Multimatic MDP1

Multimatic MDP1
Multimatic Ford Focus

[1] [2]
Category	Daytona Prototype
Constructor	Multimatic
Successor	Proto-Auto Lola B08/70
Technical specifications
Chassis	Carbon Composite Chassis
Suspension (front)	Inboard Adj Spring/Damper Units, Blade-Type Anti-Roll Bar
Suspension (rear)	Inboard Adj Spring/Damper Units, Blade-Type Anti-Roll Bar
Wheelbase	2,790 mm (110 in)
Engine	Robert-Yates Racing Ford MOD 5,000 cc (5.0 L; 305.1 cu in) 32-valve, DOHC V8, w/Variable Inlet Geometry naturally-aspirated, mid-mounted
Transmission	EMCO GA45 5 speed sequential
Power	500 hp (507 PS; 373 kW)
Weight	979 kg (2,158.3 lb)
Brakes	AP Racing CP6060 Discs w/CP4260 Calipers
Tyres	Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants	Multimatic Motorsports SpeedSource Essex Racing
Notable drivers	Scott Maxwell David Brabham David Empringham Ross Bentley Mike Borkowski Arie Luyendyk Jr. Justin Bell Tom Hessert III Sylvain Tremblay Gunnar Jeannette Kurt Busch Matt Kenseth Greg Biffle Jeff Bucknum
Debut	2003 24 Hours of Daytona
Last event	2007 Montreal 400k
Races Wins Podiums Poles F/Laps 15 0 overall 1 class win 0 1 0
Teams' Championships	0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Multimatic MDP1 (also referred to as the Multimatic Ford Focus ^[3] ) is a first-generation Daytona Prototype race car, designed, developed and built by American manufacturer Multimatic, for the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, in 2003. It was powered by a Robert-Yates Racing Ford V8 engine. ^[4] A total of four cars were built. ^{[5] [6] [7] [8]}

The chassis would form the basis of the second-generation Daytona Prototype, Proto-Auto Lola B08/70. ^{[9] [10]}

Competition history

2003

The car made its debut in the hands of the factory team, Multimatic Motorsports, and achieved a class win at the 24 Hours of Daytona albeit fourth overall. This would be the highest result for the car throughout its career. SpeedSource would campaign a car for the final four rounds of the season with a best finish of seventh overall at the VIR 400. Essex Racing, who also ordered a car, finished 29th overall at the final race of the season. ^[11]

2004

At the opening race at Daytona, four chassis were entered with two each from SpeedSource and Essex Racing. All four cars would run into mechanical issues and eventually retired from the race. ^[12] They would continue to run the car and found modest success. Essex Racing finished in the overall top ten a total of three times while SpeedSource had its highest finish of 11th at the first race at Homestead. ^[13]

2005–2007

A factory run entry by Multimatic at the 2005 24 Hours of Daytona saw the #49 driven by NASCAR drivers Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle. The car would run into mechanical problems for a second year in a row at Daytona when Biffle stopped on track with less than an hour to go. ^{[14] [15]} Blackforest Motorsports also retired from the race due to damage from an accident. ^[14]

The car did not appear in any other races for 2005, with the chassis at a significant aero disadvantage especially when compared to the dominant Riley MKXI. Grand-Am allowed Multimatic to make changes to make the chassis more competitive. ^[16] Despite this, no team would run the MDP1 in 2006.

In 2007, Multimatic would run the car in its final race at the Montreal 400k with drivers Scott Maxwell and Gunnar Jeanette. They would be classified 35th but, retired from the race. The reason for the entry was due to Grand-Am rules where Proto-Auto (association between Lola and Krohn Racing) bought the constructor's license from Multimatic. That partnership led to the Proto-Auto Lola B08/70. ^{[17] [9]}

References

1. "2003 Daytona 24-Hour". zoompics.com. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
2. "Multimatic MDP1 - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
3. "Fancy Focus: Ford, Multimatic join to do Daytona prototype". Autoweek. July 15, 2002. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
4. "Robert Yates' Electronically Fuel-Injected Four Valve V-8 Engine - Reality Racing". www.motortrend.com. March 1, 2003. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
5. "World Sports Racing Prototypes - Multimatic chassis numbers". www.wsrp.cz. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
6. D, Nick (April 19, 2016). "2003 Multimatic Daytona Prototype". Supercars.net. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
7. "2003 Multimatic-Ford Focus Daytona Prototype Specifications - Auto Specifications". auto-specs.zercustoms.com. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
8. "Multimatic MDP1 - All Results - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
9. "Lola And Krohn Racing Behind The New DP". archive2.dailysportscar.com. March 22, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
10. "2016 Goodbyes: Daytona Prototypes". dailysportscar.com. December 31, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
11. "dailysportscar.com". archive.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
12. "Daytona 24 Hours 2004 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
13. "Homestead 250 Miles 2004 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
14. "24 Hours of Daytona". www.ultimateracinghistory.com. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
15. "Grand Am – Rolex 24 At Daytona – Hours 22, 23, 24". archive.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
16. Horrocks, Gary (October 11, 2005). "Multimatic & Fabcar Aero Changes". archive.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
17. "Last Run For The Multimatic". archive2.dailysportscar.com. July 25, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2025.