In this episode of Vintage Car Chronicles, we explore the fascinating story of the DeltaWing, one of motorsport's most radical and distinctive race cars. Designed by engineer Ben Bowlby and backed by racing visionaries Don Panoz and Chip Ganassi, the DeltaWing challenged conventional automotive wisdom with its revolutionary narrow-front, delta-shaped design. Introduced as an experimental entrant at the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours under the Garage 56 category, the DeltaWing aimed to achieve competitive speeds with half the weight, drag, fuel, and tire use of traditional race cars. Despite initial skepticism, the car displayed remarkable performance and efficiency, particularly at the 2012 Petit Le Mans, achieving an impressive fifth-place finish. However, technical challenges and controversies involving intellectual property rights overshadowed its promising results. Join us to uncover the DeltaWing's unique engineering philosophy, its ups and downs in endurance racing, and why it remains one of the boldest experiments in motorsport history.

In this episode of Vintage Car Chronicles, we dive into the intriguing story of the Peugeot 307 WRC, a bold rally car designed to succeed the legendary 206 WRC. Built upon the unusual base of a 307 CC coupé-cabriolet, Peugeot faced significant structural and mechanical challenges, including rigidity issues due to the convertible architecture and persistent reliability concerns. Initially equipped with an uncommon 4-speed sequential gearbox aiming for simplicity and reliability, the 307 WRC soon evolved to a 5-speed Hewland transmission for better adaptability to varying rally conditions. Despite encountering persistent transmission and handling issues, it managed remarkable victories at iconic events like Rally Finland and Rally Japan, driven notably by Marcus Grönholm. Discover how Peugeot overcame the odds, adapted their engineering approach, and left an unforgettable mark in WRC history with this unconventional racer.

In this episode of Vintage Car Chronicles, we explore the fascinating history of Panoz, an American automaker that dared to defy conventions in motorsports. Founded by Dan Panoz in 1989 and backed by his father Don Panoz, the brand revolutionized endurance racing with its front-engine prototypes, including the famous Esperante GTR-1 and LMP-1 Roadster S. Panoz also played a crucial role in creating the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and owned legendary circuits like Sebring and Road Atlanta. Despite its small size, Panoz managed to challenge giants like Audi and Porsche at Le Mans and beyond. Join us as we uncover the innovations, victories, and unique spirit that made Panoz a motorsport legend.