Panoz Testing from Barcelona

9 days and a combined 28 hours running with two cars and the Team LNT Panoz 2005 winter test programme is complete.

The Panoz Team LNT jugger naught rolled into Circuit Catalunya, Spain for the final two days of on track event of 2005.

Three of the worlds leading tyre manufacturers, two leading damper manufacturers and development parts generated from CFD by Panoz, Georgia.

All meaning if the weather held the track and drivers would be busy.

The morning of Thurs 8th dawned and the circuit was surrounded by a light frost, a little cloud dampened the light and the temperature was refreshingly not freezing. The start to the day was relaxed by a late start due to a Spanish public holiday, but as 10:00am rolled around, the Panoz’s hit the track.

Tomlinson and Hughes were first to sample the Grand Prix layout. Hughes’s car sporting the new for 2006 aero parts, whilst Tomlinson continued on the chassis and damper program. Lap after lap the reliable Panoz’s pounded around. The sun broke through around lunchtime and testing continued, no respite for the mechanics or drivers, an exclusive test at Barcelona runs through.

Richard Dean, an experienced sportscar driver was brought in to complement Tomlinson’s work. Immediately Dean acclimatized and set a good pace. Impressed with the relentless torque of the engine, the ride being tested by the natural frequency and bumps of the circuit, the high load pushing drivers at an unforgiving pace.

The day finished with another 500+ miles faultlessly complete.

Friday morning was bright and the weather refreshing after so much of the previous test work being done in the wet or changeable conditions. The mechanics working to complement the reliable cars. At 09:00am, Tomlinson and Hughes again shared the driving duties. The previous days tyre familiarization from Hughes was now to be tested for durability. There’s possibly not another circuit in Europe that will show tyre performance depreciation like Barcelona.

Jonny Kane was drafted in to split the tyre work with Hughes and soon got to grips with the car and circuit. So off they went, 28 laps on each set, only stopping to change drivers at the halfway point. Set after set they tested, different manufacturers supplying different compounds and constructions.

Meanwhile Tomlinson and Dean were continuing to move around the myriad of possible set ups. Dampers being revalved, spring rates and roll rates being explored to complement the terrific mechanical grip on offer. The ride being improved all the time.

The day drew to an end all too soon for engineers Mugglestone and Farrell. There’s never enough time, as there’s always something to be tested or made conclusive beyond doubt.

400 laps later, the Panoz’s have stopped - at least for now. There’s a mountain of data and driver feedback to review and the cars need to resume the routine maintenance. One car will be immediately stripped to a bare chassis, the suspension crack tested on a Magna Flux and inspected, the transmission stripped and rebuilt. The fuel cell will be stripped, cleaned and refreshed. The other chassis will go onto test on a ‘Shaker’ rig then to the NEC for display at the Autosport show from January 12th-15th in the New Year.

Early in 2006, the team move to Georgia in the United States to finish the build of the chassis to be raced at Sebring in March. There’s enough testing in place beforehand to ensure Team LNT will be the first in the queue to knock Porsche off from their mantle.

All at Team LNT would like to thank Panoz and Elan Power for their support and professionalism. With the pre defined key performance indicators all hitting the targets, the cross Atlantic partnership is sure to bring rewards in 2006.