Rollcentre back to prototypes in LMP3

The Rollcentre team that finished fourth overall at the 2007 Le Mans 24 Hours will end a six-year absence from the prototype ranks in the new LMP3 category next season. The British squad is purchasing a Ginetta-Juno LMP3 with which it plans to enter the five-round European Le Mans Series, in which it raced successfully in LMP1 and P2 between 2004 and '08.

"I never really envisaged being able to return to prototypes, but [Ginetta boss] Lawrence Tomlinson's LMP3 car caught my eye," Team boss Martin Short said. "To be able to race in such a high-profile series with a quality car costing just $230,000 is unbelievable.

"We are going back to something we loved and getting the chance to work again with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest [which is behind LMP3 and runs the ELMS]."

Fifty-five-year-old Short, who shared the fourth-placed Pescarolo-Judd 01 at Le Mans (pictured below) with Joao Barbosa and Stuart Hall in 2007, is unlikely to race the car himself.

"I'm happy to be team manager running a car like this in such a high-level series," he said.

Short is looking for drivers with budget to drive the Nissan-engined P3, as well as seeking sponsorship.

"We are aiming to get the best drivers possible, but we are doing this as a business, so it will be a balancing act," he explained.

Rollcentre has joined Greaves Motorsport, University of Bolton/RLR Motorsports, Spanish squad Speed Factory Racing and the Lanan team that ran 2013 and '14 BRDC Formula 4 champions Jake Hughes and George Russell in ordering Ginetta-Junos.

Ginetta also plans to run two works cars, one of which will be driven by record-breaking Olympian Sir Chris Hoy in the next step in his quest to race in the Le Mans 24 Hours.