Sportscar endurance racing team Murphy Prototypes is pleased to announce that it will run the official Ave-Riley LMP3 entry in this year’s European Le Mans Series. The recently concluded deal will see USA engineering and prototyping services group 3-Dimensional become intrinsic partners with the team for what will be the new car’s first season of competition.

The Ave-Riley AR-2 is the latest addition to the LMP3 (Le Mans Prototype class 3) grid, the car one of five approved for the category by the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest) who run the championship. The car is the result of a joint venture between two North Carolina-based companies: Ave Motorsport - who will be responsible for assembling the new prototype sportscars - and Riley Technologies, the well known constructor of the Daytona Prototype chassis.

The Murphy Prototypes LMP3 programme sees a brand new partnership formed between the team and 3-Dimensional Services Group. The company is a well established engineering operation with locations in the USA and Europe that specialises in metal stamping, injection moulding, casting, machining and assembly for functional prototypes and low-volume production.

“After four years of competition in the European Le Mans Series as a private entry, we are delighted to be running a factory endorsed team for the first time”, said Team Principal Greg Murphy. We are also pleased to continue our partnership with Oreca engines into LMP3.

“We are confident that our experience of competing at the front of the field in the LMP2 category, both in the ELMS and at Le Mans, combined with our new partnership with 3-Dimensional, means that we will hit the ground running from the start of the season.”

Driving the car in this year’s six-round European Le Mans Series will be Ave Motorsport CEO Tony Ave, together with regular team mate Doug Peterson - both drivers two-times Trans Am Champions. The team is expected to announce further details of its 2016 programme in the next few weeks.