United Autosports’ European racing season begins next week as the team prepares for the opening rounds of the 2021 European Le Mans Series and Michelin Le Mans Cup at Barcelona, Spain as well as the opening round of the GT4 European Series in Monza, Italy.
Zak Brown
“I’m looking forward to getting the European season underway this weekend in Barcelona. We obviously have a lot to live up to after our hugely successful 2020, but the team is focussed and prepared to do the best job they can. Good luck team.”
Richard Dean
“It feels strange to say that we are starting the season once again, when it doesn’t feel that long ago that the 2020 season ended. But we are here and can’t wait to get going. We obviously had a very successful year last year, but we are realistic and know we have to work just as hard, if not harder, this year to stay at the top. We are in a very fortunate position to be defending two championships. Of course, we are also making our GT4 debut this weekend in Monza. The timing of both opening rounds being on the same weekend means there has had to be some careful logistical planning, but we have the staff and infrastructure in place to run multiple programmes on the same weekend. I’m excited to see how our GT4 team gets on in Monza.”
European Le Mans Series
United Autosports will return to the European Le Mans Series for their sixth season as both reigning LMP2 and LMP3 champions after their record-breaking year last year.
The team will once again enter two LMP2 cars and two LMP3 cars into the ELMS, with Phil Hanson returning to the #22 Oreca 07 as reigning champion. He will be joined by Tom Gamble, who is the current ELMS LMP3 champion and will be moving across to United’s LMP2 team for 2021. Phil and Tom will be joined in the #22 by newcomer to the team, former DTM racing driver Jonathan Aberdein.
Job van Uitert will return to the #32 Oreca 07 for his second season with United Autosports, racing alongside Asian Le Mans Series LMP3 champion, Manuel Maldonado and French racing driver, Nico Jamin.
In the #2 Ligier JS P320 for 2021 will be returning LMP3 champions Wayne Boyd and Rob Wheldon. Both Wayne and Rob raced for United Autosports in the Asian Le Mans Series in February, with Wayne winning his second LMP3 championship in less than six months. They will be joined by 2020 Le Mans Cup vice champion Edouard Cauhaupe with the aim of retaining the ELMS LMP3 title at the end of the year.
Jim McGuire, Duncan Tappy and Andrew Bentley will once again race the #3 Ligier JS P320 in the ELMS this year, hoping for consistency and further success in their second season as a trio after finishing second in the Asian Le Mans Series LMP3 championship in February.
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Phil Hanson:
“I can’t wait to kick off the 2021 ELMS season in Barcelona, especially as we couldn’t race there last year. To retain the championship title we will need a faultless season against such a strong grid and we are certainly up for the challenge.”
Tom Gamble:
“I’m looking forward to my first race in LMP2 when the season begins next week in Barcelona. It will be a new challenge for me, but I have the best team around me and great team mates too. My goal is to start the championship on a high like we did last year and I’m confident we can do this.”
Jonathan Aberdein:
“It’s great to get the 2021 ELMS season going. I look forward to taking on the challenge with Phil and Tom. I think we’ve got a very strong line-up, which will be crucial for delivering good results in the ultra-competitive ELMS field.”
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Job van Uitert:
“It’s great to be back with United Autosports ahead of this season. We’ve got an exciting line-up and a strong team behind us. Time to win some races.”
Manuel Maldonado:
“I’m super excited for the season ahead. The ELMS championship is a very competitive series and we have everything in place to get the results we want, making it an amazing opportunity for me to race behind the wheel of the United Autosports LMP2 car.”
Nico Jamin:
“The wait has been really long this winter, but I am thrilled to finally get this 2021 season started. I am very excited for my first race with United Autosports and my new teammates, Job and Manuel. We had some very strong test days and I am confident we will be strong straight out of the gate. Barcelona is a really fun track, and the city has such a good atmosphere. We are in this championship to try to win it. And with that said, it will be really important to start on a strong note.”
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Edouard Cauhaupe:
“I am very happy to be back on track for the first race of the season. This will be my first race in the ELMS and with United Autosports. I will do my best to get a first win. It will be important to start the season well. I can’t wait to be on track.”
Wayne Boyd:
“I’m really looking forward to the ELMS season opener at Barcelona. It’s been a busy year already for me with plenty of track time so hopefully we can hit the ground running. We’re coming back in as the reigning champions, so we know what we need to do and I’m confident in our line-up. That added with the improvements the United guys have made on our car over the winter. We’ll be pushing for the win and aim to have as strong a season as we did last year.”
