Villorba Corse Announces LMP3 Return with Harata

Villorba Corse has announced its return to the LMP3 class of the European Le Mans Series in partnership with Lamborghini Super Trofeo class champion Yuki Harata.

The Italian squad, which recently announced its graduation to the FIA World Endurance Championship with an LMP2-class Dallara, will run a Ligier JS P3 Nissan for Harata and Alessandro Bressan.

It will mark the team’s first season in the LMP3 category since it ran a Ligier JS P3 Nissan in the 2016 competition.

The entry will be known as ACE1 Villorba Corsa, after Harata’s own ACE1 team which is set to compete in prototypes for the first time this year.

Harata, 25, won both the Pirelli World Challenge GT Cup SprintX Pro-Am and Super Trofeo North America Am titles in 2017.

The former downhill skier is coached by Italian racer Bressan and the pair co-drove a Dream Racing-entered Lamborghini Huracan GT3 in selected World Challenge rounds last year.

“The whole team is very motivated for this new adventure,” said Villorba Corse team principal Raimondo Amadio.

“ACE1 Villorba Corse was born to be a further and well-established project that will make our structure even stronger in the world of Le Mans endurance racing.”

Harata added: “I am so happy about this new adventure in Europe. For me, it’s an entirely new experience as in the past two years I’ve been racing in the United States and with GT Cars.

“Everything will be new, from the circuits to the car. I’m glad to be making this big step in my career with a team with so much experience as Villorba Corse.

“I will definitely learn a lot. It’s great to continue to climb the ladder of racing and getting in the prototype scene, I can’t wait to get started.”

Ebimotors Confirms GTE Presence

Ebimotors has confirmed that it will return to the European Le Mans Series this year with a new Porsche 911 RSR.

The Italian squad stepped up to the GTE ranks in 2018 and registered consecutive podiums in its first three races before notching up its first victory with the 911 RSR in the 4 Hours of Spa.

It also made its Le Mans debut last year after qualifying for an automatic invitation for winning the Michelin Le Mans GT3 Cup in 2017.

Drivers for Ebimotors’ sophomore season have yet to be announced.