Murphy Prototypes has confirmed  that Brendon Hartley will join the team for the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend alongside Jody Firth and Warren Hughes.

New Zealand born Brendon has contested a variety of single seater championships, but the opportunity to race with Murphy Prototypes affords him his first endurance race in an Oreca 03-Nissan LMP2 car.

In 2008 Brendon competed in the British Formula Three Championship for Carlin Motorsport, winning five times and finishing the championship in third position. Last year he finished 7th overall in the Formula Renault 3.5 series with Gravity-Charouz Racing whilst also competing in the GP2 Series from round eight with Ocean Racing Technology, with who he remains for 2012.

Brendon was only 18 years old when he first tasted Formula 1 with Red Bull Racing at a show run in 2008. In 2009 and 2010 he was the official reserve driver for both RBR and Toro Rosso F1 teams.

In March 2012 he took part in a short test at HTTT Paul Ricard, France, behind the wheel of a Nissan-powered Oreca 03s where he showed good pace and consistency. He will now be joining the field of the fastest closed-wheel racing cars in circuit racing at the iconic circuit in Spa, Belgium, with Murphy Prototypes this weekend, 5th May 2012.

Greg Murphy, Murphy Prototype Racing Founder

“Murphy Prototypes Le Mans Team hopes that with Brendon in the car, alongside Jody and Warren, we will be able to fight for honours at the highest level at the next World Endurance Championship round in Spa. He has good all round motor racing experience and following his few test laps in an LMP2 car in March, we are confident that he will feel right at home when he joins us for his first endurance race this weekend.”

Brendon Hartley

“I am very excited to have my first taste of endurance racing! Together with Jody and Warren I think we should have a chance of a good result. Big thanks to Murphy Prototypes for the great opportunity.”