Panoz LMP07
Encyclopedia
The Panoz LMP07 was a Le Mans prototype
built in late 2000 for Panoz
for competition in the American Le Mans Series
. The car was designed as a successor to the Panoz LMP-1 Roadster-S
which had competed since 1999. Although retaining the unusual format of having the engine in front of the cockpit, the LMP07 was quickly found to be lacking the capabilities of its predecessor, forcing Panoz to abandon it and return to the LMP-1 Roadster-S. The LMP07 would survive in the hands of privateers until 2003.
and LMP-1 Roadster-S
that had come before, the LMP07 would be designed and built by an entirely new team of manufacturers and designers. Élan Motorsport Technologies
would take over from Reynard Motorsport
as the main designer and constructor of the car, with Andy Thorby being chief designer. Élan would also turn to Zytek
for construction of a custom V8 for the LMP07, replacing the Ford
-derived V8 used in the LMP-1 Roadster-S.
Having already established a winning formula with the LMP-1 Roadster-S, the LMP07 can be seen as an evolution of its basic layout. The same font-engine design with a high nose would be retained, while most of the new design elements would be seen in the shallow valleys between the fenders and engine cover, as well as around the cockpit. The LMP07 was designed to attempt to get the car's center of gravity
as low as possible in order to improve its handling capabilities.
First and foremost, the shallow bodywork separating the large engine cover and the wheel fenders was redesigned. Instead of a large horizontal edge creating a scoop around the engine, the air would instead be allowed to flow to large vertical intakes placed on either side of the cockpit. This opening up of the area in this valley allowed excess air to better flow out of the back of the car, under its rear wing. To assist in this, large vertical fins were placed on the inside of the fenders, extending off the back of the car to form the rear wing supports. This feature allowed for chassis rigidity, better airflow through the channels, and an improved safety structure. Due to the fins serving as safety structures, this meant that similar structures were not necessary around the cockpit, allowing for even more obstructions in the center of the car to be eliminated, lowering the overall height of the bodywork and further aiding airflow. The cockpit surround was similar to that used on the LMP-1 Roadster-S.
The nose of the car would also be refined, with the NACA duct
from the LMP-1 abandoned. Instead, two small porthole intakes would be used, allowing for the bodywork to be closer to the airbox and further lower the height of the bodywork. Brakes cooling was also redesigned, with two large vertical vents cut into the bodywork on either side of the nose, replacing the large gap below the nose that had been used on the LMP-1. At the sides of the car, the complex concave venting of the LMP-1 was simplified for the LMP07, with a large intake for the rear brake cooling being placed in nearly vertical bodywork, and a large square exit vent in front of the rear wheel well for the engine.
The engine for the LMP07 would be a brand new unit built by Zytek
. Panoz wished to use a smaller engine in order to bring down the overall weight and center of gravity of the car without major sacrifices to power output. The compact 4.0 litre Zytek units, maintained by Élan, would be lighter and slightly smaller, yet would later be found to lack the power and durability of the older 6.0 litre units.
MF408S 4.0 litre V8s which were small enough to allow for a decrease in the height of the engine cover. This led to the porthole intakes being replaced with the older NACA duct
. The side bodywork was also revised to eliminate the large rear brake cooling duct, opting instead for large air exhaust exits from the front wheel well.
at the 2000 Petit Le Mans
, with a presentation model on display. The first working chassis would be completed in time for the final race of the season in December. Running at the Adelaide Street Circuit
, the LMP07 lasted a mere two laps before the alternator failed and the car was forced to retire.
Following off-season testing, the second chassis would make its debut at the first race of the 2001 season, competing alongside two older LMP-1s. The LMP07 would finish third behind two Audi R8s and a lap ahead of the best LMP-1 Roadster-S. With the performance capabilities of the LMP07 shown, both chassis fully replaced the LMP-1s for the 12 Hours of Sebring
. However neither car would finish, suffering from mechanical problems early in the event.
