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Nathanael Berthon continues Murphy LMP2 ELMS deal alongside GP2

GP2 driver Nathanael Berthon will contest the European Le Mans Series and the Le Mans 24 Hours with the Murphy Prototypes squad in 2015

The 25-year-old Frenchman will undertake his first proper year of sportscars around his GP2 campaign with the Italian Lazarus squad.

Berthon has already raced team owner Greg Murphy's LMP2 ORECA-Nissan 03R for a part-season in 2014 during which he contested two ELMS events and Le Mans, and also made a one-off LMP1 start with the Lotus team, now known as ByKolles, in the World Endurance Championship.

Murphy told AUTOSPORT: "Nathanael was impressive last season, so we have high hopes for him this year now that he has some sportscar experience under his belt."

There is one clash on the twin schedule for Berthon: the Monza GP2 round in September is on the same weekend as the Paul Ricard ELMS event.

Murphy is close to filling the remaining pair of seats for the ELMS and will run two undisclosed drivers at Paul Ricard this week at an ORECA test starting on Tuesday, during which the French constructor's new 05 coupe will be given its maiden run.

Ex-Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok will also be present at the test and looks likely to land a deal to race for the team at Le Mans for the third year in a row.

Murphy is also evaluating a campaign in the three-round Asian Le Mans Series at the end of the year with a second ORECA chassis.

"There is a lot of interest from European drivers to do the Asian series - I think we will end up doing it," explained Murphy.

It would use the ex-Boutsen car that it leased to the Eurasia team, and provided technical assistance for, last season.

Eurasia is moving to the ELMS for 2015 and will run the ex-Sebastien Loeb Racing ORECA.

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