The Weird, Wonderful and Very American Panoz Esperante GTR-1

Bearing the name of one of the most influential people in American motorsport, the Panoz Esperante GTR-1 was always destined to leave a mark. While many people, myself included, know this car from Gran Turismo, the reality was much more than floundering behind a grid of Japanese Group C cars. In fact, the Esperante was a truly thoroughbred race car, but certainly not a normal one, it was pretty strange, relatively successful, and extremely cool.
Thanks for watching, I hope you enjoyed the video, if you did, be sure to like it, and subscribe to the automobilistic KZbin channel for more car videos like this one!
#racing #lemans #imsa

[@Scotracer1987]

You didn't mention it's most standout attribute when at races. THE NOISE. It was unholy. It made the Corvettes sound like toys.

[@erictol]

Indeed! Also Andy Wallace mentioned that the cabin became so hot and the noise (side exit exhausts) was so loud they had to drive shorter stints during Le Mans

[@mclarenf1gtr99]

Sauber C11: "I will make you sound like a toy."

[@hazzak4354]

Idk bro I've heard some pretty booming C5 and C6 vette GT2s fly through Spa I'd say they're pretty on par with each other But at the end of the day they're bot still generic American V8s that get beaten out by the noise most other engine configurations make

[@volleyballurrrr]

I heard a rumor that the French nicknamed it “rolling thunder” because of its noise. I can’t remember when/where I heard it, if anyone knows the source please chime in

[@hazzak4354]

@@volleyballurrrr well that's not saying much since the french are scared of everything

[@HATECELL]

The Panoz symbolises what I love the most about GT-racing: That the cars can be different. Where else can front-mid V8s, rear-mounted flat 6s, and mid-engined V12s battle it out?

[@budyeddi5814]

THIS for sure. GT racing is the best

[@ghomerhust]

exactly. mixed class racing is already the best out there, but when you can mix it up within a single class, that makes it even better

[@konekillerking]

Don Panoz is the reason that sport car racing in the U.S. survived. Not only with his cars but by buying IMSA and restructuring it as a sanctioning body. This alone is quite the accomplishment, but anyone who has every had medicine delivered through a "patch" owes him as well. He developed this as a method of delivering medicine, and its where he built his fortune to a point that he could have his many accomplishments in the auto racing world.

[@CapSodaPop]

From Midtown Madness, to Gran Turismo, and now Grid Legends. That car is truly a *grand midtown legend.*

[@guybeingaguy]

Grew up in the old Can Am days at Road Atlanta. Man, you could hear a Panoz slamming through the gears WAYYY before it flew past you in all its audible glory. Still makes me smile to this day! FYI - Don Panoz made his money with pharmaceuticals. He patented the method of transferring medicine thru your skin. Hendrix had acid under his headband, Panoz had the nicotine patch. RIP Mr. Panoz, you are not forgotten sir.

[@zounds13]

You could sit at the top of the Corkscrew and hear them coming all the way up the hill. I actually had to go buy earplugs.

[@JohnCharb87]

Don Panoz founded the American Le Mans Series. Later would become the IMSA Sports Car Championship. The Petite Le Mans 10hr race is the final race of the season. The night part of the race can be wild. Especially last 20mins with the top Prototypes class battling for the victory trying to maneuver around the slower GT cars. Looking forward to this season with the return of the GTP class.

[@BOABModels]

The long snout does really set it apart compared to its other rivals. I also remember this pretty much solely from Gran Turismo.

[@Selmerpilot]

I live exactly 1 mile from the old Panoz facility. Many many of the old racing cars are still there but sadly nothing is really happening there now. The paint shop is active and on the same compound is a fabulous rally car shop. Always glad driving by and remembering Panoz and the family

[@guybeingaguy]

Don’t forget their STELLAR underdog season running the Avezzano in the 2017/2018 seasons. I’m a HUGE Panoz fan and even I was kinda shocked how well that team and car did.

[@cologeek]

I remember watching IMSA events on cable back in the 90's/00's. Panoz was always out there, competing (often successfully) with the big European marques. Great racing! A road going Esperante is on my "if I ever hit 6 on the Lottery" list.

[@elixer88]

I remember seeing these years ago at American LeMans Series races... These things were LOUD. You could easily hear one, watch multiple cars go back (while still hearing it), then see it. It was quite the experience.

[@oscarrousseau1185]

Very anecdotally: the Esperante was slighlty adapted and entered 24h of Le Mans 2004 as an LMP1, and it was thus the last Panoz in LMP1, not the roadster

[@nanatzaya]

The shot of the Visteon Esperante overtaking the GT3 M3 and the Q9 in the background gave me massive flashbacks to playing Sports Car GT on my old PS1. The late 90s where by far coolest era of GT racing.

