The first orders for the new-generation LMP2 cars have been confirmed, with Riley-Multimatic revealing to Sportscar365 that it has already received three deposits for its Riley Mk. XXX.

The American-Canadian manufacturer is the first LMP2 constructor to confirm orders of its new prototype, which will be eligible beginning in 2017 across all ACO-run series as well as IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

“I think it shows some great interest in our product,” Bill Riley told Sportscar365. “With all of the other interest we have in the car, I think we’l have strong trust with our product.

“I have no doubt that our car built with Multimatic will be a winner. Some customers have seen that. We’re starting to receive deposits so we’re off and running.”

Riley would not confirm the location of its first batch of customers, as he said it’s up to the teams to announce their programs, but admitted having a considerable amount of interest since receiving confirmation of being one of the four approved constructors.

“I think if everything came right, we would be building around 12 cars for ’17,” he said. “We’re kind of gearing up, company wise and load-wise that it’s going to be in that range of cars that will have to be ready.”

The car is currently in the design phase, with progress continuing to be made by the day, both at Riley’s North Carolina base and Multimatic’s headquarters near Toronto for the collaborative effort.

“Bob [Riley] is now leading the design on getting the CFD ready for the car with the WEC body, as we’d call it,” Bill Riley added.

“That should be going to MTC [Multimatic Technical Centre] in about a month. We’re about a month away from our first true CFD run.”