- ELMS LMP3 Champions confirm second car for ACO-backed British championship
- Radical Champion Tony Wells switches to LMP3 for 2017
- Second United Autosports programme for Matt Bell
United Autosports have confirmed their second driver line up for the 2017 Henderson Insurance LMP3 Cup Championship.
Tony Wells and Matt Bell will team up to race a Ligier JS P3 sports prototype in the ACO-backed championship – the only one of its kind in Britain.
Tony has been racing Radical sports cars since 2011 and is reigning Radical European Masters Champion, scorning nine wins and 13 podiums throughout the 2016 season. He also contested three 2016 European Le Mans Series races with RLR Msport, also in a Ligier JS P3. Tony is also taking part in the 2017 ELMS with British outfit 360 Racing.
The Henderson Insurance LMP3 Cup Championship will be the second championship Matt Bell enters in United Autosports colours in 2017. He will also be racing alongside Jim McGuire in the Michelin Le Mans Cup. Matt has raced for the Yorkshire-based team since their first year of racing in 2010, coming fourth in the European Le Mans Series last year.
Matt and Tony have attended various United Autosports exclusive test days, including a rain-soaked test in Portimao, Portugal to prepare for the upcoming season.
The first round of the Henderson Insurance LMP3 Cup Championship is at Donington Park on 22-23 April. United Autosports will be taking the opportunity to announce their exciting forthcoming plans for the championship alongside series organisers, Bute Motorsport and series sponsors, Henderson Insurance Brokers.
Tony Wells, driver, United Autosports:
“I’m very excited to be joining the new Henderson Insurance LMP3 Cup Championship as part of the United Autosports team. In testing, the team has provided the perfect environment of a competitive car whilst also having fun. In Matt I have a team mate who is not only fast but a good laugh too. I can’t wait for Donington!”
Matt Bell, driver, United Autosports:
“I’m very excited to be working with Tony in the British Henderson Insurance LMP3 Cup Championship. I raced against him in a couple of races in the ELMS last year and saw some great potential in him, so I’m looking forward to working with him and seeing what we can achieve. He’s been really quick in the testing we’ve done so far so I’ve got high hopes. The championship is a very exciting prospect and when it was announced I made it one of my priorities to try and be involved in it. Having a successful British series is very important for LMP3 and British motorsport.”
Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director, United Autosports:
“It’s great to have Tony and Matt on board for the 2017 season in the brand new British LMP3 series. The Henderson Insurance LMP3 Cup Championship is the perfect platform for people like Tony, who want to race a prototype at an affordable cost. It also provides the great step ladder to racing prototypes in Europe and eventually at the Le Mans 24 Hours.”