When the American Le Mans Series
season moved to Europe, the LMP07s were able to fix their mechanical problems and both cars finished at Donington Park
. The cars would only manage sixth and eighth places however, with a privateer LMP-1 Roadster-S taking fifth. Problems would once again hit the team at Jarama
, as the lone finishing car could manage a mere 14th place. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans
, the cars once again suffered problems and both would be retired in the first few hours of the event. Both cars were also slow in comparison to their contemporaries, managing to record only the 19th and 21st fastest times in qualifying, nearly ten seconds slower than the Audis.
Following the performance troubles of the LMP07, most notably at Le Mans, Panoz decided that the cars need to be reworked in order to remain competitive as well as durable. Panoz made the decision to bring back the LMP-1 Roadster-S, completing the season with the older cars while work continued on the LMP07s. By the end of the year, it was decided that it would be easier to upgrade the existing LMP-1s instead of attempting to fix the LMP07s. The three chassis built were therefore sold off to privateer teams for their own use.
MBD Sportscar would purchase two chassis for the 2002 season, adapting the new Mugen
V8 to the chassis. Debuting at Sebring, the two cars would continue their difficulties, including one car catching fire. For the rest of the season, although the cars were more reliable, the LMP07-Mugens would only be able to finish better than the factory upgraded LMP01 Evos on one occasion. One MBD entry would also run the 24 Hours of Le Mans
but once again fail to finish. MBD Sportscar would abandon the series soon after Le Mans, leaving them to finish seventh in the team championship. The LMP07s would be retired from competition with no other teams wishing to purchase the cars.
#01
#02
#03
Le Mans Prototype
A Le Mans Prototype is a type of sports prototype race car most notably used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, American Le Mans Series and Le Mans Series...
built in late 2000 for Panoz
Panoz
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 Braselton, GA. Panoz products have included the Panoz Roadster and AIV Roadster, and the Panoz Esperante...
for competition in the American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
. The car was designed as a successor to the Panoz LMP-1 Roadster-S
Panoz LMP-1 Roadster-S
The Panoz LMP-1 Roadster-S was a Le Mans Prototype built for Panoz in 1999. The car was a successor to the Esperante GTR-1 which had competed in the Grand Tourer categories internationally...
which had competed since 1999. Although retaining the unusual format of having the engine in front of the cockpit, the LMP07 was quickly found to be lacking the capabilities of its predecessor, forcing Panoz to abandon it and return to the LMP-1 Roadster-S. The LMP07 would survive in the hands of privateers until 2003.
Development
Unlike the Esperante GTR-1Panoz Esperante GTR-1
The Panoz Esperante GTR-1 was a race car developed by Panoz Auto Development and Reynard Motorsport for grand tourer endurance racing in 1997. Although named after the Panoz Esperante roadster, the GTR-1 actually bore no mechanical relation to the production Esperante, instead sharing only minor...
and LMP-1 Roadster-S
Panoz LMP-1 Roadster-S
The Panoz LMP-1 Roadster-S was a Le Mans Prototype built for Panoz in 1999. The car was a successor to the Esperante GTR-1 which had competed in the Grand Tourer categories internationally...
that had come before, the LMP07 would be designed and built by an entirely new team of manufacturers and designers. Élan Motorsport Technologies
Élan Motorsport Technologies
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 IndyCar...
would take over from Reynard Motorsport
Reynard Motorsport
Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy...
as the main designer and constructor of the car, with Andy Thorby being chief designer. Élan would also turn to Zytek
Zytek
Zytek Group Ltd is an automotive and motorsport company founded in 1981 and based in Fradley and Repton, United Kingdom. Zytek Group has two main division: Zytek Automotive, which is based at Fradley, Staffordshire; and Zytek Engineering, which is based at Repton, Derbyshire.-Zytek Automotive:Zytek...
for construction of a custom V8 for the LMP07, replacing the Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
-derived V8 used in the LMP-1 Roadster-S.
