More than two decades after Koenigsegg’s original GT1 ambitions were cut short, the Swedish hypercar manufacturer is bringing the story back to life. Unveiled in Monterey, California, the new Koenigsegg CCGT1 is a modern tribute to the one off CCGT race car, combining road legal usability with what the company describes as its most exhilarating track experience yet.
The Race Car That Never Got to Race
The story behind the CCGT stretches back to the earliest days of Koenigsegg. Christian von Koenigsegg had endurance racing in mind while developing the first CC prototype, carefully considering the dimensions required by contemporary Le Mans GT1 regulations.
That ambition eventually resulted in the CCGT. Developed with engineer and fabricator Dag Bölenius, the race car weighed around 1,000 kg and featured a naturally aspirated 5.0 litre Koenigsegg V8 producing 600 hp, the maximum permitted under GT1 regulations. Power was sent to the rear wheels through a magnesium sequential gearbox, while its aerodynamic package generated more than 600 kg of downforce.
The potential was there. Test driver Loris Bicocchi helped set up the car and it demonstrated competitive pace from its first laps. But only two months after shakedown testing began, the FIA changed the GT1 regulations to require higher volume production cars.
Koenigsegg's racing programme was cancelled before the CCGT could complete a single competitive lap. Only one example was ever built.
A Modern CCGT for Road and Track
Now Koenigsegg is revisiting that unfinished chapter with the CCGT1.
Based on the CC850, the new car carries the original CCGT's philosophy into a fully homologated and road legal Megacar. It has been deliberately developed with two personalities, offering comfort and usability on the road while transforming into a far more focused machine on circuit.
At its heart is Koenigsegg's twin turbo V8, enhanced with additional cooling to maintain peak performance during sustained track driving. For a more authentic GT1 inspired experience, the CCGT1 features a clutch pedal for take off and a sequential shifter controlling the nine speed Light Speed Transmission.
A center console dial marked ASMR allows the driver to select between Auto, Sequential, Manual and Reverse. For those wanting a more traditional experience, the six speed gated ESS shifter from the CC850 is also available as an option.
The CCGT1 also introduces Koenigsegg's newly developed Ghost Fibre, a material Christian von Koenigsegg says builds on the history of the company's Trevita project.
The CCGT Finally Gets Its Moment
The timing of the CCGT1 is particularly fitting. The original CCGT has now been fully refurbished by the Koenigsegg Legend Division under the care of its current US based owner. It is preparing to finally make its competitive debut in GT1 Historic racing, facing the cars it was originally intended to compete against two decades ago.
The new CCGT1 will be limited to just 70 examples, matching the production number of the CC850 on which it is based. According to Koenigsegg, every example had already been allocated before the car was publicly revealed.
For Koenigsegg, this is more than another limited edition Megacar. It is the revival of a racing story that never received the opportunity to properly begin.
Two decades later, the CCGT name finally gets its second chance.
