How to define Don Panoz in a word? That's the challenge presented to drivers, team managers and many others involved in American endurance. But he is definitely multi-faceted.

Founder of the Mylan American laboratories, he left the company at the end of the 1960s when it denied the potential of nicotine patches.Certainly the right move as his decision led him to his fortune: even today the Élan Corporation still holds the patent for nicotine replacement products.

Eclectic by nature, the Italian-American businessman invested in vineyards, resorts and automotives, especially motorsports. While cars with front engines were all but obsolete in competition, Panoz brought out his roadster, called the Batmobile, at the end of the 1990s. Unable to compete with the budgets of the big manufacturers, Panoz developed the Esperante which clinched a class win at the 12 Hours of Sebring and at the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Two years later at Petit Le Mans he presented the DeltaWing, which made its debut in competition in 2012 at Garage 56 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans reserved for innovative projects. Though the car did not cross the finish because another competitor caused it to incur an incident, it had indeed performed well.

It is still currently entered in the American endurance championship but will bid adieu to competition in January at the Rolex 24 at Daytona due to technical regulations modifications. However, Don Panoz, who has presented the new Panoz Esperante Avezzano, is far from finished with competition because he still has dreams to make a reality!

Video: YouTube - Panoz DeltaWing Racing