Under the blazing sun of the Tilal Swaihan drag strip in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, CarWow’s Mat Watson staged a showdown of car giants that could get even the most bored gearhead’s heart racing. A Ferrari Daytona SP3, with its 828-hp V12 roar, faced off against a Pagani Huayra Roadster BC, a 791-hp marvel of carbon fiber and AMG-powered fury.
The Ferrari Daytona SP3 is a rolling tribute to the brand’s 1960s racing glory, its mid-mounted 6.5-liter V12 belting out 828 horsepower and 514 pound-feet of torque. At 3,263 pounds, it channels that power through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox to the rear wheels. Its $2.2 million U.S. price (though Watson mentioned a jaw-dropping £4 million, or $5.4 million, elsewhere) screams exclusivity—only 599 units roll out, each tipping a hat to Ferrari’s Le Mans triumphs. Up against it, the Pagani Huayra Roadster BC, lighter at 2,976 pounds, boasts a 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 from AMG pumping 791 horsepower and 774 pound-feet of torque. With a seven-speed auto and rear-wheel drive, it promises a blistering 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds. Priced around $3.5 million, its handcrafted beauty and aerodynamic flair make it a collector’s holy grail.
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CarWow’s crew lined up a quarter-mile face-off, but the first try flopped when the Pagani’s launch control balked, letting the Ferrari zip ahead unchallenged. Undaunted, Watson lined up a rematch, where both cars roared—or tried to. The Huayra, despite its massive torque, fought traction issues, its rear tires spinning as the Daytona SP3 powered on. The Ferrari hit the line in 10.6 seconds, beating the Pagani’s 11.2-second run by 0.6 seconds. A third go mirrored the result: the Daytona’s grip and power trounced the Huayra’s lighter build and turbo punch.
CarWow then cranked it up with a half-mile rolling race and a 100-mph braking test. In the rolling race, the Ferrari’s V12 torque and sleek design left the Pagani in the dust, its turbo lag and grip woes no match for the Daytona’s steady pull. The braking test crowned the Ferrari’s sweep, its carbon-ceramic brakes stopping from triple digits with razor-sharp control, outshining the Huayra’s advanced but less steady setup.
Does this win back the Daytona’s price tag? The question hangs like smoke after a burnout. At $2.2 million, the Ferrari humbles its $3.5 million rival in performance, yet both cars go beyond stats. The Pagani’s custom charm—every seam and carbon thread a nod to Horacio Pagani’s craft—demands its cost, even if it stumbles on the track. The Daytona, though, delivers a drive that echoes Ferrari’s racing roots, its V12 howl a magnet for purists. Watson’s take favored the Ferrari’s grip and launch, but the real call hinges on intangibles: the Huayra’s artistry or the Daytona’s legacy. For collectors, it’s less about split seconds and more about which dream fires the heart.
