We asked yesterday if the Pagani Huayra that set a new Top Gear lap record had cheated by using different tyres for the run. It did.
We sent the story on the Pagani Huayra to Jalopnik in the States, and they managed to get a comment out of Pagani about the tyres used for the record setting lap at Dunsfold.
It seems that when Richard Hammond was driving the Huayra – and concluded it was a stunning car, as you would expect – he was running on the regular P Zero tyres – the ones customers get on their Huayra – but when the Huayra was given to the Stig to do a power lap the tyres were switched to Zonda R tyres that had been pre-cut by Pirelli to set as fast a lap as possible.
That confession makes a nonsense of the press release Pagani issued when the Huayra did its run (which you can read on the Pagani website) which said the Huayra was running “…Pirelli PZero Corsa tyres specifically designed by Pirelli just for the Huayra”.
Pagani’s excuse for this little piece of misinformation is:
We used both during the shooting at TopGear Test track. We reported Pirelli Pzero Corsa on our press release because we want, for communication reasons, to push them on the media.
Make what you will of the subterfuge, but the lap time for the Huayra should be removed until the Huayra does a lap on the Pirelli Pzero Corsas. Either that, or they let every car maker back to Dunsfold with specially crafted tyres to set a new lap time.
We know which is easiest.
Pagani Huayra Pictures
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Ricky says
Pagani has not the power to do that. It’s a very small factory in San Cesaro sul Panaro. I have respect of Top Gear to check that they were legal tyres.
Tramp12 says
All seems clear now, but track tyres or not is the Pagani Huayra even road legal in Europe? If it can’t be driven on UK road whatever tyres it’s wearing shouldn’t that stop it being on the Top Gear lap board anyway?
PhilipJH says
What a silly trick to pull. Shame on Pagani.
Maria says
Doesent make any difference at all, they still ran on non legal cut slicks. ( Even if they say its legal in their mail to Jalopnik ) Its a Pirelli slick with no E marking, Speed rating etc whatsoever. Good luck with the MOT on that one Pagani;)