The Pagani Zonda R.
Built from countless hours of research, eye to detail and the high "perfectionist" standards laid down by Horacio Pagani, the Zonda R was crafted using carbotanium (a blend of carbon and titanium fibres) and powered by a 750 horsepower Mercedes-Benz AMG 6.0 litre V12 engine. Only fifteen of these rear wheel drive, race track exclusive models were to have been built and sold for more than $1.5 million USD when new.
On July 2010, the Pagani Zonda R created it's own legend when it set the record on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring, also known as the "Green Hell." 6 minutes and 47 seconds for the 20.83 kilometer run and the record still stands today.
So in essence, the Zonda R is an F1 race car, clothed in a skin that resembles the Enterprise-D from Start Trek: The Next Generation and is completely unattainable in reality.
It took Horacio Pagani almost eight meticulous, nearly obsessive years to craft this modern masterpiece of automotive art and engineering, from an already "near perfect" car. Calling this Italo-Argentinean dreamer a perfectionist would be a bit of an understatement.
There was a very interesting and unique culmination of events that brought the first Pagani automobile, the Zonda C12, to the stage at the 1999 Geneva International Motor Show. From envisioning a world class supercar, then drafting designs and crafting models in his youth, building a mini-motorcycle in his mid-teens to fabricating a Formula Two racing car after he graduated from the University of Rosario with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
However, it was Horacio's time with Renault, gaining mechanical and engineering experience, then later Lamborghini, learning more about composite materials and expressing his vision for automotive design, that would bring him closer to realizing his dream.
Despite the limitations of the time, the lone 1987 composite-constructed Lamborghini Countach Evoluzione would start an automotive revolution.
After a falling out with Lamborghini over an autoclave (a curing system used in the creation of carbon fiber), Horacio Pagani would set up shop as Modena Design. Through his own endeavour and working on Formula One cars, consulting with clients such as Ferrari, Renault and Lamborghini, lessons were learned, advice was heeded and experience was applied.
Five time Argentinian Formula 1 champion Juan Manuel Fangio had been a friend to Horacio Pagani since a fairly young age and mentored him in ways that couldn't have been learned in an academic environment. In fact, there were two times he would change Horacio's life. Firstly, with a letter of recommendation and reference, helped with Pagani getting the job a Lamborghini. Secondly, before his death in 1995, Fangio introduced Horacio to Dr. Dieter Zietsche, the head engineer at Mercedes-Benz at the time.
There was a very interesting and unique culmination of events that brought the first Pagani automobile, the Zonda C12, to the stage at the 1999 Geneva International Motor Show. From envisioning a world class supercar, then drafting designs and crafting models in his youth, building a mini-motorcycle in his mid-teens to fabricating a Formula Two racing car after he graduated from the University of Rosario with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
However, it was Horacio's time with Renault, gaining mechanical and engineering experience, then later Lamborghini, learning more about composite materials and expressing his vision for automotive design, that would bring him closer to realizing his dream.
Despite the limitations of the time, the lone 1987 composite-constructed Lamborghini Countach Evoluzione would start an automotive revolution.
After a falling out with Lamborghini over an autoclave (a curing system used in the creation of carbon fiber), Horacio Pagani would set up shop as Modena Design. Through his own endeavour and working on Formula One cars, consulting with clients such as Ferrari, Renault and Lamborghini, lessons were learned, advice was heeded and experience was applied.
Five time Argentinian Formula 1 champion Juan Manuel Fangio had been a friend to Horacio Pagani since a fairly young age and mentored him in ways that couldn't have been learned in an academic environment. In fact, there were two times he would change Horacio's life. Firstly, with a letter of recommendation and reference, helped with Pagani getting the job a Lamborghini. Secondly, before his death in 1995, Fangio introduced Horacio to Dr. Dieter Zietsche, the head engineer at Mercedes-Benz at the time.
In fact, the Zonda was nearly called the Fangio F1.
Designed by a Italo-Argentinean, crafted in Modena, Italy and thanks to an agreement with Mercedes-Benz, powered by a exclusively tuned 6.0 litre V12 engine, Horacio Pagani's dream had finally come true in 1999.
However, the story only starts there.
There was the Zonda C12, then came a Zonda S, followed by a Zonda S 7.3, Zonda F with a Roadster and Clubsport Edtions....
At the 2007 Geneva International Motor Show, Horacio Pagani unveiled the Zonda R.
Built from countless hours of research, eye to detail and the high "perfectionist" standards laid down by Horacio Pagani, the Zonda R was crafted using carbotanium (a blend of carbon and titanium fibres) and powered by a 750 horsepower Mercedes-Benz AMG 6.0 litre V12 engine. Only fifteen of these rear wheel drive, race track exclusive models were to have been built and sold for more than $1.5 million USD when new.
On July 2010, the Pagani Zonda R created it's own legend when it set the record on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring, also known as the "Green Hell." 6 minutes and 47 seconds for the 20.83 kilometer run and the record still stands today.
So in essence, the Zonda R is an F1 race car, clothed in a skin that resembles the Enterprise-D from Start Trek: The Next Generation and is completely unattainable in reality.
In February 2017, I was lucky enough to login and collect an anniversary gift, a Pagani Zonda R of my own (wasn't that nice of those Real Racing 3 developers?). Good timing on my part, since I would have needed the car nearly two years later to advance through the Zenith Series....
However, when the Zonda R isn't available in gaming titles, there could be the option for the road going version called the Cinque....
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