/n030207a.html