Video: Pagani Zonda Revolucion debuts at 2023 Festival of Speed

So what we’re met with is a car we’re very much used to seeing being caned up the Hill here at Goodwood and indeed, being spanked around tracks around the world. The crucial difference is this Zonda R rides a little higher, screams a little quieter, has comfier seats and number plates. So once at the end of our Hill, it could quite legally (and relatively comfortably) trundle out onto the road, up the A3 back to Lanzante’s HQ, without fear of blue flashing lights in the rear-view camera.

Happily, it’s here all weekend to give that 6.0-litre V12 some exercise and good lord, that sound doesn’t get old. Nor does the performance. Road legality doesn’t mean the AMG V12 has been neutered, with it still putting out well over 700PS (515kW).

Thankfully, while being the first, it won’t be the last road-legal Zonda R to be made, with five to be made in total. Lanzante has been pretty open in recent years about its interest in these kind of low-volume special projects. It’s also developing an open-top version of the McLaren P1 hypercar, while deliveries of its TAG F1-engined Porsche 911s are ongoing. It’s also looking into road legalisation for the ‘new’ Porsche 935, the limited-run special based on the 911 GT2 Clubsport. What on Earth will they think of next?

The 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed is underway! You can watch every moment of the action by watching our livestream.

Photography by Jordan Butters and Jochen Van Cauwenberge.