Pegasus WSC

The Pegasus WSC was a sports prototype racing car built by Pegasus Racing in 1993 to the World Sports Cars regulations. Originally built as a Lotus Esprit, the Pegasus WSC featured significantly modified bodywork and a naturally aspirated BMW engine in place of the usual Lotus 900 series unit. The car was used in a handful of races before being replaced by a new car, derived from the Argo JM16.

Racing history

In 1993, IMSA GT Championship team Pegasus Racing opted to rebuild a third-generation Lotus Esprit to the new World Sports Cars (WSC) regulations. The resulting car had heavily modified bodywork, and, in place of the usual Lotus 900 series engine, a naturally-aspirated BMW unit was installed.^[1] The car's debut came at the sixth round of the IMSA season, which was the Grand Prix of Ohio, with Oliver Kuttner behind the wheel; it would not prove to be successful, as a mechanical problem forced him to retire from 19th, and saw him classified 17th, and last.^[2] Kuttner next drove the car two rounds later, at the Road America 500; however, an engine failure after 6 laps restricted him to 41st overall.^[3] Mechanical issues struck again at the next race, held at Laguna Seca, but Kuttner's 44 laps were enough to secure the WSC class victory, and 12th overall.^[4] Kuttner then entered the next round of the series, which was the Portland Grand Prix; for the first time, he was able to finish the race, albeit in 12th overall and second in class.^[5] This would prove to be the WSC's last race, as Pegasus Racing opted to build a new car, based on the Argo JM16, for the following season.^[6]

References