Benjamin Leuenberger returns to Panoz

Benjamin Leuenberger

At the first weekend of October, Panoz starts into a whole new era with the new Panoz Abruzzi "Spirit of Le Mans", built for the GT2-class. When the new American Supercar starts into his first race on the 2. October, the "Petit Le Mans" at Road Atlanta, Benjamin Leuenberger returns behind the steering wheel of a Panoz and will drive the Abruzzi in the 10-hour endurance race. The Swiss sportscar specialist will share driving duties in the Panoz Abruzzi with Britain’s Ian James.

The première race of the Panoz Abruzzi is a return of Benjamin Leuenberger to Panoz after seven years. Back in 2003, Leuenberger drove the famous "Batmobile", the marvelous Panoz LMP1 Roadster in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and the 24h of Le Mans.

"I’m really happy and also very proud to be back at Panoz," Leuenberger says. "Don Panoz brought me into sportscar racing seven years ago and also my first start at the 24h of Le Mans was in a Panoz. Seven years ago, I was the last driver who raced the LMP1 and I finished fourth overall at the "Petit Le Mans".

This year I will be the first driver to race with the new GT2-Panoz, also at the "Petit Le Mans". With the new Abruzzi "Spirit of Le Mans", a dream of Don Panoz will come true and it feels great that I will be a part of it."

Spirit of Lemans

Facts about the street legal Panoz Abruzzi "Spirit of Le Mans":

• Limited production of 81 numbered cars, one car for each edition of the 24h of Le mans until 2013, the planed production end
• 6.2 liter V8-engine with 640 HP
• Bodywork manufactured in a new multi layer composite system, never used before on a automobile, lighter then carbon fiber, but equal strong
• Production starts 2011, delivery of the cars at Le Mans