Panoz to return to LMP1

The Badger · 19 Mar 2009, 17:07 (Ref:2419460)

I reckon this certainly deserves its very own thread so ,

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090319/ALMS/903199991

I wonder what kinda power train they are considering . Possibily something to do with kers again ?

But its brilliant news indeed , they are even talking about a front engined beast !!! woohoo ..... As Don said , have you ever seen a horse pushing a cart

dj choc ice · 19 Mar 2009, 17:20 (Ref:2419473)

This is fantastic news, i read in the article something about running the Chevy V8 (under the impression its the 7.0 C6R V8), im salivating over the possibility of a front engined Panoz coupe again with a thunderous V8 soundtrack to boot, it will be like the Batmobile all over again!!

**FIRE** · 19 Mar 2009, 17:26 (Ref:2419479)

Great news!

Aslak Vind · 19 Mar 2009, 17:30 (Ref:2419486)

Ohhhh!!!

Please make it so, missing out on the great times with Jan, Johnny and the thunderous Batmobile!

With the Corvette engine, it could be a glorius car!

The359 · 19 Mar 2009, 17:30 (Ref:2419487)

They're struggling just to keep their GT2 car competitive, and these aren't the first announced plans to replace the Esperante program. Abruzzi anyone?

duke_toaster · 19 Mar 2009, 17:34 (Ref:2419493)

All this, after building a woefully uncompetitive front engined prototype a while ago?

Either sticking the engine in the front will be a stroke of genius, or really not work. The latter happened last time, and will probably happen again.

Aslak Vind · 19 Mar 2009, 17:40 (Ref:2419497)

Maybe not winning trophies, but the fans loved it and made the brand very popular.

cmk · 19 Mar 2009, 17:44 (Ref:2419500)

A P1 with a big-block Chevy V8 running on algal butanol?! Awesome!

Quote:

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

All this, after building a woefully uncompetitive front engined prototype a while ago?

Either sticking the engine in the front will be a stroke of genius, or really not work. The latter happened last time, and will probably happen again.

I take it you missed the bit where the original LMP1 Roadster won quite a few ALMS rounds.

SALEEN S7R · 19 Mar 2009, 17:57 (Ref:2419509)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmk

A P1 with a big-block Chevy V8 running on algal butanol?! Awesome!

I take it you missed the bit where the original LMP1 Roadster won quite a few ALMS rounds.

Yes thats right but engineering and technology changes and what was once a competitive way of doing things isnt necessarily still the same now. As Duke Toaster said, the last Panoz LMP wasnt really that competitive, sure it wasnt slow but it didnt win any races. Unless Panoz has changed its thinking of designing front engined cars it is hard to imagine that they will get better results next time around.

That said I hope I am proved wrong, I was a fan of the Panoz it was a very distinctive car.

dxk1 · 19 Mar 2009, 17:59 (Ref:2419511)

Quote:

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

All this, after building a woefully uncompetitive front engined prototype a while ago?

Either sticking the engine in the front will be a stroke of genius, or really not work. The latter happened last time, and will probably happen again.

While I agree that sticking the engine in the front may not be the best idea, the Panoz was not woefully uncompetitive. In 1999 it won the ALMS manufacturer and team championships over BMW, Ferrari, Porsche and Audi in that order. They also finished 3rd in 2000 and 2nd in 2001, 2002 and 2003 against some fairly big-time efforts by Audi, Cadillac, Lola, etc. Also, the Panoz had a few decent runs at Le Mans, a track for which it was not ideally suited. All-in-all, quite a decent and fun car to watch.

DK

Audi Racer · 19 Mar 2009, 18:02 (Ref:2419512)

i believe this is the prototype that scott atherton talked about in article we are all familiar with. Place your bets on four rear tire car. How is this going to work. Surely they already startes designing in 08 because to make a fast front engined P1 seems difficult. Is it going to look like the Mercedes SLR Roadster concept. Atleat they'll be back on michelins. No discredit to yokohama but they don't have any experience with P1's(correct me if i'm wrong) Michelin is the way to go. They'll have a tire that can handle the front engined acura eating beast.

Audi Racer · 19 Mar 2009, 18:04 (Ref:2419513)

This needs to be a newly developed Chevy engine. The corvette engine is too big to be put in the front sucesfully. Can you imagine this car going through the corkscrew. It will feel like you went off a cliff

NightStalk3r · 19 Mar 2009, 18:05 (Ref:2419514)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SALEEN S7R

what was once a competitive way of doing things isnt necessarily still the same now.