[@dragomirstijovic5569]

My favorite racing game ever

[@nanatzaya]

@@dragomirstijovic5569 Defo top 5 for me. I loved this game back in the day.

[@guybeingaguy]

Don’t forget to do the Delta Wing as well. Man I miss him, what a great man.

[@automobilistic]

The DeltaWing has been on my list for a while, I will get around to it soon!

[@guybeingaguy]

I personally hated the Delta wing, but admired the hell outta the “fuck around and find out” attitude of Mr Panoz so there’s that I guess.

[@Aldairion]

I grew up just 30 minutes south of Panoz's factory. Through my work and my attendance at races and automotive events, I've gotten to know many folks there through the years, including Danny Panoz, son of founder Don Panoz. Their laurels in motorsport are all the more impressive when you see just bow small and "homegrown" their operation is. They've made some immense contributions to motorsport while still remaining tight knit and true to their principles. Road Atlanta being basically in their backyard served as an excellent proving ground, and was incidentally owned by Don Panoz himself before Michelin's recent buyout. A standout experience is when I got to sit in the Esperante GTR-1 road car. One huge quirk is that the gearbox is mounted upside down, in order to place it further up within the chassis. This means that the shift pattern is backwards - 1st gear is where 6th would be, 2nd for 5th, etc. Thanks for shining a spotlight on our hometown heroes. Great work as always!

[@christophermohamed4990]

Oh the days of SPEED VISION the first racing only channel. I was glued to the TV on Sundays to watch this beast kick ass. Panoz was always the under dog.

[@MrReese]

I remember the Panoz from Gran Turismo, that thing was a beast - just like the TVR cars. Good times :).

[@epicseadragon1692]

3:24 ty I always forget :D Besides that, it's very interesting that they tried racing with hybrid technology like 20 years before it was cool. Great video and keep up the good work!

[@danbradley7176]

I didn't realize Panoz did a hybrid version. Imagine how it might have performed now with huge advancements in battery capacity and EV technologies since then.

[@7th_Heaven]

Exactly what I was thinking. Next gen Lithium Niobium batteries with the original loud engine would be superb all loud starting then hush quiet until it gets to the car ahead then guns it. Roars and causes a heart attack óf the other driver and major commotion in any nearby woodland creatures. Major distraction to other drivers=bannable? ;) Panoz Esperanté Is a beautiful beautiful car. See also Tommy Kaira ZZII. The hands down best car I have ever driven in Gran Turismo. TommyKaira design is superb. If they did a racing team like Panoz did I would tell them to skip fiberglass and go carbon fiber exterior on a titanium frame

[@danestormfeltz7815]

A video on the LMP1 Roadster S would be a neat followup to this video.

[@charlesdanenberger9584]

I love this Car--not only is a open cockpit car but a legend in road racing

[@saleemwaheed9956]

Dr. Don is an American racing legend. He is right up there with Gurney, Shelby, and my hero AJ! The Docs racing cars were fast and entertaining. Panoz is my favorite manufacturer. The GT1 and Roadster S were simply magnificent!! Not since Shelby, has an American manufacturer harassed the European giants like Panoz did!

[@larquefausse3623]

There's a video on the official Panoz channel about the Roadster S in which Don explains why the engine was in the front. In his own words he would allude that he felt that roadcars/GT cars should have the engine in the front and didn't know that the mid-engines were the trend for prototype racecars since he never drove one himself. The GTR-1 being based on a roadcar would have the engine in the front despite it's wild purposeful looks.

[@relicx3933]

Thank you for such a good video on such a forgotten car. Really hard to find info on this car besides wikipedia. Discovered it on the old 90s pc game "Sports Car GT". They even had the hybrid version as an unlockable hidden 'endgame' type car! I was too young to understand what hybrid meant but seeing this video as an adult is so cool. One of my favorite cars of all time.

[@floodo1]

Do the Panoz LMP next. All these panoz were legendary not only for the looks but that roar! Classic

[@youngrody2386]

666th viewer 👌🏻 Also, The Panoz really was a monster for how much less budget the teams had over Merc and Porsche. Maybe if they had more budget, they'd probably make a GT1 version of the GT2 Viper

[@guybeingaguy]

Your right. They were going wheel to wheel (the first few laps at least 😀) with the Audi LMP1’s which are top tier competition. To say you came in second only to Porsche in winning a championship speaks volumes too.

