Panoz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the race car manufacturer, see Élan Motorsport Technologies.
Panoz Auto Development
Type Corporation
Founded 1989
Headquarters Hoschton, Georgia, USA
Key people Danny Panoz, Don Panoz
Industry Automotive
Products Limited-production sports cars
Website http://www.panozauto.com

Panoz Auto Development is an American manufacturer of high-performance automobiles founded in 1989 by Dan Panoz, son of pharmaceutical and motorsport mogul Don Panoz. The company is located in Hoschton, USA. Panoz products have included the Panoz Roadster and AIV Roadster, and the Panoz Esperante. All Panoz road cars are tested exhaustively at Panoz-owned Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia and handcrafted at the Hoschton workshop.

Contents

[edit] Panoz and racing

Panoz Esperante.
Panoz Esperante.

Since 1997, Panoz cars have competed in racing series around the world. Panoz strives to maintain a close link between its road cars and its racing activities. To this end, Panoz has shifted its American Le Mans and European racing programs toward production-based classes that allow Esperante variants to be raced in modified form. In addition to Le Mans series wins, an Esperante GTLM won the GT2 class at the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans. For the 2007 American LeMans season, Panoz has contracted longtime BMW Motorsport partner Prototype Technology Group to campaign the GTLM in the ALMS and Le Mans. Panoz also provided the Champ Car World Series with their race car, the Panoz DP01.

[edit] Road Cars

[edit] Race Cars

[edit] Panoz Motor Sports Group

The Panoz Motor Sports Group is an entity made up of the motorsports-related holdings of Don Panoz. Headquartered in Hoschton, Georgia, the group includes several racing series and race tracks, as well as racing car constructors. The group also owns a racing school operating at multiple locations.

[edit] American Le Mans Series

Main article: American Le Mans Series

The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was created by Don Panoz in 1999. It held its inaugural event, the 1998 Petit Le Mans as part of the Professional Sportscar Racing series. The ALMS has a partnership with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, the organizers of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, to allow teams to compete to the same regulations. The series now holds 12 round across North America.

Panoz also owns the International Motor Sports Association, the organization that sanctions the ALMS.

[edit] Circuits

Main articles: Mosport, Road Atlanta, and Sebring International Raceway

The Panoz group owns and operated three road racing circuits in North America: Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ontario, Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, and Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida. The tracks host the American Le Mans series, in addition to other top-level auto and motorcycle racing series.

[edit] Élan Motorsport Technologies

Main article: Élan Motorsport Technologies

Élan Motorsport Technologies is an umbrella company containing the racing car manufacturing companies owned by Panoz. Panoz began by making their own car, the Esperante GTR-1, and have since acquired other manufacturers, including famous Formula Ford builders Van Diemen and Indy Racing League constructor G-Force. Élan-built cars now race in the Indy Racing League, Champ Car World Series, American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, and other championships throughout the world.

[edit] Panoz Racing School & Series

The Panoz Racing School is a driver training school operated at Road Atlanta and Sebring International Raceway. Students learn racing techniques in purpose-built Panoz GT-RA cars. Following completion of the course, students are eligible for an SCCA regional racing license. The school also includes programs where customers can receive instruction in their own road cars.

The Panoz Racing Series is a one-make series made up of the Panoz school cars, as well as the more powerful Panoz GTS model. The series is designed for amateurs to learn racing in a low-cost environment.

[edit] Leisure holdings

Panoz also owns and operates Château Élan Resort & Winery in Braselton, Georgia, the Diablo Grande Winery & Resort in Patterson, California, and the St. Andrews Bay hotel in St Andrews, Scotland.

[edit] External links


Panoz Auto Development
Road Cars:
Roadster/AIV Roadster • Esperante • Abruzzi

Race Cars:
Esperante GTR-1 • LMP-1 Roadster-S • LMP07 • LMP01 Evo • Esperante GTS • Esperante GT-LM • DP01