Koenigsegg CCGT1 revives a race car that never got to race
Words: Kyle Cassidy
Koenigsegg has unveiled the CCGT1, a road-legal tribute to its stillborn GT1 racing project with up to 1193kW, active aerodynamics and the company’s first factory-developed track package.
Production is limited to 70 vehicles, although anyone reaching for the chequebook is already too late. Every example was allocated before the CCGT1 made its public debut.
Based on the CC850, the new model honours the original CCGT endurance racer developed by Koenigsegg in the mid-2000s. That car was designed to compete under GT1 regulations and weighed around 1000kg, comfortably below the class limit of 1100kg.
Its naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 produced the category maximum of 600hp, or approximately 447kW, while its aerodynamic package generated more than 600kg of downforce.
However, just two months after Koenigsegg began testing the CCGT, the FIA rewrote the rules to favour manufacturers producing cars in larger volumes. The programme was abandoned before the sole CCGT could complete a competitive lap.
The original car has since been refurbished by the Koenigsegg Legend Division and is expected to finally compete against its period rivals in historic GT1 racing.
Up to 1193kW and a sequential shifter
The modern CCGT1 swaps the original racer’s naturally aspirated engine for Koenigsegg’s twin-turbocharged V8. It develops 954kW on conventional pump fuel and 1193kW when running on E85 biofuel.
Power reaches the rear wheels through Koenigsegg’s nine-speed Light Speed Transmission, but the driver operates it through a new Koenigsegg Sequential Shift system.
This includes a clutch pedal for moving away, along with a sequential gear lever positioned close to the steering wheel. Once under way, ignition cuts allow clutchless shifts similar to those of a racing transmission.
A dial marked ASMR offers Auto, Sequential, Manual and Reverse modes. Buyers preferring a more traditional experience can specify the CC850’s six-speed gated Engage Shift System, which also retains automatic and paddle-shift operation.
Nearly every exterior panel has been redesigned, with only the CC850’s doors and removable roof carried over. A roof scoop supplies air to an enlarged oil cooler and a dedicated damper-cooling system, helping the car maintain its performance during extended circuit sessions.
Its active rear wing can move through 30 degrees, switching automatically between low-drag, air-brake and high-downforce settings. A large front splitter, active underbody flaps, floor strakes and a bespoke diffuser help the CCGT1 generate as much as 800kg of downforce at 250km/h.
Koenigsegg offers its first track package
Although the CCGT1 is fully road legal, its optional track package takes the racing theme significantly further.
The removable package includes a carbon-fibre roll cage, HANS-compatible racing seats, a fire-suppression system, air jacks, a racing exhaust, revised brakes and suspension, extra aerodynamic components and a second set of wheels fitted with slick tyres. Owners will also receive access to dedicated CCGT1 track days with factory support.
“The CCGT1 is a creation with two clear identities. On the road, it’s a sublime Megacar that’s both comfortable and incredibly capable. But its origins are rooted in endurance racing, and that’s where the CCGT1 reveals its full character as a true celebration of the original CCGT – with or without its roof!” said company founder Christian von Koenigsegg.
The CCGT1 also introduces Koenigsegg’s Ghost Fibre bodywork. Inspired by the white carbon-fibre finish of the 2009 Trevita, the new material combines carbon fibre with an aramid-like construction. Koenigsegg says it is lighter than a conventional carbon-fibre lay-up while providing additional impact protection and sound deadening.
