A study into an LMP1 design has been ongoing since the early part of 2016, but a senior source within the Leeds-based manufacturer has confirmed that the project is shortly to be given the green light.

The design of the car, which is to be spearheaded by Ginetta’s Technical Director Ewan Baldry, is believed to be underway, with a target of the first car being ready for possible tests in the latter half of 2017.

Motorsport.com understands that Mecachrome and AER are both being considered by Ginetta to supply engines for the proposed new design.

Ginetta built several LMP3 cars in 2014-15, one of which took the inaugural ELMS title with Charlie Robertson and Sir Chris Hoy in 2015.

Plans to expand into the LMP2 class were scuppered when Ginetta was not chosen as one of the four chassis suppliers as part of the re-structuring of the class for 2017.

The planned LMP1 project, which could be announced next month, is set to run in a new-look FIA World Endurance Championship Privateer Trophy, which is likely to include the ByKolles team and the new SMP Racing car which is being built by Dallara and BR Engineering.

It would be Ginetta's first entry into the top class of sportscar racing since 2010, the second and final year of the Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S that was run at the Le Mans 24 Hours by LNT and Strakka Racing in 2009, and Beechdean-Mansell the following season.