[@paulorenatomuzzicoser1977]

I'm really liking where this channel is going, keep up the good work

[@paulcajkasr9600]

I appreciate Don Panoz for keeping the historic Sebring International Raceway whole and operating.

[@shig.bitz.3205]

I just found your channel through the Viper video, and then looked for this video. This car was so loud that the first time I heard it at the age of 5 at my first ever track visit, I was genuinely scared! Insane car.

[@JackAdamCarter]

Love the Panoz! Love the video keep them coming!

[@jimmyrecendiz4940]

That "DUCK" caught me off guard and got a good chuckle out of me. Great video man, props to you

[@xBrabus76]

"DAD".....?

[@XLA-zg1nn]

Awesome, thanks for doing this car!😄

[@mckutzy]

Ya GT4 brought that cool car into more of a plane view of people outside the special racing series... Definitely loved playing that vehicle and doing alot of customization for its looks in that game... Would have really loved to actually get to see an Esperante.

[@budyeddi5814]

This takes me back to the Speedvision days during my childhood. Loved watching GT racing, BTCC and WRC. This was definitely one of my favorite cars (both looks and sound) as well as the LMP(800?) cars that followed

[@ohyeahwhat5387]

I was at the DC American LeMans race in 2004. Watched David Brabham pass the Audi on the last lap and win in the Batmobile Mark 2.

[@amaccama3267]

Great story Count. Love your work mate 👍

[@automobilistic]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed

[@WheelNuts]

Great video, subbed!

[@EddieVanAidan]

Dude, I'd love it if you did some 'news/reaction' videos to whatever happens during the WEC/IMSA seasons, and incorporate it into your content. Endurance racing needs that kind of online community that F1 has garnered so well these last few years. Especially with all the new manufacturers!

[@jodaytona2544]

I think many have known panoz thanks to midtown madnes

[@piuthemagicman]

YESSS first midtown madness then gt3

[@SamMassingham]

Oddly I remember this from the Le Mans Hour 24hr game rather than earlier GT games. Any plans for a video on the Vector V12 or Saleen?

[@automobilistic]

Yes! Saleen has been on the list forever, and I would love to revisit Vector too

[@660wertz]

Great Video! Thx for covering the Sparky. I loved how out of the ordinary it was. Sadly it didnt work (yet).

[@DanTheCaptain]

I distinctly remember having a Hot Wheels car of the Panoz. Not knowing better I always thought it was a Dodge Viper but then eventually learned that it was in fact a Panoz Esperante. It’s such a a cool car!

[@rufusconnolly8489]

I had two kids them, a silver and a purple one

[@valutaatoaofunknownelement197]

As soon as you said "viper," that reminded me of how I confused the Zender Fact 4 for an F40.

[@VsGrimm013]

Cant believe this car isn't in more games, its amazing.

[@abooalaz]

one of my favorites cars and it looks good not weird at all it's unique

[@TheFran17]

DUCK!! really nice vid as always keep it up lad

[@automobilistic]

Hahaha, thanks!

[@themanwithsauce]

I grew up in the detroit metro area and Visteon, one of the main sponsors of the LeMans efforts for Panoz, had a manufacturing plant essentially a mile or two from where we lived. Even though my mom was high up in management for GM at the time (and I enjoyed all the free team corvette shirts and diecasts!) she drove me to the plant of a Ford supplier when they had one of these for you to sit in and get a picture taken and get a free little diecast version. I don't think it was a hot wheels though, it was some other brand (not matchbox either). I remember the car being one of the few race cars that was actually bigger in person than I thought it would be. It has a MASSIVE front hood. When they opened it up it was mind blowing. Love that car so much!

[@coreykononchuk]

I missed these cars by a few years, as I started going to ALMS at Lime Rock Park in 2006, but at least I still got to see the GTLMs run! The thunder from those V8's were incredible!

[@MrAhmmm]

That car actually damaged my hearing in Spa '97...we followed the track leading up to (the old)bus-stop where the fences leaned over the track,perfect for us to lie on top of..(them old days,eh?) I'll never forget those GT1's and and especially those panoz's roaring below us,just meters away,at full pelt..I still feel it in my ear when going underwater..and makes me smile

[@20DYNAMITE06]

Absolutely spectacular car to drive in Project Cars 2... so much fun.

[@Lurkzz]

Your videos are getting better and better! Keep them coming. On another note, are you sure you're not George MacKay?

[@Kevin_Vue_Racing]

I’m probably one of the few who gets to visit the facility and see behind the scenes. Really cool to tour the grounds and talk with the people there who keep Panoz alive.

