LMP3 Cup Australia has confirmed it will make its debut on the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships calendar next year.

Category Manager, Tony Manson, said there was strong interest in the category, which would feature five rounds in 2020, with four on the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships card.

“LMP3 cars with their Nissan V8s really suit the Australian taste for V8-engined racing and at the same time, with their purpose-built, pure race car design provide the spectacle of fast but close Sports-Prototype racing that we have missed in Australia for quite some time now,” Manson said.

“We have strong interest from Australian teams, have already received entries from overseas teams and our weekend schedule, providing hour-long, two-driver races fits the ethos of Sports-Prototype racing and gives more drivers the opportunity to be part of the series and potentially carve themselves out a Sports-Prototype career both here in Australia and overseas.”

“We have information on the wide range of affordable cars available for purchase and also on the details of our series and I urge those interested in finding out more to contact us directly so we can share that information with them.”

The LMP3 Cup Australia will run to the international Automobile Club De l’Ouest (ACO) Sprint cup format of two, one-hour races at each event, with 90 minutes of practice and 30 minute qualifying sessions across the weekend, subject to event scheduling.

Eligible chassis are ADESS 03, Ginetta LMP3, Ligier JS P3 and Norma M30, all utilising a 5.0L V8 Nissan VK50 engine and X-trac gearbox prepared by ORECA motorsport.

The round not part of the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships will see the category make a second appearance at Sydney Motorsport Park in September, as part of the Sydney Master Blast, with an evening race expected to be part of proceedings.

The calendar has been set to avoid international Le Mans Series date clashes, allowing all competitors in the Australian series the freedom to compete in the Asian Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

LMP3 Cup Australia – 2020 Calendar
Round 1: 27-29 March, Sydney Motorsport Park
Round 2: 1-3 May, Winton Raceway
Round 3: 21-23 August, Phillip Island
Round 4: 4-6 September, Sydney Motorsport Park
Round 5: 11-13 September, Sandown International Raceway