Vallelunga, Italy, Sunday 2nd September 2001: In brilliant sunshine, Gary Formato took the chequered flag in the Lanesra Racing Panoz LMP1 Roadster to win the final round of the 2001 European Le Mans Series at the Autodromo di Vallelunga near Rome. Formato, and co-driver Richard Dean, drove superbly, finishing 3 laps ahead of the RML Saleen of Chris Goodwin and Ian McKellar Jnr. While the Panoz was in a class of its own, the two GTS Saleens and a brace of GT Porsches led by the Harlow Motorsport entered car, provided the Italian crowd with all the action they could take in.
The Konrad Motorsport Saleen S7R was forced to start the race from the back of the grid after having the qualifying times disallowed for a technical infringement. Franz Konrad sliced his way through the field to end the opening lap in 5th place and was up into 3rd two laps later, just seven seconds adrift of the RML Saleen in 2nd place. McKellar, in the RML car, was able to control the gap and when the Panoz dived into the pitlane for the teams first stop, the Englishman found himself in the lead. For ten minutes the Saleen continued to lap at the head of the field until Richard Dean, now at the wheel of the Panoz, regained the lead. This was the moment that McKellar and Konrad both decided to pit. While the RML team refuelled, changed the tyres and Chris Goodwin took over the driving duties, Franz Konrad just took on fuel, the team working quickly to get the car back on the track well ahead of the rival Saleen. Goodwin started to reel in the leading Saleen but Konrad had a huge advantage and held onto his lead until the next set of pitstops. A spin into the gravel by Walter Brun ended this wonderful battle at the two hour mark. The car was recovered but by the time Konrad took to the track again the team was 20 laps adrift and running in 10th place. Ian McKellar Jnr took the chequered flag three laps adrift of the Panoz, taking another convincing victory in the GTS category and clinching the 2001 ELMS GTS drivers crown and the manufacturers title for the Wellingborough based team.