[@scottoleson1997]

Back in 2000 I fell in love with these zany Shelby-esque cars like the AIV Roadster and GTR-1 Road Car in Midtown Madness 2. I’ve never seen the Roadster in any other racing game in 23 years since. 😢

[@coltonholiday4872]

Love the gran turismo background music in this

[@amaccama3267]

Suggestion for a future project. Group C2 cars. Eg Spice, Tiga, Gebhart. Love your work BTW.

[@mreid08]

The only car at the 99 Rolex 24 that could make the concrete seats 30 rows up vibrate! A true beast!

[@davidsias5351]

I loved using this car in Gran Turismo 3 along with the gillett vertigo

[@williamford9564]

3:02: Panoz cured the "ugly" problem with the silver liveried Visteon sponsored cars the ran in America in the late 1990s. Seen later at 5:13: I saw the cars in person in several races at Lime Rock and Watkins Glen. And the roar of the V-8 was unmistakable.

[@__-ix7qn]

I’d love to see more videos about the lesser known but dominant touring cars. Or something like the domination of Holden at the Bathurst 1000

[@DataRew]

Why make it look like a car they sell? You don't know?! To sell cars... "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday" I do really appreciate this coverage though and subscribed because this video covers a car I LOVED as a kid, and you do it very well.

[@Aldamiras]

I watched the Panoz live in Sebring in 1998 and it did well, finishing 2nd overall.

[@MoeJae86]

I learned about this car from playing World Driver Championship on the N64 back in 1998.

[@evilhomer]

Fortunate to have seen them run at Le Mans. At night on the run from Mulsanne Corner to Indianapolis right on the fence 20 feet away the noise was amazing.

[@eileenlucynakurosawa7421]

Beautiful race car, beloved favorite with the Nissan R390 GT1 LeMans race car 😊😊

[@supersevenhead]

First saw these at the Daytona 24 hour. The engine note was indeed ear shattering. Roush built the engines and they were extremely fast up on the oval. Never made it through the night. Also saw them race at Laguna Seca and spoke to Dr. Panoz and a girl that worked for On Track magazine in the transporter. Saw the roadster run in Portland. I currently own my version of the Batmobile, a 2018 Mercedes AMG GT R. Front mid engine, long, long nose and a stonking twin turbo V8. Wish it had the bodywork of the Panoz.

[@automobilistic]

I've heard that those engines were truly something to behold, and what a great experience to have had. I've also got to say that I'm jealous of your car!

[@Mattycxmp87]

Can I just say that your room looks awesome.

[@noisysleep1505]

I remember this car from Mid Town Madness, need to shutdown 6 cop cars to unlock this car, Man, the sound it made !!

[@JC-jj1xm]

@automobilistic you forgot some very important information about the GTR-1. In 2004, chassis #003 was un-mothballed, renamed Panoz GTP, and entered into the 2004 Sebring 12hr race, where it finished 9th overall, and because it finished the race, was automatically entered into the 24hr. Of Le Mans. Sadly it DNF’d with clutch issues, however, it raced one more time at the 1000km at Spa where it finished 14th overall. Not bad for a 7 year old race car competing in the top level of sportscar racing.

[@Elheffsky]

Saw a interview with Jan Magnussen a few years ago where he explanied that he was offered a test with Panoz after he got sacked by McLaren, he wasn’t really that motivated to go to the test because of his disapointment of being out of F1. But he went anyway and as soon as he heard the v8 in the Panoz for first time his depression from getting sacked by McLaren went away and he realised that motorsport is so much more than F1.

[@dannytorres308]

Fond memories as a kid watching races and then realizing there was a panoz dealer 2blocks from my house

[@Threetails]

I remember this thing. Always wanted one.

[@glasair38sr]

Used to get a glimpse of these guys when racing GP bikes at Road Atlanta as an amateur and later pro in the late 90s / early 2000s. Def some wild & wonderful stuff..for 4 wheels. ;-) I personally didn’t care much for the looks either…but love anything with an engine & wheels (and others with propellers…hehe). And hey…props are relevant here! A lot of you guys likely know why that back straight at Road A was so long…. ….tough to land a KingAir turboprop chock full o’ weed on anything too short. Hehe.

[@7th_Heaven]

Beautiful, iconic powerful automobile.

[@robbunker1442]

Great posters! Where did you get the 1959 edition?

[@ZeeMotto]

I had a Visteon Liveried HotWheels car of the GTR-1 when I was a kid and lemme tell you, It was the pride of my collection! I always thought of it as a thing of beauty and tbh, Still do today! I think it a fantastic looking car

[@gtv6chuck]

I got to see one race in about 1997, at Pikes Peak International Raceway, racing along with the Porsche 911 GT1 and Lister Storm. I just remember that it sounded pretty epic. Actually all three of those cars sounded epic.

