Panoz
Esperante GTR-1
Panoz
has revisited an old member of the family by polishing a one-of-a-kind
Esperante GTR-1 built in 1997.
Polished
would actually be an understatement as this was a full-on restoration of a very
special street-legal car that was created specifically to allow the Esperante
GTR-1 racecar take part in the 1997 edition of the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans
endurance race. The car was restored over six months and it’s the
only remaining Le Mans Homologation Special version in the world, so it’s safe
to say the value of this machine is quite high.
Its
powered by Ford-based V8 6.0-liter engine delivering an estimated 600+
bhp and 677 Nm of torque channeled to the 18-inch OZ
Racing center-lock wheels shod in 285/40 R18 tires through a 6-speed ZF
transaxle transmission all wrapped in a body weighing just 898 kg.
Stopping power is provided by Brembo front and rear discs with eight- and
four-piston calipers, respectively.
The
car displayed in November 10-14 at the Dubai International
Motor Show where it will be exhibited alongside a 25th Anniversary Edition
Panoz Esperante Spyder GT.
Panoz
says that while the Esperante GTR-1 Le Mans Homologation Special is not for
sale, those who are interested can order a “near-exact carbon fiber replica”
using the original body and tub molds. Another way to go is to create a
modified version using alternate composites and lightweight materials. Pricing
kicks off at US$ 890,000 and depends greatly on the client’s customization
requirements.
