Murphy Switches to Ligier JS P3 for Imola

Photo: Murphy Prototypes

Murphy Prototypes will enter a Ligier JS P3 Nissan with three new drivers in the European Le Mans Series Four Hours of Imola this weekend.

The Irish team is awaiting its new Ave-Riley AR-2, which is currently undergoing homologation inspection and testing in the U.S.

For the season-opening Four Hours of Silverstone in April, the team used a Ginetta LMP3 machine, but will enter a Ligier this time around.

In addition to the new car, the team has enlisted a new trio of drivers for its attack on the LMP3 category. Barrie Baxter, Alex Kapadia and Rob Garofall are set to share the JS P3.

Baxter is currently racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB series, and makes his ELMS debut at Imola.

Kapadia is slightly more experienced having raced for the team once in 2014. More recently, the 35 year-old has competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship, Asian Le Mans Series and 24H Series, among other events.

Garofall won the LMP3 class at Imola last year with University of Bolton, and also competed in the team’s British GT GT4 program that year.

As a result of the Ave-Riley’s ongoing testing, Doug Peterson and Tony Ave are unavailable for this weekend’s race; the pair having competed at Silverstone.

“I’m delighted that Barrie, Alex and Rob are joining us at Imola,” said team principal Greg Murphy.

“I’m also pleased that we will have a Ligier too, which puts us on a level playing field with the other LMP3 teams that all have the same machinery.

“The combination of a state-of-the-art car and a great driver line up means that we have a real chance of a top result and a podium position.”

This news means that the entire LMP3 field – the largest class in ELMS – will be made up of Ligier JS P3s.

Murphy Prototypes announced its LMP2 line-up for this weekend on Monday.

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.