Panoz Abruzzi Racer Makes Offseason Track Debut

The racing version of the Panoz Abruzzi "Spirit of Le Mans" road-going supercar has recently made its track debut at Road Atlanta in its offseason test program in advance of its competition debut in the 12 Hours of Sebring next year.

The Abruzzi "Spirit of Le Mans" race car is being prepped by Tom Milner's Prototype Technology Group, and will be driven by Ian James, the Series' 2004 LMP2 champion, and Benjamin Leuenberger during the 2011 championship.

"The Sebring 12 Hours has long been considered the litmus test for any racing team and car heading to the 24 Hour of Le Mans," said Don Panoz, founder of Panoz Motor Sports Group. "The demanding nature of Sebring is the perfect platform for the final evaluation of our development program. Furthermore, it makes sense now that the car's first race shall be the first race of the 2011 American Le Mans Series, and on such hallowed ground as Sebring."

The Abruzzi "Spirit of Le Mans" super sports car is road-legal in Europe and many countries of Asia, the Middle East and South America. It is powered by a V8 engine producing 640 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 600 + ft lbs of torque (821 Nm) at 3800 rpm. Its styling is inspired by automobiles like the 1935 Delahaye and born of a pre-war era of classic streamlining.

The car sports a number of technical advancements, such as the Recyclable Energy Absorbing Matrix System (REAMS) body system. The multi-layer composite system is lighter than carbon fiber yet equally strong. It is also dent-resistant, shatter-proof and recyclable.

Abruzzi also introduces TRIFECTACOOLING technology. In addition to a normal high-efficiency radiator, there are stage two and stage three systems that lower coolant temperature on both the inflow (to) and the outflow from the radiator.