The organisers of the popular GT Cup series, Bute Motorsport, are actively working on plans for a prototype series which could feature the latest in Le Mans machinery.
Bute Motorsport are targeting a 2017 roll out for the new championship targeting three distinct types of prototype machinery for their one-hour race series.
The first class targeted for the championship is LMP3. Created by the ACO to act as a step up to LMP2, the LMP3 championship has proved popular with constructors including Ginetta, Ligier and ADESS producing dozens of chassis for competition in the Asian and the European Le Mans Series.
The second class would consist of cars complying to the FIA’s CN prototype regulations and the final class would accept non-LMP3/CN prototypes from manufacturers like Saker, Aquila and Radical.
“This is an idea I’ve been working on for a while now,” said Bute Motorsport technical co-ordinator Phil Boland. “The new GT3 specification cars are costing half a million Euros so we see this as an opportunity because there are plenty of people out there in the market for a serious racing car who don’t want to be spending that kind of money. The LMP3 fits the bill perfectly and they are great looking cars so why not have them racing in a UK championship.”
Bute Motorsport’s plans are already generating interest with tyre maker Pirelli throwing their support behind the idea, with championship organisers working with Motorsport Vision Racing on potential dates. At the moment it is slated that the championship will join the GT Cup series when it goes onto the Grand Prix circuits.
