Panoz is set to complete a demo run with the recently restored Le Mans 1998 Panoz GTR-1 (chassis #7) and the “Stars and Stripes” DeltaWing Coupe DWC13-003 at Petit Le Mans this year, in tribute to the late Don Panoz.
The GTR-1 is scheduled to race in the Le Mans Historic Masters in 2019, will run a pre-race lap alongside the DeltaWing Coupe. The GTR-1 will be driven by Jan Magnussen, while Johnny O’Connell will be behind the wheel of the DeltaWing.
“I feel very privileged I get to drive this car again,” said Magnussen. “It was the first sportscar I ever drove, and that was back at Road Atlanta in 1998. Fantastic experience and I’m looking forward to driving it again. Hopefully, we will give everyone the chance to remember all the wonderful things that Don Panoz bought to the world of racing.”
O’Connell added:”It’s a huge honor to once again represent the Panoz name. I got to drive the Panoz GT car as well as the prototype all around the world, and letting me do some testing in the DeltaWing (pictured below) was not only fun, but kind of Don to give me that chance. The concept itself of the DeltaWing speaks to the imagination and the creativity of the great man himself.”
In addition to the on-track activities, Panoz will have a display located inside Turn 1 in the main paddock. The cars on display will include the two Panoz vehicles gracing the track, the Panoz Avezzano race car and two street car versions, the Esperante GT2 Tribute Le Mans 2006 winner, the Spirit of America LMP and Don Panoz’s personal 2003 Esperante coupe.
Fans are also invited to sign the Panoz Avezzano race car rear wing at the pre-race fan grid walk. This particular rear wing will be used at the upcoming Intercontinental GT Challenge, October 26-28, 2018 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, as a tribute to Panoz’s “For the Fans” mantra.
“Don has a lot of history with the Road Atlanta track and this race,” said Nancy Panoz. “I’m very happy we can have two of his most iconic cars do a lap of the track and it’s nice to have both Jan and Johnny back in a Panoz. I know that it would have made Don very happy.”