Porsche would probably dissagree.

JAG · 19 Mar 2009, 18:07 (Ref:2419518)

A large Chevy V8 would only be legal for 2010, they'd need a different engine for 2011, unless the ACO continue to allow production engines in P1.

SALEEN S7R · 19 Mar 2009, 18:08 (Ref:2419520)

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightStalk3r

Porsche would probably dissagree.

Yes they probably would, but i said "isnt necessarily" I didnt say "is not".

Bob Riebe · 19 Mar 2009, 18:15 (Ref:2419526)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audi Racer

This needs to be a newly developed Chevy engine. The corvette engine is too big to be put in the front sucesfully. Can you imagine this car going through the corkscrew. It will feel like you went off a cliff

It will not be a new engine; GM killed the new high-tech diesel engine because of financial concerns.
The chance of a new enigne are somewhere between zero and none.

Aslak Vind · 19 Mar 2009, 18:20 (Ref:2419528)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audi Racer

This needs to be a newly developed Chevy engine. The corvette engine is too big to be put in the front sucesfully. Can you imagine this car going through the corkscrew. It will feel like you went off a cliff

Why is that a problem now, when Corvette Racing has been using it exactly the same place without a problem?

gwyllion · 19 Mar 2009, 18:25 (Ref:2419532)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aslak Vind

Why is that a problem now, when Corvette Racing has been using it exactly the same place without a problem?

The airbox has to be as low as possible. That was one of the problems of the Panoz LMP07.

Quote:

The problem with the LMP07 was that the Zytek engine was designed to fit in the rear of a single-seat car, rather than the front of a sports car. The inlet trumpets should have been cross-over type, rather than near-vertical: it was not possible to fit long enough trumpets under an airbox which would still allow the driver to see over it. Short trumpets mean reduced torque.

source: http://www.mulsannescorner.com/thorby.html

The Badger · 19 Mar 2009, 18:33 (Ref:2419538)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmk

A P1 with a big-block Chevy V8 running on algal butanol?! Awesome!

I take it you missed the bit where the original LMP1 Roadster won quite a few ALMS rounds.

Well , that original roadster was a very competitive machine . It was only really beaten by the Audi R8 and BMW V12 LMR , but what wasnt . It was against full works entries .

I was gutted to see them leave LMP1 ..... so you can just imagine how happy I am with this news .

dxk1 · 19 Mar 2009, 18:40 (Ref:2419545)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

A large Chevy V8 would only be legal for 2010, they'd need a different engine for 2011, unless the ACO continue to allow production engines in P1.

This was my feeling as well. I don't know what Chevy they would use besides the well tested Corvette engine, unless they were only planning to use the big engine for one year and then try to modify the car for a different engine after next year.

DK

The Badger · 19 Mar 2009, 18:42 (Ref:2419549)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Riebe

It will not be a new engine; GM killed the new high-tech diesel engine because of financial concerns.
The chance of a new enigne are somewhere between zero and none.

So , are you saying that Don Panoz is talking outta his ass ? He obviously has done his homework , or not ?

..... or maybe he is juat a dreamer Bob .

Remember , that he , more than most has a very good relationship with the ACO ..... this could possibily mean that the rules may be changed yet again .

Banning stock block engines was a crap idea anyway .....

I want to hear what Knighty has to say about this , and MulsanneMike too . Should be very interesting .

olly83 · 19 Mar 2009, 18:50 (Ref:2419556)

Seeing and hearing the 'Batmobile' Panoz at the ALMS race at Silverstone 2000 is what got me in to Sportscar racing. I'm so happy at the prospect of a P1 Panoz racing at Le Mans again I can barely contain my excitement!!!!!

Aslak Vind · 19 Mar 2009, 18:53 (Ref:2419560)

We have the Danish LMP1 S at Sturup, getting out to stretch her legs from time to time

Wonderful roaring thing!

When will people learn, never to underestimate Don Panoz, Who took the initiative to the ALMS and the Panoz brand?

Most people talk more and do less..

zac510 · 19 Mar 2009, 19:18 (Ref:2419585)

If they went with a wider angle engine there'd be more space for inlet trumpets.

Jimmy Magnusson · 19 Mar 2009, 19:47 (Ref:2419638)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aslak Vind

We have the Danish LMP1 S at Sturup, getting out to stretch her legs from time to time

Wonderful roaring thing!

When will people learn, never to underestimate Don Panoz, Who took the initiative to the ALMS and the Panoz brand?

Most people talk more and do less..

Stretching legs at Sturup? Impossible!

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