Multimatic MDP1
{{short description|Prototype racing car}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox racing car
| Car_name = Multimatic MDP1
Multimatic Ford Focus
| Image = {{Cite web |title=2003 Daytona 24-Hour |url=https://zoompics.com/gallery/2003/03day-2.jpg |access-date=Feb 8, 2025 |website=zoompics.com}}
{{Cite web |title=Multimatic MDP1 - Racing Sports Cars |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/type/Multimatic/MDP1.html |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.racingsportscars.com}}
| Category = Daytona Prototype
| Constructor = Multimatic
| Designer =
| Successor = Proto-Auto Lola B08/70
| Team = {{flagicon|CAN}} Multimatic Motorsports
{{flagicon|USA}} SpeedSource
{{flagicon|USA}} Essex Racing
| Chassis = Carbon Composite Chassis
| Front suspension = Inboard Adj Spring/Damper Units, Blade-Type Anti-Roll Bar
| Rear suspension = Inboard Adj Spring/Damper Units, Blade-Type Anti-Roll Bar
| Length =
| Width =
| Height =
| Engine name = Robert-Yates Racing Ford MOD
| Capacity = {{convert|5000|cc|L cuin|1|abbr=on}}
| Configuration = 32-valve, DOHC V8, w/Variable Inlet Geometry
| Turbo/NA = naturally-aspirated,
| Engine position = mid-mounted
| Gearbox name = EMCO GA45
| Gears = 5 speed
| Type = sequential
| Differential =
| Weight = {{convert|979|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
| Fuel =
| Lubricants =
| Tyres = Goodyear
| Races = 15
| Wins = 0 overall
1 class win
| Cons_champ = 0
| Drivers_champ = 0
| Teams_champ = 0
| Poles = 1
| Podiums = 0
| brakes = AP Racing CP6060 Discs w/CP4260 Calipers
| power = {{cvt|500|hp|PS kW|0|abbr=on}}
| drivers = {{flagicon|CAN}} Scott Maxwell
{{flagicon|AUS}} David Brabham
{{flagicon|CAN}} David Empringham
{{flagicon|CAN}} Ross Bentley
{{flagicon|USA}} Mike Borkowski
{{flagicon|NED}} Arie Luyendyk Jr.
{{flagicon|GBR}} Justin Bell
{{flagicon|USA}} Tom Hessert III
{{flagicon|CAN}} Sylvain Tremblay
{{flagicon|USA}} Gunnar Jeannette {{flagicon|USA}} Kurt Busch
{{flagicon|USA}} Matt Kenseth
{{flagicon|USA}} Greg Biffle
{{flagicon|USA}} Jeff Bucknum
| last_season =
| last_event = 2007 Montreal 400k
| debut = 2003 24 Hours of Daytona
| fastest laps = 0
| wheelbase = {{cvt|2790|mm|in|abbr=on}}
}}
The Multimatic MDP1 (also referred to as the Multimatic Ford Focus{{Cite web |date=2002-07-15 |title=Fancy Focus: Ford, Multimatic join to do Daytona prototype |url=https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2111536/fancy-focus-ford-multimatic-join-do-daytona-prototype/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Autoweek |language=en-US}}) 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.{{Cite web |date=Mar 1, 2003 |title=Robert Yates' Electronically Fuel-Injected Four Valve V-8 Engine - Reality Racing |url=https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/m5lp-0309-robert-yates-electronically-fuel-injected-four-valve-v8-engine/ |access-date=Jan 16, 2025 |website=www.motortrend.com}} A total of four cars were built.{{Cite web |title=World Sports Racing Prototypes - Multimatic chassis numbers |url=http://www.wsrp.cz/chassis/chassis_multimatic.html |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=www.wsrp.cz}}{{Cite web |last=D |first=Nick |date=2016-04-19 |title=2003 Multimatic Daytona Prototype |url=https://www.supercars.net/blog/2003-multimatic-daytona-prototype/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Supercars.net |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=2003 Multimatic-Ford Focus Daytona Prototype Specifications - Auto Specifications |url=http://auto-specs.zercustoms.com/m/multimatic-ford-focus/2003-multimatic-ford-focus-daytona-prototype-specifications.html |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=auto-specs.zercustoms.com}}{{Cite web |title=Multimatic MDP1 - All Results - Racing Sports Cars |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/type/results/Multimatic/MDP1.html |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.racingsportscars.com}}
The chassis would form the basis of the second-generation Daytona Prototype, Proto-Auto Lola B08/70.{{Cite web |date=31 December 2016 |title=2016 Goodbyes: Daytona Prototypes |url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Multimatic-MDP1.jpg |access-date=Feb 8, 2025 |website=dailysportscar.com}}
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.{{Cite web |title=dailysportscar.com |url=http://archive.dailysportscar.com/subscribers/news/grandam/2003grandam/grandam037.htm |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=archive.dailysportscar.com}}
= 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.{{Cite web |title=Daytona 24 Hours 2004 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Daytona-2004-02-01.html |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.racingsportscars.com}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Homestead 250 Miles 2004 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Homestead-2004-02-29.html |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.racingsportscars.com}}
= 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.{{Cite web |title=24 Hours of Daytona |url=http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=12227 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.ultimateracinghistory.com}}{{Cite web |title=Grand Am – Rolex 24 At Daytona – Hours 22, 23, 24 |url=http://archive.dailysportscar.com/subscribers/grandam/2005/rolex24/05race8.htm |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=archive.dailysportscar.com}} Blackforest Motorsports also retired from the race due to damage from an accident.
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.{{Cite web |last=Horrocks |first=Gary |date=11 Oct 2005 |title=Multimatic & Fabcar Aero Changes |url=http://archive.dailysportscar.com/subscribers/news/grandam/2005grandam/grandam248.htm |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=archive.dailysportscar.com}} 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.{{Cite web |date=25 Jul 2007 |title=Last Run For The Multimatic |url=http://archive2.dailysportscar.com/viewArticle.cfm@articleUID=FCBA8BCC-1143-FDC9-3576E3895AEC365E.html |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=archive2.dailysportscar.com}}{{Cite web |date=22 Mar 2007 |title=Lola And Krohn Racing Behind The New DP |url=http://archive2.dailysportscar.com/viewArticle.cfm@articleUID=7C11A4E7-1143-FDC9-3557F75F36BFED55.html |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=archive2.dailysportscar.com}}