Having already established a winning formula with the LMP-1 Roadster-S, the LMP07 can be seen as an evolution of its basic layout. The same font-engine design with a high nose would be retained, while most of the new design elements would be seen in the shallow valleys between the fenders and engine cover, as well as around the cockpit. The LMP07 was designed to attempt to get the car's center of gravity
Center of gravity
In physics, a center of gravity of a material body is a point that may be used for a summary description of gravitational interactions. In a uniform gravitational field, the center of mass serves as the center of gravity...
as low as possible in order to improve its handling capabilities.
First and foremost, the shallow bodywork separating the large engine cover and the wheel fenders was redesigned. Instead of a large horizontal edge creating a scoop around the engine, the air would instead be allowed to flow to large vertical intakes placed on either side of the cockpit. This opening up of the area in this valley allowed excess air to better flow out of the back of the car, under its rear wing. To assist in this, large vertical fins were placed on the inside of the fenders, extending off the back of the car to form the rear wing supports. This feature allowed for chassis rigidity, better airflow through the channels, and an improved safety structure. Due to the fins serving as safety structures, this meant that similar structures were not necessary around the cockpit, allowing for even more obstructions in the center of the car to be eliminated, lowering the overall height of the bodywork and further aiding airflow. The cockpit surround was similar to that used on the LMP-1 Roadster-S.
The nose of the car would also be refined, with the NACA duct
NACA duct
A NACA duct also sometimes called a NACA scoop or NACA Inlet, is a common form of low-drag air inlet design, originally developed by the U.S. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics , the precursor to NASA, in 1945....
from the LMP-1 abandoned. Instead, two small porthole intakes would be used, allowing for the bodywork to be closer to the airbox and further lower the height of the bodywork. Brakes cooling was also redesigned, with two large vertical vents cut into the bodywork on either side of the nose, replacing the large gap below the nose that had been used on the LMP-1. At the sides of the car, the complex concave venting of the LMP-1 was simplified for the LMP07, with a large intake for the rear brake cooling being placed in nearly vertical bodywork, and a large square exit vent in front of the rear wheel well for the engine.
The engine for the LMP07 would be a brand new unit built by Zytek
Zytek
Zytek Group Ltd is an automotive and motorsport company founded in 1981 and based in Fradley and Repton, United Kingdom. Zytek Group has two main division: Zytek Automotive, which is based at Fradley, Staffordshire; and Zytek Engineering, which is based at Repton, Derbyshire.-Zytek Automotive:Zytek...
. Panoz wished to use a smaller engine in order to bring down the overall weight and center of gravity of the car without major sacrifices to power output. The compact 4.0 litre Zytek units, maintained by Élan, would be lighter and slightly smaller, yet would later be found to lack the power and durability of the older 6.0 litre units.
Privateer cars
Following Panoz's decision to abandon the LMP07, the cars were transferred to privateer hands. The cars were modified in an attempt to make them more competitive then they had been in Panoz's hands. The Zytek-built V8s were replaced by Mugen MotorsportsMugen Motorsports
Mugen Motorsports is a Japanese company formed in 1973 by Hirotoshi Honda, the son of Honda Motor Company founder Soichiro Honda, and Masao Kimura. Mugen, meaning "Without Limit", or "Unlimited", is an engine tuner and parts manufacturer closely associated with the Honda Motor Company...
MF408S 4.0 litre V8s which were small enough to allow for a decrease in the height of the engine cover. This led to the porthole intakes being replaced with the older NACA duct
NACA duct
A NACA duct also sometimes called a NACA scoop or NACA Inlet, is a common form of low-drag air inlet design, originally developed by the U.S. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics , the precursor to NASA, in 1945....
. The side bodywork was also revised to eliminate the large rear brake cooling duct, opting instead for large air exhaust exits from the front wheel well.
Racing history
The LMP07 was announced by PanozPanoz
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 Braselton, GA. Panoz products have included the Panoz Roadster and AIV Roadster, and the Panoz Esperante...
at the 2000 Petit Le Mans
Petit Le Mans
The Petit Le Mans is a sports car endurance race held annually at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, USA. It uses the rules established for the 24 hours of Le Mans by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest , which are slightly modified if necessary, mainly to allow additional cars to compete.The race was...
