Birthday: 22 July
Birthplace: Epsom, UK
Residence: Phoenix, AZ
Website: ijracer.com
Hailing from Epsom, UK Ian James is one of the most successful and versatile race drivers of his day. Widely recognized as a top-notch endurance and road racing professional, James won the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) P2 championship, Rookie of the Year honors, and three victories including the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2004.
James is one of only a handful of race drivers who has won races in the Prototype, GT, Grand Sport and Sport touring classes. And he needs no introduction to Panoz and Tom Milner, having driven for Tom Milner and PTG Inc. when it fielded the Panoz Esperante in 2009 and the Panoz Abruzzi in 2010 and 2011. James will campaign the No. 50 Panoz Avezzano.
Preston Calvert
Originally from Williamsport, Pa. but raised in Texas and Florida, Calvert is an accomplished neurologist and neuro-ophthalmologist, and was one of only about 200 doctors who practice neuro-ophthalmology full-time in the United States. He served 15 years in the U.S. Army as a commissioned officer, finishing with the rank of Major.
Following a nearly 30-year military, academic and private practice medical career, Calvert became hooked on sports car racing in 2011, driving a Mazda MX-5 at the Skip Barber Racing School. He soon made it a goal to become a successful amateur race car driver.
Since his first race in June 2012, where he admits he finished “pretty far back,” Calvert has steadily progressed and is achieving his goal. Milestones include the
- 2014 SCCA Majors Club Racing Touring 2 National Points Championship
- Three SCCA National Runoffs podium finishes (including two classes in 2017 at Indianapolis)
- Seven current SCCA Majors Club Racing track records
- Four Pirelli World Challenge GT Cup podiums including two wins, and two PWC SprintX GT class wins.
He serves as a Medical Adviser to the Pirelli World Challenge series, with a special interest in reducing minor traumatic brain injury in racing drivers. Calvert currently lives in Potomac, Md. with his wife, Margaret Guerin-Calvert.
Mathew Keegan
Keegan joins Team Panoz Racing to co-drive the No. 50 Panoz Avezzano GT with Ian James at the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge GTS Championship’s SprintX race weekends.
He started racing in Simraceway’s 2015 Formula 3 Racing Series, then competed in the 2016 Ferrari Challenge North America Coppa Shell Series and finished second with five wins. In 2017 he joined IMSA’s Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge Series driving the No. 77 Santo Mezquila/Misahara Jewelry McLaren 570S GT4 for Compass Racing and earned four podiums and finished third in the Driver’s Championship. Keegan also co-drove the No. 22 United Autosports Ligier JS P3 at the 2016 Gulf 12 Hours at Abu Dhabi and finished third in the LMP3 class.
Keegan lives in Long Beach, Calif., with his wife Sarah and their two children, Cole and Sophie.
The Crew
Assistant Team Manager: Stef Chistel
Team Coordinator: Dava McCain
Race Engineer: Stefan Pfeiffer
Race Engineer: Grady Young
Engine Specialist: Chris Smith, Elan Power Products
Data / Electronics: Josh Foley
Mechanic: Paul Caves
Mechanic: Paul Taylor
Mechanic: Richard Hassel
Fabricator: Jim Handyside
Fabricator / Bodywork: Jason Howe
Truck drivers: Andy McLean & Mike Farel
PR: Carlin Sanderson, Carlin Media.
Marketing: Lucy Smith
#50 & #51 Panoz Avezzano GTs
Engine Type: LS3-based Elan Power Products V8
Top speed: 185 mph
Front wheel size: 18” diameter, 11” wide
Rear wheel size: 18” diameter, 11” wide
Front tire: 305/680/18 Pirelli P Zero
Rear tire: 305/680/18 Pirelli P Zero
Weight: 3400 lbs without fuel or driver
Overall length: 182”
Overall width: 80”
6.2L Elan Power Aluminum Block, Dry-Sump, Poshrod V-8. EMCO 6-Speed Sequential Transmission with Megaline Paddle Shift System. Clutch Type Limited Slip Differential. Performance Friction Monobloc 6-piston front, 4-piston rear, brake calipers. Ohlins adjustable dampers. Forgeline 1pc. wheels. Full carbon fiber body. ATL Fuel Cell. Motec ECU & Data Acquisition system. Bosch M4 ABS system. Custom carbon fiber motorsports steering wheel with integrated electronics. Willans 6pt safety harness. Sparco Pro-ADV competition seat. Driver cooling system.
