The Pagani Huayra Roadster BC story | Time for Tea

Haracio's firm set out to create a track-focussed hypercar with the weight of a Fiesta. Here's how it happened

Pagani has never done things by halves, but when Haracio himself requested the team turn the Huayra into a track-focussed hypercar with a roadster body and weighing about the same as a Ford Fiesta, there were a few raised eyebrows. After four years of development work, the Modena company delivered its creation, the 1,250kg, 791hp Roadster BC. Such is the extent of work that’s gone into development that each of the 40 cars to be built costs £3.36 million.

You’ll likely know the finished product well enough, what with it having been public since last July, but the detail behind each component may still impress. The team intended for the twin-turbo V12-powered roadster to be as worthy for display in an art gallery as it is capable of hammering around a circuit at full pelt, so the finish of every panel, every nut and bolt was revisited on the BC.

The V12 motor, AMG’s 6.0-litre M158, gets enlarged intercoolers, new turbos and twin throttle bodies bespoke to the BC, ramping peak power to nearly 800 horses at 5,600rpm. The car has 640hp per tonne, while the equally as bespoke aero details, sculpted specifically for the BC, turn up downforce to 500kg. That’s an impressive number for a roadgoing model with a removable roof, you’ll no doubt agree, and the lateral loads are helped by Pirelli P Zero Trofeos tuned to the BC’s requirements.

It’s a fantastic story of engineering prowess that features many special names, including Horacio and AMG boss Tobias Moers, who clearly finds the Pagani stuff very exciting. But don’t just take out word for it, because the man himself is in the video below, which tells the story of the BC from concept to delivery in 13 minutes. Just about enough time to enjoy that brew.