This car has had many lives.  It has served duty as a “spec” Challenge car in the early years of the FFR Challenge Series, It morphed into a “take no prisoners” super-unlimited class racecar, and most recently became a member of the 2006 Champ Car “Fast Laps” program. 

Built by Panoz Auto Development back in April of 2003 under a pilot program (FFR worked with Panoz to develop a reliable and consistent source for factory built Challenge cars), this car was one of three vehicles built simultaneously by the crew at Panoz to complete a costing and feasibility study.  The two sister vehicles are competing in the Challenge Series today.  Once complete, the bright red w/white stripes race car was raced in the series and at open track events.

Following a season as a “spec legal” Challenge car, the car was heavily modified by FFR’s R&D department as part of an evaluation of building Challenge cars with bigger brakes, higher Hp, and overall higher performance.  The work saw the addition of a 425 hp Roush 331 cu in engine, 3.27 ratio rear gears, huge Cobra brakes and upgraded shocks/springs and three link rear suspension. 

The car qualified 8^th at the Charlie Gibson 300 at VIR and spent a season as FFR President Dave Smith’s personal race car.

In early 2006 the folks from Champ Car requested two FFR demo cars for the 2006 “Fast Laps program” (we shipped them a coupe and this car).  The challenge car was modified with sponsor parts such as BBS wheels, Bridgestone tires, Ford Racing parts (although we kept the Roush engine underneath), and was painted Blue and Silver by the paint sponsor Sherwin Williams. 

A full sponsor decal set was added.  The car’s race cage was modified to make entry and exit easier for passengers (side cage bar was pulled back slightly) and a full windshield was added also for passenger comfort.

Following the 2006 season the car was returned to us here at FFR and has been on display in the showroom.  Thanks to the windshield and street rubber, the car is the perfect street/track machine.

Features:

·        Roush 331 cu in engine w/EFI

·        Tremec 3550 Transmission

·        Ford Racing Cobra Brakes, 13” front and 11.65” rear

·        3-Link competition rear suspension w/3.55 gears

·        Front tubular lower control arms, rod-end kit and power steering

·        18” Koning “Villian” aluminum wheels

·        Bridgestone Potenza 275/35 ZR18 wheels

·        Kirkey aluminum pro road race seats

·        Dual driver/passenger 5 point Simpson harnesses

·        22 gallon Competition Fuel Safe fuel cell

·        Powdercoated chassis