Henderson Insurance LMP3 Cup Championship enhances regulations 05.07.2017: ... and add new class to series • Silver/Silver ‘Pro’ pairings now allowed for the British

... and add new class to series



•    Silver/Silver ‘Pro’ pairings now allowed for the British LMP3 series

•    Current Bronze/Silver pairings become ‘Pro-Am’ class

•    Snetterton and Donington Park to host final rounds of 2017 Championship


 

The Henderson Insurance LMP3 Cup Championship have announced an update to their regulations for the remainder of the 2017 series as they include Silver/Silver driver pairings alongside their current Bronze/Silver line ups.
 


The Silver/Silver driver pairings will now be permitted in the final two rounds of the ACO-backed series, creating a new ‘Pro’ class for the championship. However, for the remaining two rounds of 2017, these pairings will be exempt from scoring championship points so as not to influence the current championship standings. Any Pro driver line up will also have to serve a longer mandatory pit stop time penalty in an attempt to equalise the two classes.
 


The Bronze/Silver combination that is currently allowed in the championship will become the ‘Pro-Am’ class.
 


The proposal for the 2018 series will be that the ‘Pro’ class will be eligible to score their own championship points and have a separate podium and trophy presentation to the ‘Pro-Am’ class, leading to exciting battles throughout the grid over the year.
 


The decision to amend the regulations for the remaining four races came from requests from teams who have ‘Pro’ driver pairings wanting to enter the championship as well as the huge response to the Sports Insure Young Driver Initiative. Over 100 aspiring racing drivers who want to race an LMP3 car in the championship entered the initiative and were eventually whittled down to the final 10 contestants.
 


These new regulations will come into immediate effect and any ‘Pro’ driver pairings can race at the next event at Snetterton on 12-13 August.
 


Ligier UK will be holding an exclusive two-day test at Snetterton in the lead up to the race weekend on 9-10 August. Any teams wishing to book onto the test should contact Max Gregory on max@unitedautosports.com.
 


The Ecurie Ecosse Ligier JS P3 of Colin Noble and Alasdair McCaig is currently leading the Henderson Insurance LMP3 Cup Championship, with the United Autosports Ligier of Tony Wells and Matt Bell lying second. The final round of the Championship will feature the Sports Insure Celebrity Car, where Sir Chris Hoy will race alongside the winner of the Young Driver Initiative in a United Autosports Ligier JS P3.





Richard Dean, Ligier UK:



“I think the addition of the Pro class into the Henderson Insurance LMP3 Cup Championship is a fantastic idea. I have spoken to teams who have wanted to enter the series, but are struggling to find a bronze driver, so this will give them the opportunity for them to now enter.



 The championship organisers have done a great job in listening to the response from the teams and drivers already in the championship and those wanting to enter to try and evolve the championship. I’m looking forward to seeing who else gets added to the grid and what happens in 2018.”
 


Chris Haynes, Bute Motorsport:


“We are in the first year of an exciting new Championship and we knew that we would likely need to change and develop the format. It’s a hallmark of Bute Motorsport that we listen to our partners; drivers, teams and the ACO. Therefore I am delighted and grateful that the team has been able to implement these changes so quickly and efficiently.



 Now is the right time to make these changes to ensure that our 2018 regulations are clear and founded on proven experience. This change presents a marvellous opportunity for aspiring young drivers to get involved in Le Mans Prototype racing and we are really excited to see how they and the racing develops over the coming rounds.”




Charlotte Lumley-   photo Ligier