| Revision as of 03:16, 25 March 2007 editSpyder Monkey (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers27,515 edits ←Created page with 'right '''Élan Motorsport Technologies''' is an umbrella company containing the race car manufacturing companies owned by the [[Panoz#...' | Revision as of 22:17, 22 April 2007 edit undo89.172.24.105 (talk) →External linksNext edit → | ||
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Revision as of 22:17, 22 April 2007
Élan Motorsport Technologies is an umbrella company containing the race car manufacturing companies owned by the Panoz Motor Sports Group. Élan designs and builds Panoz-branded race cars, and have also acquired other manufacturers, including famous Formula Ford builders Van Diemen and Indy Racing League constructor G-Force. Élan-built cars now race in the American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, Indy Racing League, Champ Car World Series, and other championships throughout the world.
Sports cars
Panoz' first foray into racing cars came with the Panoz Esperante GTR-1 in 1997. The car was built for the GT1 category of highly modified supercars, bearing little resemblance to normal production cars. The GTR-1 was unique for its front-engine design, whereas all of its competitors were rear-engined designs.
In 1999, changes in regulations led to the development of an open-top spyder for the LMP900 class, the Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S. Like the GTR-1, the LMP-1 was a front-engine car. Its unique design, along with its 6.0L Ford-derived V8, made it a fan favorite. In 2001, Panoz designed a successor to the LMP-1, the LMP07. Although the Andy Thorby-designed car had high expectations, it turned out to be a failure. The car used a Zytek V8, tuned by Élan Power Products (the first use of the Élan name in Panoz' motorsports ventures). The car was replaced mid-season by the LMP-1, which carried on until the end of the 2003 season.
In 2003, Élan debuted the a new race car based on the production Panoz Esperante, called the Esperante GTLM. The GTLM was designed for the "LM"GT2 class for slightly modified production sports cars. The 2003 car was raced by Hyper Sport Competition, and was used mainly as a development year. A revised version first raced in 2004. The car is powered by an EPP 5.0L V8. In 2006, the GTLM won both the GT2 class at the 12 Hours of Sebring (in the hands of Multimatic Motorsports) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans (run by Team LNT).
In addition to the Esperante GTLM, Élan builds the Esperante GTS, a simplified version of the car with a pushrod V8, tube frame and fiberglass construction, and eligibility for one-make and SCCA racing. This car is used in the Panoz Racing Series, and a less powerful version is utilized by the Panoz Racing School.
Élan also builds the Panoz DP02 and Panoz DP04 for the IMSA Lites series. The cars are small, center-seat prototypes. A version of the DP04 is also eligible for SCCA Sports Racer categories.
Open wheel
Élan will also produce all chassis for the Champ Car World Series beginning with the 2007 season. The Panoz DP01 is Élan's first foray into major open wheel racing (the IRL car was a previous G-Force design from before Élan purchased the company). The company also builds cars and engines for the Star Mazda championship.
Van Diemen
Main article: Van DiemenÉlan acquired the Van Diemen company in 1999. Van Diemen produces cars for Formula Ford championships around the globe. They still operate out of their base at the Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk, United Kingdom.
G-Force
The Panoz G-Force GF09 used in the Indy Racing League is produced within the EMT family of constructors. G-Force chassis driven by Gil de Ferran and Buddy Rice won the 2003 and 2004 Indianapolis 500 races.