We had not seen Rollcentre Racing and Martin Short in the major international events as Le Mans or the European Le Mans Series since 2008 –the team racing then at Le Mans with a Pescarolo 01-Judd-  even though the team was still racing in European series like Britcar, Dutch Supercar or VdeV (the black Mosler wining in VdeV at Dijon in 2009, driven by Martin Short himself and Jon Barnes, below).

However, Rollcentre Racing will be back this coming season in the European Le Mans Series, entering a new Ginetta-Juno LMP3.

Martin has kindly answered a few questions for Endurance-Info

Martin, what are your feelings about this comeback? Have you been thinking about it for a long time?

I have been dreaming about it, but without a big sponsor or wealthy backer, it just has been too far away financially to consider……. its financial suicide to maintain LMP1 or probably even LMP2 just on driver budget alone. However this category changed the game for me, and it came as quite a shock. The cars look fantastic, have a great equipment specification, and great support from Ginetta. I just went to ginetta to have a look, and suddenly I found myself think “This is really possible!”. So we have done it!

I think its great credit to the ACO that they were brave enough to consider this car, and make many difficult changes en route to get to the right solution. With the V6 engine, this car looked like a slow ugly duckling. With the Nissan V8, its changed the shape, and the concept. Its a real, and fantastic looking car now.

Do you think that the LMP3 category will be very competitive and do you hope that other manufacturers than Ginetta-Juno will build a car too?

It should be competitive yes. The chassis design is by Ewan Baldry, the man behind the very successful Juno sportscars. His partner is Lawrence Tomlinson, the man responsible for changing the face of economic car racing around the world with Ginetta, and with the wealth and enthusiasm (as a Le Mans 24 winner himself) to make sure this is funded well and done right. This actually feels like dealing with Pescarolo again. Car racers building race cars for fellow racers, with economics and performance in their minds, not big profit margins.

I hope that other manufacturers will follow Ginettas lead, we don’t want it to be a one make category, but a true competition. I really hope that LMP3 is the new GT3, but without BOP, without politics, and at less than half the price.

When will you take delivery of your LMP3 and have you already planned a testing schedule?

As decisions on the specification of the car were late, the has put a lot of pressure on getting the cars in time. Oreca and Xtrac are working really hard to get the power and transmission units together in time, but my feeling is that for the Paul Ricard test, there will only be one or two cars, but Ginetta are hoping that all the players will be able to attend and get a feeling for the car. After that, there will be a rush of parts to finish the cars in time for a test day session at Silverstone, hopefully with ACO approval, for all LMP3 competitors, and then into the race. Its going to be very close for sure, but I have confidence in Ginetta, Oreca, and the ACO and ELMS organisers to make this work with satisfaction and success for all stakeholders in this new class.

What sponsors for the LMP3? Will the colour scheme be the same as the image of the press release?

At this moment I have no sponsors. This is all coming from my pocket. Thats how committed I am to this. I am hoping for backers and partners to come forward. Its unlikely I know, but then again I never imagined meeting a Deutsche Bank. Maybe lightning can strike twice : ) At the moment, the car will stay in those Rollcentre colours : )

As, from I understood in the press release, you will not be behind the wheel of the Ginetta-Juno LMP3, have you already an idea of the drivers? (

I would LOVE to be behind the wheel of the car! At the moment, I need to sell the drives to pay our way. If we get some partners, then I will be in the car without hesitation. However I must do what I have to do with the money available. Regards drivers, I just need to get the best drivers together, choosing carefully, with the best budget to do the best job. My hope though is to drive…….

Was the LMP2 entry for Le Mans 2016 a motivating factor for this LMP3 campaign? Are the 24 Hours of Le Mans always in your mind? (below, Vanina Ickx behind the wheel of the the Rollcentre Dallara-Judd at Le Mans 2005) 

Yes, of course, I have not been back to Le Mans since 2008, the pain of not competing there is too much, and for a while I couldn’t watch the TV, but now I sit for the whole race, listening to the sounds of the commentator echoing around the circuit, and the familiar pit entrance horn, the roar of the Corvettes as they launch out of the box……..I want to come back! The entry is a great prize, and my hope is that the LMP3 will prove to be fast and reliable enough for LM24, and become eligible for the race. That would be perfect. But if we are lucky enough to win the prize, then to return with LMP2……..I will be very happy.

Have you already an idea of a LMP2 for 2016? What would you prefer? An open prototype or a Coupé?

I have not thought at all about this……….. but I do love the open tops…….but I am looking to test the LMP3 Coupe to have my impression changed.

Are you still tied with Mosler, and if so, what are the latest news of the company?

Yes, we are still racing and building Mosler cars, they race in Britcar, Supercar Challenge, V de V, Spanish GT, and in Australia. They are still capable of running at the front with GT3, but for 30% of the cost, and are still winning! My own Super GT car is actually faster than the newest GT3 cars, even with me driving! I would love to see Joao Barbosa race that car against modern cars and see what he could do.

Will you and Rollcentre have other projects next year?

We are looking after a BMW M3 GTR in Britcar, and I will be racing in it and also doing the 24 Hours of Silverstone. We are involved still with race car equipment sales for Intercomp, I now sell LED lights for night racing, and lots of other things going on that take all my time. I still am very passionate about racing, and my years are advancing, so time is precious!

My biggest project though is bringing up my children. My Boys Morgan and Marcus grew up listening to the sounds of Le Mans, and they are very excited to return with the LMP3, although this year only for the test day. They are very proud of their Dad, and that’s everything to me.