For Sale: 2003 Ascari Judd (V10) KZR1 LMP900

£ POA

Three completely restored Ascari LMP900 sports racing cars offered in race-ready condition, fitted with the same 4.0L, naturally-aspirated, Judd V10 engines that propelled them to international podium finishes in period against the cream of the world sportscar crop.

Overview

Three works Ascari LMP900 racing cars acquired directly from marque founder, Klaas Zwart, along with the entire works team inventory of spare parts, moulds and tooling
Available as a complete package or individual cars
All undergoing full restoration to ‘as new’ condition by Pastorelli Cars in Maranello, Italy, (first car available June 2025)
Significant period competition history, including Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring participations
Proven speed in period with multiple podiums, front-row starts (including at Daytona 24hr) and a superb FIA Sportscar Championship victory in Donington
Potential to be hugely competitive in Peter Auto’s Endurance Racing Legends and beyond
All three cars powered by the sonorous, F1-derived, 4.0L Judd GV4 V10 engine producing approximately 630bhp (subject to restrictors)
Available with a vast choice of spare parts, including original moulds and tooling
All three cars future-proofed with Motec electronics
Eligible for the Peter Auto Endurance Racing Legends (inc. Le Mans Classic event), Masters Endurance Legends and HSR, Sebring and Daytona Classics, and more
Click here to watch Episode 1 of our Ascari Project mini-series on YouTube, where we introduce the cars, their history, and take a closer look at the restoration process.

