Nicknamed Batmobile because of its front engine, the Panoz is always popular with fans and the characteristic roar of the big V8 is a familiar sound at Le Mans. The Panoz prototypes often put up a good fight in LM P1 but have never clinched the top spot. The marque founded by Don Panoz has however earned a trophy at Le Mans in the GT class. In 2006, Team LNT finished fifteenth overall and top of its class. The team was formed in 2004 by entrepreneur and motorsports fan Lawrence Tomlinson. He was behind the wheel for the 2006 win, along with Richard Dean and Tom Kimber-Smith. The latter was a rookie winner that year and went on to become one of the most brilliant LM P2 specialists, winning Le Mans 24 Hours twice, in 2011 with Greaves Motorsport and 2012 with Starworks Motorsport.

Lawrence Tomlinson has finished three out of his four attempts at Le Mans 24 Hours—in 2004, 2006 and 2007. He took over Ginetta in 2005 and was one of the first to declare his intention to run a campaign in the new LM P3 category. In fact, in 2015 he had a monopoly on the class. With one ELMS race still to come, drivers Sir Chris Hoy and Charlie Robertson have already claimed the championship title for Nissan-backed Team LNT. Other constructors have promised to join in the fun for the 2016 season.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO — Translated from French by Emma Paulay

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, LE MANS 24 HOURS, SATURDAY 17 & SUNDAY 18 JUNE 2006. Team LNT’s 2006 win was also a just reward for the passion and perseverance of Don Panoz who designed the car and also established the American endurance race, Petit Le Mans.