ELMS: Murphy expands into LMP3 with Riley
European Le Mans Series race winner Murphy Prototypes will expand into the LMP3 class with the US Riley-Ave marque this season. Murphy, a regular in LMP2 in the ELMS since 2012, will field a solo Nissan-powered Riley-Ave AR-2 LMP3 with factory support in the six-round series.
The drivers will be Tony Ave, whose Ave Motorsport builds the Riley design, and fellow American Doug Peterson. Both are two-time champions in the Trans-Am Series.
Murphy boss Greg Murphy revealed that talks about an LMP3 program in Europe followed conversations with Riley Technologies about its 2017 LMP2 project undertaken in conjunction with Multimatic.
"That's how it all started, but we quickly started talking about the LMP3 car," said Murphy. "After four years the ELMS as a private entry, we are delighted to be running a factory-endorsed team for the first time."
The Anglo-Irish squad will continue in LMP2 using its existing ORECA-Nissan 03R with drivers that have yet to be disclosed. Murphy would not be drawn on whether his team could expand its relationship with Riley when the new breed of LMP2 chassis comes on stream in 2017.
The first AR-2 is expected to test imminently following delays after Ave Motorsports opted to take more of the manufacturing in house.
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