The Panoz GTS is the racing version of the Esperante, prepared as a driver’s-class car to SCCA standards rather than as a works prototype. It carried a full roll cage, harnesses and side bars, a steel 5.8-litre V8 of 385 bhp instead of the road car’s aluminium 4.6-litre engine, and body panels designed to be swapped after light contact.
Panoz GTS at a glance
| Maker | Panoz, Georgia, USA |
|---|---|
| Based on | Panoz Esperante roadster |
| Type | driver’s-class racing car, SCCA standards |
| Engine | 5.8 L steel-block V8, 385 bhp (287 kW; 390 PS) |
| Safety | roll cage, harness, side bars |
| Body | easily replaceable panels |
| Weight | about 600 lb (272 kg) lighter than the standard Esperante |
| 0–60 mph | 4.2 seconds |
| Top speed | 182 mph (293 km/h) |
| Lateral grip | 0.98 g |
based on one source: the GTS is covered in a single paragraph of the English Wikipedia article on the Esperante, so this page is short and adds nothing beyond it.
History of the Panoz GTS
A racing car for private drivers
Where the Esperante GTLM was a works coupé with a supercharger, the GTS was built as a driver’s-class machine to SCCA standards: a car that a private owner could race, repair and run without a factory team behind it. The preparation followed that idea throughout, from the roll cage, harnesses and side bars to the panels bolted on in place of the production bodywork.
Built to be repaired
The body of the GTS is made of easily replaceable panels, so that small damage from contact on the track can be repaired quickly between sessions. Together with the stripped interior and the lighter structure, this takes some 600 lb (272 kg) out of the car compared with the standard Esperante roadster.
Steel instead of aluminium
The road-going Esperante uses an aluminium 4.6-litre Ford Modular V8 of 305 hp. The GTS instead takes a 5.8-litre steel-block V8 prepared as a racing engine and rated at 385 bhp (287 kW; 390 PS). The result is quoted at 4.2 seconds from 0 to 60 mph, a top speed of 182 mph (293 km/h) and lateral acceleration of 0.98 g.
Design and features
- Roll cage and harness: full safety equipment to SCCA standards, with side bars.
- Steel 5.8 V8: 385 bhp, a very different engine from the road car’s aluminium unit.
- Quick repair: replaceable body panels for minor race damage.
- Less weight: about 272 kg below the standard Esperante.
Panoz GTS versions
- GTS: the SCCA-standard driver’s-class car described here.
- Esperante GTLM: the supercharged coupé built for GT2 racing, 420 hp.
- Esperante roadster: the production car on which the GTS is based, 305 hp.
The GTS is a competition version of the Panoz Esperante, and shares the front-engine layout of Panoz racing cars such as the LMP-1 Roadster-S. More cars are in the Panoz collection.
Video: Panoz GTS
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Panoz Esperante, English Wikipedia: GTS equipment, engine, performance
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