Murphy Prototypes
Founded | 2012 |
---|---|
Team principal(s) | Greg Murphy |
Current series | Le Mans Cup |
Former series | European Le Mans Series |
Noted drivers | Karun Chandhok Rodolfo González Nathanaël Berthon Pipo Derani Brendon Hartley |
Murphy Prototypes is an Irish auto racing team founded by ex-single seater racer Greg Murphy. The team is based in Dublin and currently, compete in the Le Mans running a Duqueine D-08 in the LMP3 Class.
History
[edit]The team was founded in January 2012 by former Asian Formula Three Championship driver Greg Murphy. They entered into that years European Le Mans Series in the LMP2 class with an Oreca 03-Nissan. During the opening round of the season at Paul Ricard, they bowed out early after just 64 laps but finished third at the following round in Donington. The team were also accepted to compete at Le Mans along with 19 other LMP2 entrants. They fielded a strong line up which included Mercedes AMG Formula One test driver at the time Brendon Hartley who now competes in Toyota LMP1 programme. The team were highly competitive throughout the race and led for a number of times in the LMP2 class before a gearbox failure in the middle of the night put an end to their maiden Le Mans voyage.
2013 is arguably Murphy Prototypes best season to date. They finished fourth in the 2013 European Le Mans Series season which saw the team pick up their first victory in the ELMS at the final round in Paul Ricard. They also finished well at Le Mans as the Oreca-Nissan of Murphy Prototypes finished 12th overall and sixth in the LMP2 class. The team signed former Formula One driver Karun Chandhok for the race.
Murphy's 2014 campaign saw them finish seventh in the 2014 ELMS standings having earned just one podium in the opening round at Silverstone. Their Le Mans 2014 campaign lasted just 73 laps after a collision during a spell of torrential rain with fellow LMP2 competitors Greaves Motorsport put an abrupt end to their race.
For 2015, Murphy Prototypes have been successfully entered into the European Le Mans Series and the Le Mans 24 Hours for the fourth consecutive year although they have yet to sign any drivers for the season.
For the 2023 season Murphy Protoypes will return to racing by entering a full season in the Michelin Le Mans Cup.
Other ventures
[edit]In addition to their racing team division, Murphy Prototypes also has an 'Alternative Powered Vehicles' division which specialise in designing cars based around alternative power sources such as electricity.[2] Team principal Greg Murphy is well established in the alternative fuels market having already founded Biodiesel Ireland in 2004 and Greenwell Resources in 2010.
Racing record
[edit]24 Hours of Le Mans results
[edit]Year | Entrant | No. | Car | Drivers | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Murphy Prototypes | 48 | Oreca 03-Nissan | Jody Firth Brendon Hartley Warren Hughes | LMP2 | 196 | DNF | DNF |
2013 | Murphy Prototypes | 48 | Oreca 03-Nissan | Karun Chandhok Brendon Hartley Mark Patterson | LMP2 | 319 | 12th | 6th |
2014 | Murphy Prototypes | 48 | Oreca 03R-Nissan | Nathanaël Berthon Karun Chandhok Rodolfo González | LMP2 | 73 | DNF | DNF |
2015 | Murphy Prototypes | 48 | Oreca 03R-Nissan | Nathanaël Berthon Karun Chandhok Mark Patterson | LMP2 | 347 | 13th | 5th |
2016 | Murphy Prototypes | 48 | Oreca 03R-Nissan | Jeroen Bleekemolen Marc Goossens Ben Keating | LMP2 | 323 | 34th | 15th |
References
[edit]- ^ "Murphy Prototypes Gear Up for 2015 Season". benchwarmers.ie. 27 February 2015. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "Murphy Prototypes – Alternative Powered Vehicles". murphyprototypes.com. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.