Team LNT – Panoz Esperantes In Europe In 2006
Plus Sebring (And Le Mans)
Lawrence
Tomlinson’s Team LNT, which achieved a notable success with
its TVRs at the Spa LMES race this year (a remarkable 1-2 in GT2),
is switching to Panoz Esperantes for 2006 – as the British
team announces that it has become the European agent for the V8-engined
GT-LMs.
Two years with the TVRs failed to realise a full
association with the (now) Russian-owned company, so Tomlinson’s
team has looked elsewhere, and found a partner that should lead
to long-term fulfilment.
Team LNT has already had approaches from potential
customers in Europe, and the team owner is looking forward to seeing
customer cars running throughout the continent, in national series.
His team will
concentrate on Sebring, the LMES, the FIA GT Championship –
and hopefully Le Mans. As RSR Racing (in 2004), the Tomlinson-led
team failed to secure a Le Mans entry (but its drivers occupied
one of the Chamberlain-Synergy cars, since purchased by LNT), and
then lost out again this year: the team sent a very clear message
at Spa though, and that success suggests that 2006 could be a very
good year for the Worksop-based team. Frustrating engine failures
have blighted much of the rest of the team’s 2005 season.

The first of
the team’s Esperantes is expected to make its debut at Istanbul,
in November. Driver line-ups for 2006 are expected to be based around
the current LNT crop.

Lawrence
Tomlinson: “Having proved our development skills
and race-winning ability as a team, we are thrilled to be able to
mount a serious challenge in 2006 with our hugely respected partner,
Panoz. This is a long-term deal, and we aim to provide our European
customers with the back up and service to enable them to compete
at the highest level.”
Scott
Atherton (Panoz Motor Sports CEO): “This partnership
with LNT supports our strategy to expand in Europe. LNT fits all
the criteria as a team and is a top-flight, professional organization
that can assist us in fulfilling our European growth plans.”
David
Bowes (Elan Motorsports Technologies CEO): “We have
undertaken a considerable search to find the right partner who can
work with us on the race track and also on the commercial side of
our business. Lawrence Tomlinson and his team of highly qualified
people are the ideal choice for us to work with. All future Panoz
Esperante race teams will receive equal support and access to the
same factory development programs and parts.
“Don Panoz
has mandated that all teams racing Panoz Esperantes will be treated
equally with everyone receiving the same developmental parts and
assistance, and that is exactly what we are going to do. Team LNT
will be provider of these services to all European Panoz teams.”
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