Panoz looking to upset Audi

Although the car is ostensibly the one that made its debut back in 1997, it has undergone intense development this year and has improved front and rear aerodynamics, a new smaller, lighter gearbox and uprated engines.

The revisions have been made to take on the all-conquering Audi R8s and Panoz has been buoyed by its narrow victory over the German marque in the last round of the American Le Mans Series at Sears Point.

The team is certainly not lacking in the driver department and the lead car (of two) of David Brabham, Jan Magnussen and rookie Bryan Herta has one of the strongest line-ups in the field. But the drivers are under no illusions as to the scale of the task that awaits them.

"It really is the biggest race in the world and the level of competition is just so intense," said Brabham. "Quality cars, quality drivers and you have to go flat out for 24 hours - there is no holding back. This race is tough for everybody - the drivers, the engineers, the mechanics - the entire team. However, there is no more rewarding race place to achieve success."

The second factory car has an all-American line-up of Bill Auberlen, David Donohue and Gunnar Jeannette.

First practice/qualifying begins on Wednesday night and www.autosport.com is the best place to keep up to date with the very latest news from the track.