The 2009 Pagani Zonda R is the ultimate challenge for the first Gran Turismo 2026 Time Trial
Published on Jan 05, 2026 at 11:23 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Jan 05, 2026 at 3:23 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
The 2009 Pagani Zonda R is already a legendary car in its own right.
But it has now been reborn in Gran Turismo 2026.
The game has just released its first Time Trial event of 2026.
And said Time Trial involves tackling the fictitious Dragon Trail – Seaside in the Pagani Zonda R.
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Gran Turismo 7 – latest Time Trial is a good one
Gran Turismo is one of the most legendary video game series of all time.
It is especially iconic to those who hold cars dear to their hearts.
Released back in 2022, Gran Turismo 7 continues the legacy.
And one of its most famous features is the Time Trial race feature.
Every week, the game releases a new online challenge for the world to take on.
But this week’s Time Trial features a truly unbelievable car.
And that car just so happens to be the 2009 Pagani Zonda R.
So, where has the event been set to take place?
Well, that would happen to be at the fictional Dragon Trail – Seaside track.
The Croatian track, introduced in GT Sport, will go down as one of the best tracks in the game.
It is most famous for one feature, known as ‘The Chicane of Death’.
This double chicane is notorious for both its difficulty and its enjoyment in the challenge.
The current world record sits at a staggering 1:28.7s.
There are very few times below the 1:29s mark, which suggests the limit might have been reached.
Why does it feature the 2009 Pagani Zonda R?
So, what about the 2009 Pagani Zonda R?
Why was this particular hypercar chosen for this challenge?
The Pagani Zonda R was introduced as the ultimate track weapon.
It was imagined as everything that the complete track car could be.
A decade of Zonda production was fused with some ideas that would feature in the future Huayra.
And the fun only just gets started from there.
Just 15 units were ever built of the ‘R’ variant of the Zonda.
Each unit featured the earlier six-liter version of the Mercedes-AMG V12.
This was as opposed to the 7.3-liter powerplant that was introduced a year earlier in the Zonda F.
Yet the powerplant found in the Zonda R remained the most powerful option at the time.
In the game, the Zonda R comes pre-set with Race Soft tires for the ultimate hot lap.
At the time of writing, the challenge should still be live if you want to take a crack at it.
Have a look and see how far you can push the aero and performance of the Pagani Zonda R in Gran Turismo 7.
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
