Another panoz coupe on the cars

[pink69]

Panoz have said that with the new rule changes for LMP cars would hinder a front engined car, so they revert to a LMP coupe. The Panoz esperante was the last Panoz coupe and in 2004 we could see something similar because a coupe would have better areodynamic flow but no decision will be made till the new LM rules come out in autumn.

[FastJoel31]

Sounds good, I loved the old GTR-1.

[Aysedasi]

Me too. It looked so different from everything else of the time, I'd like to see it back in some revised guise.

[paul-collins]

Yeah, but the thing is that Panoz is saying essentially that front-engined is dead as a concept, with nowhere to put venturis if the driver is essentially beside and behind the engine. So the GTR-1 wouldn't be the template.

More like the standard GTP shape (Bentley, Toyota GT-ONE etc.) something that allows for whatever ground effects are mandated in the 2004 rules.

[racer69]

The more GT Prototpes we can get the better i feel.

[cybersdorf]

the "standard" GTP shape?? As of now, there is only one GTP. Are you complaining already?

[paul-collins]

Well, I meant mid-engined.

But you knew that, right?

[Aysedasi]

Whatever, I'm with racer, put a roof on it!

[Bluebottle]

I have heard a Panoz person (can't remember who) say that Panoz will never ever ever ever ever build a car with the engine behind the driver, never, not ever etc etc.....

[choked_wasp]

That would be Dr. Don.

[SFonseca]

Do you think that Panoz could enter Panoz Esperante again?? In my humble opinion Panoz Motorsport will update the old Esperante....

[Speedworx]

Great.

As much as I like the LMP car. I always prefered the GTR-1.

[paul-collins]

I've heard the "front-engine forever" quote, but my understanding is that the talk of mid-engines antecedes that. A change of heart, maybe?

The problem with the front-engined car is that the driver has to either be off to a side (as is current) or have his feet directly behind the motor a la Corvette/Viper/GTR-1. Otherwise the driver is sitting right in the path of one of the ground effects venturix. This negates the expected balance advantage found by placing the engine exactly in the middle of the wheelbase.

[Aysedasi]

Considering the amount of money that Don has thrown at his sportscar project since 1997, you'd think he would finally see the light as to where the engine is best situated, wouldn't you?

I still like the old GTR1's - they certainly looked vastly better than the LMPs/Roadsters. But every year I hope that Panoz will actually make some real headway, especially at Le Mans, but they seem to be going backwards at quite a rate of knots.

[Speedworx]

Panoz had its best years at Le Mans with the GTR-1.

[paul-collins]

GTR-1

1997: four cars, 3 DNF, 1 DNpQ (David Price 2 cars, DAMS 2 cars)
1998: 7th (16 laps off pace), 1 DNF, 1 DNpQ.

LMP-1

1999: 7th (29 laps off pace), 11th (-13 laps).
2000: 5th (26 laps off pace), 6th (-2 laps), 8th (-10 laps), 15th (-15 laps), 1 not classified, 1 entry not accepted. *** the 15th place finisher was Brabs, Mags and Mario.
2002: 3 entries, all DNF.

So I don't think you can say that the GTR-1 was more successful than the LMP-1. I'd say that the LMP1 had reasonable success in 1999 and 2000.

Notation: when I say -x laps, I mean x laps behind the previously listed car.

[Evil Fuzzy]

But those 5th and 6th places in 2000 weren't the official cars, but the private Asahi team Dragon cars (the 1999 official Panoz team cars)if I remember correctly. So does that count ? I seems that the 1999 cars were the most succesfull.

[Speedworx]

Very true. The Team Dragon cars did beat the works cars, so don't count.

It also kind of shows that the GTR-1 was better at Le Mans, because it was only 16 laps behind. LMP-1 usually well over 20 laps behind.

[Aysedasi]

All in all, and rather sadly, Le Mans-wise it's a pretty disastrous return on the dosh for 6 years+ development of the GTR-1 and the LMP-1.

They always used to say "it takes three years to win Le Mans" - I bet Don wishes that were true in his case!

[bigh]

You're right there Ayse, a very poor return. You'd think it must be hurting Dons pockets by now. It's a shame though, I think most people would like to have seen them get a result. I suppose tecnically he's a 'manufacturer', but the privateer spirit is there in spades.

[Es Nes]

too bad they gave up the lmp07. had they had the proper resources to devlope it it, it would have been faster than the lmp01. the only thing the lmp01 has is the 6l v8 and jans ability/willingness to drive it over the limit

[Mal]

Lets knock Don too much - he's done a lot for sportscars over the last few years - we need a few more like him. He may not acheive good results but his spirit and tenacity is what Lemans is all about.