1999 Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S Roadster

Disrupting conventional wisdom, the Panoz LMP1 relocated its engine to the front of the driver who sat in front of the rear wheels and next to the Xtrac sequential 6-speed gearbox. Mid-engine placement had been the preferred setup since the 1960s, but the Panoz LMP-1 proved that a front-mounted configuration could still be competitive. At this point, the company was still relatively young, having been founded in 1989 as Panoz Auto Development by Dan Panoz. Its first vehicle was the Panoz A.I.V., short for 'Aluminum Intensive Vehicle.' This roadster was followed by an innovative GT car, the Esperante, which soon yielded the Esperante GTR-1, a front-engined coupe with modified Ford V-8 power designed in cooperation with Reynard. Designed to contest the FIA GT1 category in 1997, the GTR-1 was eventually competitive in both the U.S. and Europe, winning the IMSA teams and constructors championships in 1998 and finishing second to Porsche in the USRRC GT class the same year. The demise of the FIA GT1 category brought an end to the Esperante GTR-1's eligibility, but it was given new life when modified into a Le Mans Prototype with a purpose-built prototype, still front mid-engined placement.

The advantages of the front mid-engined placement included front aerodynamic downforce and room for wider front tires ahead of the set-back engine to exploit the downforce. It was not conventional, but it was fast and very competitive.

The Panoz LMP1 Roadster S
Panoz debuted its LMP1 Roadster S in April 1999 at Road Atlanta, the second race of the inaugural American Le Mans Series, where it placed fifth overall. It was soon joined by chassis number 002, completed the same month, and both cars were sent to Le Mans. During the race, chassis number 002 was driven by Johnny O'Connell, Jan Magnussen and Max Angelelli to an eleventh-place overall finish. 002 went on to win with Magnussen and O'Connell at Mosport in June, followed by a pair of thirds at thirds at Sears Point and Portland and fifth at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

After the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, a hairline crack in the bulkhead, behind the driver, was discovered and the carbon fiber tub was sent to lan Composites to be repaired while a new tub designated '002/1' was employed for the final two events of 1999. That tub was sold to Team Den Bla Avis for the 2000 season.

After chassis 002 was repaired and rebuilt, it was retained by Panoz Motorsports as an updated race-ready spare. It was sent as a show car to Australia for the December 31, 2000 Race of a Thousand Years on the Adelaide Street Circuit.

This LMP-1 Roadster S is currently a rolling chassis, ready to be fitted with an Élan and Roush/Yates prepared alloy 6-liter V-8, an Xtrac sequential 6-speed and a driveshaft.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2023