The latest in a steady stream of new car reveals for the upcoming racing sim on PC and consoles, we now have it confirmed that the Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S is included in Project Motor Racing.
It joins the 2002 Audi R8 LMP900 in the LMP class in the sim, which is did compete against when it returned as an Evo version after the short-lived LMP07 was abandoed by the factory team. The brand launched in 1989 by Dan Panoz, funded by his father Don who also founded the American Le Mans Series, and it was here the Panoz LMP-1 Roadster-S would compete in the inaugral season. Along with racing at Le Mans, privateer teams also entered cars in the Sports Racing World Cup, European Le Man Series and other similar championships.
As a virtual racing car, I’ve always associated it with the first three games in the Forza Motorsport series, along with the production model Panoz Esperante. So it’ll be fascinating to experience it in a more detailed sim racing setting, especially as it used an unusual design with a front-mounted engine in an era of mid-engined cars.
A Ford Elan Power Products six litre V8 produced 620bhp without any need for a turbo, adding to front grip and downforce. Meanwhile the driver was sat back enough to effectively be over the rear axle in the carbon-fibre and aluminium honeycomb monocoque chassis.
The result was a car that drivers and fans enjoyed, with early wins in ALMS followed by the occasional victory against the all-conquering Audi R8 LMP900 when the Panoz returned very much as the underdog in 2001. It’ll be a very interesting test of the car physics and handling in Project Motor Racing to compare the mid-engined Audi and the front-engined Panoz side-by-side.
Keep up with the latest Project Motor Racing news and updates here, along with the Project Motor Racing car list and track list so far.
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