, with a presentation model on display. The first working chassis would be completed in time for the final race of the season in December. Running at the Adelaide Street Circuit
Adelaide Street Circuit
The Adelaide Street Circuit is a temporary street circuit in the East Parklands adjacent to the central business district of the city of Adelaide in South Australia....
, the LMP07 lasted a mere two laps before the alternator failed and the car was forced to retire.
Following off-season testing, the second chassis would make its debut at the first race of the 2001 season, competing alongside two older LMP-1s. The LMP07 would finish third behind two Audi R8s and a lap ahead of the best LMP-1 Roadster-S. With the performance capabilities of the LMP07 shown, both chassis fully replaced the LMP-1s for the 12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
. However neither car would finish, suffering from mechanical problems early in the event.
When the American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
season moved to Europe, the LMP07s were able to fix their mechanical problems and both cars finished at Donington Park
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
. The cars would only manage sixth and eighth places however, with a privateer LMP-1 Roadster-S taking fifth. Problems would once again hit the team at Jarama
Circuito Permanente Del Jarama
The Circuito del Jarama , formerly known as Circuito Permanente del Jarama is a race course in Madrid, Spain which has hosted nine Formula One Spanish Grand Prix....
, as the lone finishing car could manage a mere 14th place. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
, the cars once again suffered problems and both would be retired in the first few hours of the event. Both cars were also slow in comparison to their contemporaries, managing to record only the 19th and 21st fastest times in qualifying, nearly ten seconds slower than the Audis.
Following the performance troubles of the LMP07, most notably at Le Mans, Panoz decided that the cars need to be reworked in order to remain competitive as well as durable. Panoz made the decision to bring back the LMP-1 Roadster-S, completing the season with the older cars while work continued on the LMP07s. By the end of the year, it was decided that it would be easier to upgrade the existing LMP-1s instead of attempting to fix the LMP07s. The three chassis built were therefore sold off to privateer teams for their own use.
MBD Sportscar would purchase two chassis for the 2002 season, adapting the new Mugen
Mugen Motorsports
Mugen Motorsports is a Japanese company formed in 1973 by Hirotoshi Honda, the son of Honda Motor Company founder Soichiro Honda, and Masao Kimura. Mugen, meaning "Without Limit", or "Unlimited", is an engine tuner and parts manufacturer closely associated with the Honda Motor Company...
V8 to the chassis. Debuting at Sebring, the two cars would continue their difficulties, including one car catching fire. For the rest of the season, although the cars were more reliable, the LMP07-Mugens would only be able to finish better than the factory upgraded LMP01 Evos on one occasion. One MBD entry would also run the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
but once again fail to finish. MBD Sportscar would abandon the series soon after Le Mans, leaving them to finish seventh in the team championship. The LMP07s would be retired from competition with no other teams wishing to purchase the cars.
Chassis
Only three LMP07s would be constructed. Panoz and MBD Sportscar would be the only teams to run them.#01
- PanozPanozPanoz 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 Braselton, GA. Panoz products have included the Panoz Roadster and AIV Roadster, and the Panoz Esperante...
Motor Sport (2000-2001)
- Adelaide - DNF (2000)
- Sebring - DNF
- Donington - 6th
- Jarama - 14th
- Le Mans - DNF
#02
- PanozPanozPanoz 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 Braselton, GA. Panoz products have included the Panoz Roadster and AIV Roadster, and the Panoz Esperante...
Motor Sport (2001)
- Texas - 3rd
- Sebring - DNF
- Donington - 8th
- Jarama - DNF
- Le Mans - DNF
- MBD Sportscar (2002)
- Sebring - DNF
- Sears Point - 10th
- Mid-Ohio - 8th
- Road America - 20th
#03
- MBD Sportscar (2002)
- Sebring - DNF
- Sears Point - 9th
- Mid-Ohio - 18th
- Le Mans - DNF
- Road America - 22nd
External links
- Mulsannes Corner - Panoz LMP07 technical analysis
- Mulsannes Corner - Panoz-Zytek V8
- Mulsannes Corner - Mugen V8
- Panoz Auto Development