If weather and track conditions permit, on Sunday, September 27, new “LMP Challenge” race cars will be tested at Road Atlanta. The new, spec-racer type cars of the LMP Challenge class will first compete in North America next March in the 12 Hours at Sebring.

The LMP Challenge class of race cars was introduced earlier this year for the European Le Mans Series and its centerpiece, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The new ORECA Courage FLM09 that comprises the class weighs 900 kg, similar to its Le Mans Prototype brethren, but carries a 450 hp engines, so it’s significantly less powerful than the LMP1 and LMP2 cars, which have 500 to 700 horsepower.

The LMPC class provides an affordable way for smaller outfits to enter prototype racing in Europe — and next year, North America. A Courage FLM09 with engine is priced att $385,000. It  consists of a full carbon-fiber chassis, carbon brakes and an Xtrac sequential gearbox with paddle shifters. All LMPC racers will use the same tires ( not yet named).