Panoz Auto Development announces the latest variation of the world renowned Panoz Esperante. This new model, the Esperante GT-LM, takes the remarkably composed and refined touring version of the Esperante platform and gives it a decidedly more sporting tone.
A new rear sub-frame, developed with technical partner Multimatic Inc. reduces mass while increasing stiffness and features a motor-sport oriented suspension geometry.
The new rear control arms are fabricated, lightweight, tubular steel components bolted to aluminum uprights.
The reduced un-sprung mass works in concert with the double isolated coil-over spring/shock assembly to increase performance while simultaneously improving NVH characteristics.
All of this careful attention to detail has yielded a finished weight of just 3,384 lbs, that makes much more of its 420 horsepower, 4-cam, 32 valve supercharged V-8. The result is a world class 8.06 power to weight ratio.
The Esperante GT-LM’s aerodynamics have been improved with new long nose, long tail bumper fascias as well as more aggressive rocker panels.
These components are complimented by the fixed carbon fiber hardtop and the subtle “duck tail” rear spoiler, all of which combines to significantly increase the GT-LM’s aerodynamic downforce.
Detail refinements include revised front and rear lighting along with custom front and rear grill work.
The interior features new sport seats with more aggressive bolstering and a host of billet aluminum trim enhancements.
The end result is a lighter, faster, stronger Esperante. Look for Panoz to build on its impressive motorsports heritage (the Esperante won the 2002 BF Goodrich Trans-Am Manufacturers Championship) as it takes on the GT class contenders in the American LeMans series and the 24 hours of LeMans with a race prepared variant of this car.
Panoz Esperante GTLM wins class victory in the Mobil1 twelve hours of Sebring. 
The small volume American Auto manufacturer Panoz Auto Development Company shows its climb to world class recognition may be close to the mountain top by taking it to the track in a head to head fight with Porsche, Ferrari, BMW and Spyker and proving that worldclass performance.
The Multimatic Motorsports Team Panoz GTLM driven by David Brabham, Scott Maxwell and Sebastian Bourdais took the GT class win and showed that in a straight fight it is a worldclass competitor.
The fact that the Ferrari, BMW and Porsche efforts were so strong shows the commitment to the series as the true proving ground for sports car supremacy in the USA.
The factory Spyker team had some bad luck in practice and qualifying but was able to stay the course during the twelve hours.
The Panoz stunned many sports car fans last year by posting a win at Road Atlanta in its first full season.
Dan Panoz, the company’s Founder and President said “I could not be happier with the car’s performance, it was especially rewarding to see these brands, Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, Spyker and the Panoz battle head to head.”
“For the lead to change back and fourth between the Ferrari, Porsche and Panoz cars hour after hour and to see these three teams finishing on the same lap after twelve hours.”
“I took great pleasure in seeing the British LNT team run their Panoz Esperante for the entire race with no major glitch and I am convinced that if they had not had the punctures they did they would have been in a fight for a podium finish.”
“I would even anticipate that based on the lap times and the strength of the LNT driver line up they would have made the podium.”
“This was no easy win it was a hard fought strong performance with a superior product piloted by a first class team that made it possible to earn the win.”
1 comments:
Panoz has always been a very interesting American ride.
In the late 90's great strides were done to be innovative with design and technology, including moving towards greener technologies.
Under the company's former developer of products, Luis Romo, there was even a proposal to produce a smaller, lighter, and more fuel-efficient Ethanol-based model to compete with the Lotus Elise, as well as a green 4-door sports coupe.
Romo was in talks with designer and aerospace engineer, Vitus Sebastian Barbaro, the princely count of the Barbaro family- who I believe at the time was still under his family's courtesy title of Baron Vito Robert dell'Albergo.
Barbaro was just in his twenties, and grabbed up after being one of the few stylists to present a concept for the Ferrari Enzo at Montezemolo's headquarters in Maranello, Italy.
The Panoz "Veloce" project was stalled early on. Barbaro was recruited by the Volksagen Group to fix aerodynamic concerns on the Bugatti Veyron under Albert Finkbeiner in Germany, but curiously, moves over to present a concept for the Bentley Continental GT in England to Dirk van Braeckle, which is also under the Volkswagen Group. Louis Romo leaves Panoz to moves onto his own pet project, and Bugatti looses Ferdinand Piech at the helm.
The internal dynamics of these things are amazing.
It's a miracle that any of these supercars ever get made.
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