The Panoz Abruzzi in Petit Le Mans

Seul constructeur à avoir réussi à mettre à mal la domination de Porsche et Ferrari in GT2 in Sarthe (it was in 2006), Panoz will make its return to the new premier category of Grand Touring, ACO version. Presented on the occasion of the last 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Abruzzi has a look of its own, worthy of that of its big sisters, halfway between a Batmobile and an off-shore. This new car should soon receive its approval giving it authorization to travel the roads of the old continent. It should be noted that only 81 examples will be produced, a figure corresponding to the number of editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans passed between 1923 (year of the creation of the event) and 2013.

According to the wishes of Don Panoz, the Abruzzi should make its first competitive outing on October 2 at the Petit Le Mans, the final round of the American Le Mans Series, a championship founded by Dan Panoz himself in 1999. However, it will compete outside the classification, just like the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid, because it will not yet be approved, the approval of the road car having to be done before that of the racing version.

The Panoz Abruzzi, powered by a 8 horsepower V640, could also be there in Zhuhai, China, for the final meeting of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

Ferrari, Porsche, Corvette and BMW had better watch out. In GT as in prototypes, Don Panoz's creations have often proven surprising.

Find the full report of the 1000 Km of Silverstone, last round of the Le Mans Series and first meeting of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, in your AUTOhebdo magazine, on newsstands tomorrow.