By alley - Oct 2, 2015, 12:18 PM ET

ELMS: United Autosports switches to Ligier P3

United Autosports will run two Ligier JS P3 cars in the 2016 European Le Mans Series. The switch from its original plans to run two Ginetta-Nissan LMP3 cars in the series comes as the team looks to concentrate on longer-term business plans.

After consultation with all parties involved in its fledgling LMP3/ELMS campaign, the team has invested in a brace of Ligier JS P3 chassis, which offers the Leeds, UK-based team a smoother transition to ultimately graduate into the LMP2 category and eventually compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours – the Anglo-American team's ultimate aim.

Ligier has also been named as one of the chassis manufacturers eligible to supply LMP2 chassis to

the new Daytona Prototype international (DPi) category starting in 2017

, allowing the team to branch out into racing in the IMSA series in the US at world-renowned tracks such as Daytona and Sebring.

United Autosports will take delivery of its first Ligier JS P3 at the end of the year and will begin an intensive testing schedule shortly after. The team will continue to support Ginetta with its season-long involvement in the inaugural LMP3 ELMS program, with its supply of equipment, staff and logistics support to the Ginetta factory squad, Team LNT.