United Autosports are delighted to confirm that Filipe Albuquerque will return to the team for the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship, marking his sixth year with the team.
Filipe, who is the reigning FIA WEC and ELMS LMP2 Champion first joined United Autosports when they made their LMP2 debut in 2017. Filipe, along with Hugo de Sadeleer and Will Owen scored a race win at the opening round of the 2017 ELMS season at Silverstone. They then went on to score a second race win and a further podium that year to finish second in the championship in the team’s first year.
In 2018, Filipe teamed up with Phil Hanson in a partnership that has spanned the last four seasons. More wins came in both 2018 and 2019, with a run of 13 consecutive podiums starting from the ELMS race at Spa in 2019, running throughout their record-breaking year in 2020. With 15 podiums out of the last 17 races, Filipe is one of the most successful endurance racing drivers currently racing.
During his time with United Autosports, Filipe has won two championships and scored 14 race wins, 21 podiums and 11 pole positions. The 2022 WEC season will mark Filipe’s sixth season with the British-American team and their third season in the WEC together.
United Autosports are also pleased to confirm that they intend to run two Oreca 07 LMP2 cars in the 2022 FIA WEC, having announced last week that 15-year-old Josh Pierson will join their WEC team for 2022. Filipe and Josh’s teammates are still to be announced.
The 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship calendar was announced during the Le Mans 24 Hours race weekend, with the six round series starting in March, with a return to Sebring in America. The series will also visit Spa, Monza, Le Mans, Fuji and Bahrain.
Filipe Albuquerque
“I’m super happy to be able to continue with United Autosports for 2022 and to once again enter the WEC and Le Mans. United are the team I’ve been with the longest in my career which says a lot. It makes sense for us to continue together, we know each other so well and every year it feels more and more like a family. Knowing everyone is great and their work method is unbelievable so I can’t wait to continue into 2022 going for more wins, which is exactly what we have been doing so far. I want to thank Richard and Zak for the trust they have shown in me. The results from my side obviously help but it’s great to be working again with the whole team. Of course, I want to continue being part of the team getting such great results.”
Zak Brown
“To welcome Filipe back to the team for a sixth year is fantastic. He has been an integral part of our team during our record-breaking year, and we are hopeful we can continue that great relationship into the 2022 season as well.”
Richard Dean
“I’m so pleased to be able to welcome Filipe back to the team for a sixth year. It’s crazy to think he’s been racing with us for that long, but we have had so much success together, it made sense to continue that relationship. I’m also thrilled to be able to confirm we are going to enter two Oreca LMP2 cars into the WEC next year as well, with Filipe in one car and our recently announced driver, Josh Pierson in the other.”
Source. United Autosports