New bodywork causes a stir at Le Mans in 2003

Top Gear's future 'Stig' starred at Le Mans

Collins & Lupberger's Ascari beat Dome and Ferrari to Donington victory

In original A410 specification leading at Spa

In April of 2000, the Ascari A410 broke cover during the official Le Mans Test. The Judd V10-powered Le Mans Prototype represented the result of a journey that combined the Lola T92/10 Group C car of 1992 and the Ascari FGT road car of 1995. The A410 was a purpose-built LMP car that would go on to become a race winner and compete at Le Mans twice.
The driving force behind Ascari was Dutch oil tycoon Klaas Zwart. He had initially commissioned a competition version of the Ascari FGT. The Lee Noble-designed road car was produced in small numbers and then evolved into the Ecosse in 1998. Zwart was so impressed with the company that he bought Ascari outright during the late 1990s. An ambitious gentleman racer, he was keen to step up to prototype racing and partnered with McNeil Engineering to create the Ascari LMP car.
The John McNeil-run company had successfully campaigned the Judd-engined Lola T92/10 Group C car in the Interserie Championship from 1995 onwards. In 1998, he converted his car to Spyder configuration to compete in the International Sports Racing Series. Zwart successfully raced this newly badged Lola 981 twice, convincing him to partner with McNeil to create the new Ascari. This would echo the T92/10 and brought its creator, another Dutchman, into the fold: Wiet Huidekoper. He was the ground-effect Lola’s original designer and later helped Porsche create the 1998 Le Mans-winning 911 GT1.
While McNeil clearly based the carbon-fibre composite monocoque of the brand new Ascari on Huidekoper’s Lola T92/10, it was sufficiently different for McNeil and Ascari to obtain the full intellectual property of the design. The first chassis was constructed in the fall of 1999 by Composites Engineering. At that time, McNeil was joined by new chief engineer Brian Ireland to help build the car. Huidekoper was also called in to develop the aerodynamics. While the distinct flat nose had been clearly carried over, the new Le Mans Prototype required a flat bottom floor to comply with the regulations.
The new Ascari was dubbed the A410, which was a reference to the four-litre Judd V10 mounted amidships. This 630 bhp (with mandated restrictors) engine was a further development of the Formula 1-derived 3.5-litre V10 that had powered the T92/10. The compact and lightweight V10 was mated to a six-speed, sequential gearbox. Suspension was inboard on all four corners, actuated by push rods. AP Racing carbon-fibre composite discs were also fitted. The cars were constructed at an all-new factory in Banbury, which is now used by the Haas Formula 1 team.
An entry for the 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans was filed, but the car was not ready in time. It did appear in the paddock for the official test but never turned a wheel. Instead it debuted at Silverstone, where it was shared by Zwart and Brazilian Max Wilson. A gearbox issue prevented the car from making its competition debut. The A410 first raced in July of 2000, at the Nürburgring, where the gearbox again let go, prompting a retirement. Early teething troubles aside, the A410 showed encouraging speed, particularly in qualifying.
Ahead of the 2001 season, a second A410 was prepared for a two-car Le Mans effort. The season started superbly with a second-place finish at the Monza 1000 km, which was part of the FIA Sportscar Championship. The driving duties were shared on this occasion by Werner Lupberger and Ben Collins, who would later famously star as ‘The Stig’ in the Top Gear television programme. Reliability issues thwarted the adventure at Le Mans, but Lupberger and Collins finally fulfilled the Ascari’s tremendous promise with a stunning victory in the FIA Sportscar Championship at Donington, ahead of Domes, Dallaras, Courages, Lolas and more. It was a sensational performance from the Banbury-based squad against some of the finest sportscar competition in the world.
For 2002, the cars were slightly updated with refined aerodynamics and re-badged as the Ascari KZR-1. Early in the season, the two cars were shipped to the United States to compete in the Daytona 24 Hours and the Sebring 12 Hours. At Daytona, one of the KZR-1s qualified on the front row, while at Sebring, one finished an impressive sixth overall. A single car was fielded at Le Mans, where an accident brought an early end to its charge. A second place finish at Monza the following year would be the best result in 2003.
After four seasons, the ambitious Le Mans Prototype programme was wound down in favour of developing a brand new road-going GT car. Zwart retained all assets of the A410 program and moved them to his private Ascari race track in Spain where they would remain for nearly twenty years.
Construction of the first A410 started in the fall of 1999. It was at the Le Mans Test in 2000, but did not take to the track. It then debuted in practice for the American Le Mans Series race at Silverstone but did not race due to gearbox issues. With Werner Lupberger and Klaas Zwart behind the wheel, it did race at the Nürburgring 1000 km but was forced to retire, again with a gearbox-related problem. During the remainder of the season, chassis 001 raced at Brno, Donington, Nürburgring and Magny-Cours. There were initial reliability challenges, but the continuous development showed at Donington, where the car was second fastest in qualifying.
For the 2001 season, the first A410 was allocated to Lupberger and Ben Collins. They raced the car in the plethora of championships staged for sports prototypes that year. This included the FIA Sportscar Championship and the European Le Mans Series. At the Monza 1000 km, the talented pairing started fifth on the grid and finished an impressive second overall. They were then tenth fastest in the Le Mans Test before placing fourth at the Spa 1000 km.
As part of a two-car Le Mans effort, Lupberger and Collins were joined during the 24-hour race by Harri Toivonen, the younger brother of the late rallying legend Henri. They lined up 18th on the grid but were forced to retire with a fuel-pump issue. Lupberger and Collins then finished fourth again at Brno and Magny-Cours before scoring a breakthrough victory for the team during the FIA Sportscar Championship race at Donington. The final result of the 2001 season was a ninth-place finish at Mondello Park in Ireland.
