Mowlem returns to ELMS with Greaves

Reigning GTE class champion Johnny Mowlem will return to the European Le Mans Series in the prototype ranks with Greaves Motorsport at Paul Ricard later this month.

Mowlem, who has been out of a ride since the closure of the Ram Ferrari team with which he and Matt Griffin claimed the title in 2013, will race one of the the Greaves Zytek-Nissan Z11SN LMP2s together with America's Matt McMurry and a yet-to-be-determined teammate.

The drive is a result of Mowlem's links with the Dyson Racing team, which has signed 16-year-old McMurry to its new driver development program and funds the #41 Greaves entry.

"Chris [Dyson, team boss] asked me if I was available because he is so busy with their Bentley program in the Pirelli World Challenge," Mowlem explained. "I'm excited to be getting back in a Zytek for the first time in a few years."

Mowlem contested three American Le Mans Series events at the wheel of a Dyson Lola-Mazda B12/60 in 2012-13, finishing second at Virginia International Raceway in each year.

Tom Kimber-Smith, who contested the first three ELMS races with Greaves, is not expected to race the car at Ricard.

Mowlem has also been confirmed with the BAR1 Motorsports Prototype Challenge squad for the final two United SportsCar Championship rounds at Circuit of The Americas and Road Atlanta for Petit Le Mans.

BAR1 team owner Brian Alder, whose team has raced sporadically in PC this season, said: "We are delighted that a driver of Johnny's quality and experience became available at this stage in the season. We look forward to working with him over the final races and in particular at the final round at Petit Le Mans with a view to hopefully doing a full season together in 2015."

Teammates for Mowlem at BAR1 are expected to be announced at the end of the week.