LMP3 racing is coming to the UK this year courtesy of Bute Motorsport’s new Prototype Cup initiative
Europe won’t be the sole place for LMP3 cars to race as of next month, when Bute Motorsport’s new Prototype Cup initiative begins at Snetterton.
The new series aims to run six rounds next season, with a pilot event at the Norfolk circuit on October 8/9. The class – run by the organiser of the successful GT Cup Championship – caters for any variant of LMP3 car running to ACO regulations.
So far the class has attracted support from French giant Ligier and Ave-riley as well as Le Mans organiser the Automobile Club de l’ouest, which has given its blessing to the first national series dedicated to LMP3.
“The Prototype Cup will cater to a variety of drivers – from professional ones looking to gain extra mileage around their international LMP3 campaigns – to amateur drivers wanting to build experience before stepping up to something like the European Le Mans Series,” says series head Phil Boland.
United Autosports is the first squad to sign up with a multi-car team, with Tockwith Motorsport following along with Murphy Prototypes. Other squads – such as Porsche Carrera Cup giant Redline Racing – have also expressed interest in getting involved.
UA head Richard Dean says: “The series’ foundations are great. LMP3 is aspirational. If a driver is big on motorsport chances are Le Mans is on the bucket list, and these are real Le Mans Prototypes running on our doorstep. The cars are built to last and guaranteed to run for way more mileage than something like a single ELMS campaign and they’re good on spares and consumables. Budgets shouldn’t be too much more than top-level GT4 racing.”