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.”