The Panoz manufacturer had managed the feat of withstanding the major manufacturers, even beating them on some occasions. This new model was released in 2001 and was to compete with the Audi R8 ... It did not happen!

In 2001, Panoz enjoyed a rare popularity among spectators who made the cars their favourites. Over the previous two years, the big V8 Roadster had produced some  improbable miracles in the face of the factory machines.

	Panoz Esperante GT1 (1997-1998)	Panoz LMP-1 Roadster-S (1999-2000)

Suffice to say that in June, the third generation of the "Batmobile" was awaited with interest by the public at Le Mans ... but it was a huge failure. With its prominent nose, this novelty did not have the grace of its predecessors ...  Moreover, the Zytek V8 was small and lightweight, and it sorely lacked the previous power and muscle! Fragile and slow in performance (3'42"9 in qualifying), both LMP07s dropped out in the course of the ninth hour having played no significant role.

At the height of their misfortune, the team resurrected the Roadster in July and scraped two wins in the ALMS in Portland and Mid-Ohio! As David Brabham concludes: "The 07 was a lacking in power and the chassis had a deficit in torsional rigidity. But strangely on a wet track, this defect was transformed into an advantage and it became very effective!"

Panoz Esperante LMP07 (2001)

Textes : Julien HERGAULT / ACO - Translated by Tony Light/ACO
Photos : PANOZ / Richard GOTTARDO / Richard WINTLE