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Panozis an American manufacturer ofluxurysports automobilesfounded in 1989 as Panoz Auto Development byDan Panoz,son ofDon Panoz(1935 – 2018). The company has also been extensively involved in professional racing, and designs, engineers and builds its own race cars (including chassis and components).[2]Panoz products have included thePanoz RoadsterandAIV Roadster,thePanoz Esperante,and thePanoz Avezzano.
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| Company type | Corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Thompson Motor Company(Assets) |
| Founded | 1989(as Panoz Auto Development) |
| Founder | Dan Panoz |
| Headquarters | 1089 Hwy. 124Hoschton, Georgia30548 U.S.[1] |
Key people | Dan Panoz John Leverett John Leverett Jr |
| Products | Limited-productionluxury cars |
| Website | www |
Panoz and racing
editSince 1997, Panoz cars have competed in racing series around the world. Team Panoz Racing race thePanoz Avezzanoin the Pirelli GTS class, and in 2018 won the Manufacturer's Championship. In addition toLe Mans series(Now European Le Mans series) wins, anEsperante GTLMwon the GT2 class at the2006 24 Hours of Le Mansand in the same year, won the2006 12 Hours of Sebringand was on the podium at the endurance season finale,2006 Petit Le Mans.For the2007 American Le Mansseason, Panoz contracted longtimeBMW Motorsportpartner Prototype Technology Group to campaign the GTLM in the ALMS and Le Mans. Panoz has also provided IndyCar with theG-Force GF05andGF09;and theChamp Car World Serieswith their final race car, thePanoz DP01which was the final chassis used under ChampCar until the unification of the American open wheel series in road racing.
Road cars
edit
- Panoz (AIV) roadster
- Panoz Esperante
- Panoz Esperante GT
- Panoz Esperante GTLM
- Panoz Esperante JRD (tuned By JRD)
- Panoz Abruzzi
- Panoz Avezzano
Race cars
editPanoz Motor Sports Group
editPanoz Motor Sports Group was sold toNASCARin 2012. The assets of the sale included theAmerican Le Mans Series,Road Atlanta,Sebring International Racewayand Panoz Racing Schools.Mosport International Racewaywas sold separately to a Canadian consortium led byRon Fellowsand Carlo Fidani.
Panoz, LLC., is an automotive manufacturer that builds and designs street cars and race cars. Élan Motorsports is a company that builds and designs race cars too. Both these two companies are still owned by the Panoz family.
American Le Mans Series
editThe American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was created byDon Panozin 1999. Panoz also owned theInternational Motor Sports Association,the organization that sanctions theALMS.It held its inaugural event, the1998 Petit Le Mansas part of theProfessional Sportscar Racingseries. TheALMShas a partnership with theAutomobile Club de l'Ouest,the organizers of the24 Hours of Le Mans,to allow teams to compete to the same regulations. In 2012, theALMSwas sold toNASCARand then in 2014, the series merged with theRolex Sports Car Seriesto formUnited SportsCar Racing.[3]
Circuits
editThe Panoz group previously ownedRoad Atlantain Braselton, Georgia, United States as well as previously operatedSebring International RacewayinSebring, Florida,United States. They also previously ownedMosport International RacewayinBowmanville, Ontario,Canada but was sold in 2011. The tracks hosted theAmerican Le Mans Series,now theIMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship,in addition to other top-level auto and motorcycle racing series.
Élan Motorsport Technologies
editÉlan Motorsports is a company that designs and builds race cars from top-level professional racing cars, through to amateur race cars. The company is owned by the Panoz family. Élan acquired other manufacturers, including famousFormula FordbuildersVan DiemenandIndy Racing LeagueconstructorG-Force Technologies.Élan-built cars have raced in theIndy Racing League,Champ Car World Series,American Le Mans Series,Le Mans Series,and other championships.
Panoz Racing School and series
editThe Panoz Racing School was a driver training school previously operated at Road Atlanta and Sebring International Raceway. Students learned racing techniques in purpose-built Panoz GT-RA cars. Following completion of the course, students were eligible for anSCCAregional racing license. The school also included programs where customers could receive instruction in their own road cars.
The Panoz Racing Series was a one-make series made up of the Panoz School cars, as well as the more powerful Panoz GTS models. The series was designed for amateurs to learn racing in a low-cost environment.
References
edit- ^"Contact Us".panoz.RetrievedOctober 2,2020.
- ^"About - Panoz".panoz.Retrieved4 July2023.
- ^"Grand-Am, ALMS to become 'United SportsCar Racing' series in 2014".Autoweek.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-05-24.Retrieved2013-07-21.