The European Le Mans Series LMP3 class, is drawing attention from around the globe. Today, GRAFF Racing has extended that awareness deep into the heart North American motorsports with the announcement of its all-American driver lineup for the 2016 season. Bob Corliss (Monterey, Calif.), John Falb (Las Vegas) and Sean Rayhall (Atlanta) will campaign the full ELMS calendar at the wheel of the French team’s new Ligier JSP3, closed-cockpit prototype entry, with backing from internationally renowned Californian clothier Robert Talbott.

The trio of drivers may be new to GRAFF but they are not new to one another. Veteran prototype driver Falb is the two time defending masters champion of the IMSA Cooper Tire Prototype Lites championship (2014 and ’15) and has driven multiple times with outstanding young American talent Rayhall in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Rayhall won the Prototype Lites title in 2013 and adds two career WeatherTech Championship Prototype Challenge wins and multiple podium finishes as well as two Indy Lights open wheel race victories in 2015. California’s Corliss has been a regular on the Atlantic Championship open-wheel circuit and worked with Rayhall in 2013.

“I’m very excited for this opportunity to race ELMS with Graff, John and Bob,” said Rayhall. “I know from past experience with both of them it will be a strong lineup. With Graff, I believe we will be a top contender for the championship. I raced with Robert Talbott as a partner in 2013 and I’m very happy to have them back with us for this season! I cannot wait to for testing to begin after the Rolex 24 Hours. It will be a very busy year for me racing in WeatherTech Sportscar Championship along ELMS but I love to welcome challenges!”

The ELMS P3 category becomes the first step on the prototype ladder before moving up to the LMP2 and LMP1 classes with a more manageable mindset to budget, technical, driving and operational elements. The chassis and bodywork of LMP3 can be built by five manufacturers which have been designed by the ACO: Ginetta, Ligier, Adess, Dome and Riley. The regulations are very close to the current LMP2 (closed cockpit, carbon chassis with tubular steel roll cage). The powertrain consists of a Nissan 420hp normally aspirated V8 engine and an X-Trac gearbox. Total cost is under $250,000 per car. The driver lineup must be made up of at least one “Bronze” rated driver.

“We are really glad to have an American crew which show a world interest for this new category, LMP3, in particular the Ligier JSP3 and the ELMS championship,” said team manager Pascal Rauturier.

The six-round ELMS season tours many of Europe’s most renowned racetracks. Opening with the pre-season test, known as the Prologue, at La Castellet in the south of France on March 22-23, the official first round comes at Silverstone in Great Britain, April 15-16. The three-man American driving crew will travel to the Imola circuit in Italy on May 13-15. Round Four at the Red Bull Ring in Austria will take place on July 15-17 before the team’s return for an official race weekend at Le Castellet, Aug. 26-28. The final two rounds for the championship come on Sept. 23-25 at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Estoril, Spain, Oct. 21-23.