From the 2002 season onwards, the car was known as the KZR-1 after the company backer, who once mentioned that his racing hobby cost him €10,000 per day. Chassis 001 moved across the Atlantic for the first time to compete in the Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours. Lupberger and Toivonen partnered with local racer Timothy Bell for Daytona. A hugely impressive run in qualifying saw the trio start the 24-hour race second on the grid. Sadly, an engine issue halted the charge early. At Sebring, Lupberger and Bell raced with Kristan Kolby and were classified a delayed 29th.
Lupberger, Bell and Collins then drove the car at the Le Mans Test. Only a single Ascari was accepted for the race, so 001 could not make a second attempt at the 24 Hours. Not raced again that year, it did make two further appearances in 2003. Sharing with Charles Hall, Lupberger and Zwart scored another result at Monza, finishing second overall in the FIA Sportscar Championship. Its final contemporary appearance came at Donington in August of 2003.
Along with the rest of the program, chassis 001 was retained by Zwart and relocated to his Ascari race track in Spain. It was maintained to full running order and was used occasionally at track-day events. The first of the three cars to undergo restoration with respected specialists, Pastorelli Cars in Maranello, chassis 001 is available now in complete race-ready condition and, in our humble opinion, looking better than ever!
First seen in practice of the 2001 Donington European Le Mans Series race, this is the second A410 that was completed. It was driven at Donington by Patrick Lemarié but did not take part in the race due to engine issues. It was then shared at the Le Mans Test by Lemarié and Harri Toivonen. They clocked the 15th fastest time in the competitive field. During the 24-hour race, it was driven by Zwart himself together with Xavier Pompidou and Scott Maxwell. They lined up in 22nd for the race but failed to reach the finish after an accident fifteen hours into the race.
Not raced again in 2001, chassis 002 was shipped to the United States as part of a two-car effort at Daytona and Sebring. For the Daytona 24 Hours, the rebadged KZR-1 was allocated to Ben Collins, Christian Vann and Zwart. Starting 11th on the grid, they ran into electrical problems early in the race. Vann and Collins were joined by Justin Wilson for the Sebring 12 Hours. Chassis 002 lined up in 11th again and had a very strong race to finish sixth overall.
Shipped across the Atlantic, chassis 002 was entered in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Werner Lupberger, Ben Collins and Timothy Bell were entrusted with the driving duties. The car was six seconds faster than it had been in qualifying a year earlier, which was good for 14th on the grid. Sadly, an accident early in the race resulted in suspension damage and a premature end to the race. It would be the last contemporary outing for chassis 002.
Following the closure of Ascari, Zwart held onto the assets of the A410 programme including chassis 002. It was brought to his personal Ascari circuit in Spain. It was preserved as a rolling chassis with a complete set of bodywork, suspension and wheels and, at the time of writing is being restored from the ground up while awaiting its brand new 4.0 Judd V10.
The third A410 monocoque built served as the spare chassis throughout the programme. Not required in period, it was retained by Zwart and eventually assembled as a rolling chassis. As with chassis 001 and 002, it is now in the expert hands of Maranello-based specialists, Pastorelli, undergoing a complete restoration while also awaiting delivery of its brand new Judd V10.
Technical Passport
• Brand new series Technical Passports will be issued for all three cars on completion of their restoration
Crack Testing
• All three cars will come with brand-new crack testing certification
Engine Life
• Each car will be supplied with a zero-hour Judd GV4 V10, either brand new or fully rebuilt by Judd Engine Developments
Gearbox Life
• Each car will be supplied with a fully rebuilt, zero-hour gearbox
Fuel Cell Certification
• Each car will be provided with a brand-new fuel cell
Category
• LMP900
Chassis
• Carbon fibre monocoque
Engine
• 3,997cc, 40-valve, DOHC, Judd GV4 dry-sump V10 engine, circa 630 BHP at 10,500rpm (with restrictors)
Gearbox
• Ascari 6-speed manual sequential operated by a push-pull lever in the cockpit
Front suspension
• Double wishbones, push-rod actuated springs and dampers
Rear suspension
• Double wishbones, push-rod actuated springs and dampers
Electronics
• Motec dash and ECU
Brakes
• Ventilated carbon discs
Weight
• Approx. 900kgs
Tyres
• Michelin racing slicks/wets
Peter Auto’s Endurance Racing Legends – Including Le Mans Classic
For GTs and prototypes, which competed in major endurance series and events between 1994 and 2010, Peter Auto’s Endurance Racing Legends holds a full annual calendar of events. These events take place at iconic circuits such as Mugello, Spa and Paul Ricard. In addition, the series also partakes in the biennial Le Mans Classic, which is the marquee event of historic endurance racing, with the latest edition to be held in July 2025.
Masters Endurance Legends
For Le Mans Prototypes and GT cars, which competed in the major endurance championships between 1995 and 2016, Masters Endurance Legends holds a full annual calendar of events both in the UK and in Europe. These events take place at some iconic circuits, including Silverstone, Spa and Paul Ricard.
Monterey Motorsports Reunion – Scott Pruett Endurance Legends Cup
This annual event takes place during the iconic Monterey car week at the world-renowned Laguna Seca circuit. Holding races for a wide range of competition cars, these Ascaris would be eligible for the Scott Pruett Endurance Legends Cup, which is for cars which competed in IMSA, ALMS, Grand AM and FIA endurance championships between 1991 and 2011. The next running of the Monterey Motorsports Reunion is set to take place in August 2025.
HSR Group 6 – Including Daytona and Sebring Classics
For IMSA/FIA prototypes, which competed post-1998, HSR’s Group 6 holds a number of events in the United States. Among these events are two of the premier events for historic endurance competition, which are HSR Classic Daytona in November and HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour in December.
These cars are accompanied by a staggering spares package consisting of original tools and moulding, spare gearboxes, bodywork, wheels, wishbones uprights and more. Bespoke packages to accompany each chassis are available by negotiation.
All three cars are EU tax-paid vehicles and are located at Pastorelli Classic Cars in Maranello, Italy, where viewings are welcome by appointment.