[@yashkedare9343]

I love this car because of Microsoft's game Midtown madness fell in love with the sound

[@Bendyboy_eso]

I like the decisions to give the race car the same essence of the road car.

[@DoodlezMusic]

For me, this is the best sounding V8 ever made, period.

[@christianalden4603]

I feel like Panoz was just one of those motorsport manufacturers that were sort of just... there for a reason. Their cars were memorable in terms of styke and appearance, but the latter results would tell otherwise considering the FR platform they choose from the get go. But their influence in motorsports, particularly in Endurance Racing however left a mark on the history books as the team that would put the American Le Mans Series on the map, along with the Petite Le Mans Series of course. R.I.P Don Panoz, thanks for your contributions towards the motorsport community after all these years.

[@Happycoreftw]

I had a hotwheel of this car when I was a kid it was one of my favorites

[@driverjay8613]

You must be a johnny come lately, cause Race fans and the real Car community love to see these things at shows, even on video.

[@chazhartwayne6493]

Midtown Madness 1. God I love this car.

[@Dmooreslotreviews]

Got to have a Panoz LMP video, I'd also like to see the Marcus or TVR video.

[@EhEhEhEINSTEIN]

Somewhere I have a picture I snapped at an intersection in SF in 2006 I think it was of a Panoz road car. Really cool looking but I wasn't surprised when the company folded.

[@simracingeverythin5832]

i remember the roadster and the esperante from midtown madness 2, never really played much GT as I didn't have a console.

[@daytch9485]

LMP1 and Jan Magnuson is what I think I remember. Esperante coming second to major company like Porsche is nothing to be disappointed about. LMP1 battled with Audi and they were great races to watch

[@wapartist]

Man I saw these run live at Road Atlanta in this era. The had an evil sound….. nothing else on the track sounded like that

[@marklittle8805]

This car was the most obnoxious and lovely sounding beast. Robert Yates built Ford V8's made them go and the thunder was just awesome

[@mattwhorlow9900]

The most memorable attribute of the Panoz was noise much more than the shape! I remember sitting in the grandstand on top of the Le Mans pit building, and feeling the whole building shake every time one of those Panoz's went past.

[@automobilistic]

I've heard that the sound is impressive! I try to avoid commenting on the sound of cars I've never heard in-person myself, because its a perspective I simply don't have, and can't really get from videos.

[@ryanb9749]

My video was released a month earlier. You covered a lot of information in 7 minutes.

[@magikjoe3789]

The advertising strap-line for the Gulf-backed entry was 'Sounds like thunder, goes like lightning', maybe 1997 or 1998. You could pick up a window sticker from your nearest Gulf filling station.

[@SJSpode114]

Good video, but you missed the fact that in a GT2 guise the Panoz won its class in the 2006 Le Mans with the British LNT team.

[@Jzwiz]

Purely remember this car because it stood out in gran turismo, always thought it looked like it had flared nostrils.

[@Rednax_99]

One of my favourite cars of all time. First saw it in Gran Turismo 3, have a few Hot Wheels of it (as well as the LMP-1). Such a unique and cool car. Wish it got more recognition than it does, it deserves it.

[@automobilistic]

GT3 was my introduction to it as well! Its definitely under-appreciated imo

[@Rednax_99]

@@automobilistic it is waaaaay under appreciated. I'm glad to see it's in Grid Legends though, I bought that game mainly because this car is in it 😂

[@speedweenie7394]

You could've repeated the duck joke for the V12LMR as well! I was at the Lime Rock race shown in the video. To repeat another poster, they were LOUD!

[@aidan6029]

The GTR-1 is included in Project CARS 2. In that game it is actually pretty competitive with other GT1 cars, like the Mercedes CLK-LM and McLaren F1 GTR, in terms of single lap pace. But with the engine in the front, it was too hard on the front tires.

[@Heavywall70]

Those LMP 975 Panoz are my favorite race cars of all time. The last front engine LMP car and it was reasonably competitive against the most reliable LMP car ever in the form of the Audi R8

[@szechuan2193]

I actually loved this car in GT3. It looks awkward and quirky for everyone else, but the difference in looks is why I loved it. The headlights on it behind you, looks like an aggressive glare coming at you with intent.

[@rhythmtreble7311]

This was my favorite from forza motorsport 3. It was so consistent for me and left corners excellently

[@britishfilmguy]

One thing I like about the Panoz. The Lmp2 front with a standard Gt3 looking rear so something abit different.