Rob Wheldon:
“I’m looking forward to getting back to Europe and the ELMS. It’s going to be a super competitive season and am looking forward to challenge ahead. The ultimate goal is to defend the championship we won last year.”
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Jim McGuire:
‘I’m really looking forward to getting back in the car with Duncan and Andrew for our second ELMS championship campaign with United Autosports. I really feel we are going into it in a good position after development at the Asian Le Mans Series. I am just very excited to have a great year and hope all the fans can be back soon.”
Duncan Tappy:
“I am really excited to be heading to Barcelona for the start of the ELMS season. We had a really strong showing, finishing second at Asian Le Mans Series, which was great preparation and testing ahead of this competitive 2021 season. I know that Jim, Andrew and myself will be working just as hard to gain a similar outcome to the Asian Le Mans Series. It’s going to be super tough with some really strong competitors, but I know everyone will be working as hard as they can to bring the car home and I am looking forward to another enjoyable and successful season with United Autosports.”
Andrew Bentley:
“To be joining Jim and Duncan again is fantastic, especially off the back of our performance in the Asian Le Mans Series where we finished on the podium three times and took the #3 car to second in the championship against some very strong competition. United Autosports showed their ability to turn out not only the best looking LMP3 car on the grid, thanks to AERO paint, but also the best performing. It’s a great honour to be able to drive with the whole crew again this year.’
Michelin Le mans Cup
United Autosports Michelin Le Mans Cup team will see John Schauerman and Wayne Boyd return to the #23 Ligier JS P320, while Daniel Schneider and Andy Meyrick will also return, this time racing the #32 Ligier JS P320. Gerry Kraut and Scott Andrews will make their long awaited United Autosports debut in the #22 Ligier JS P320 after postponing their Le Mans Cup entry last year.
The Michelin Le Mans Cup team will be aiming for more podiums throughout the year as the team enters their fifth season in the series.
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Gerry Kraut:
“Scott and I are looking forward to being part of United Autosports for this year’s MLMC. The competition will be at a new level for me, but I am very excited and intend to enjoy myself nevertheless.”
Scott Andrews:
“I’m very much looking forward to returning to Europe and racing with United Autosports and continuing my ongoing relationship with Gerry Kraut. Driving for Richard and Zak’s team is an honour. I managed a couple of podiums and a win in ELMS back in 2018 with the team and it would be absolutely amazing if we can get some results like this with Gerry this year in MLMC.”
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John Schauerman:
“I am so excited for the MLMC season. United helped me improve a lot last year and we will be fighting for podiums this year. Having Wayne as my teammate is huge as he is so fast and such a great coach. We have a big field in LMP3 this year so the racing should be intense. I can’t wait.”
Wayne Boyd:
“I really enjoy driving with John and I can’t wait to get back to the Le Mans Cup. We finished last season really strong, so our plan is to continue that momentum into this year. The United guys have worked hard over the winter to improve our car further so I’m positive of strong results for us from round one.”
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Daniel Schneider:
“I am really excited about my second season in the Michelin Le Mans Cup as I’m not a rookie anymore, so I have more experience and I am feeling more comfortable in the car. I now know Andy, the team and how it all works so the chemistry between us all makes things much easier. We didn’t race in Barcelona last year, but we have tested there. My goal is to be consistent and I’d like to grab some podiums so let’s see what the future holds for us.”
Andy Meyrick:
“I’m really excited to get the European season started with Daniel after the team’s success at the Asian Le Mans Series. Daniel and I have both been working hard during the off-season and we are looking forward to hitting the ground running together and having a strong first round at Barcelona.”
GT4 European Series
United Autosports make their GT4 debut this weekend in Monza as the GT4 European Series gets underway in Italy. United Autosports will be making their return to GT racing at the opening round of the 2021 season, having moved away from GT racing in 2016.
This year, United Autosports will be entering the GT4 European Series with Bailey Voisin and Charlie Fagg in the #23 McLaren 570S GT4 car and Gus Bowers and Dean Macdonald racing the #32 McLaren.
Bailey will be making his GT4 debut with the team, having previously raced successfully in the Ginetta Juniors Championship. Teammate Charlie, who is a McLaren GT driver, has previous experience in a range of GT machinery, meaning the pairing will be aiming high in their race debut.
Gus Bowers is a McLaren Motorsport Affiliated Driver and raced in the British GT Championship last year, finishing fourth in the GT4 Driver’s Championship. Dean Macdonald has a range of GT racing experience having raced in the British GT3 Championship in 2020, after moving from the GT4 class where he finished third in the Driver’s Championship in 2019.
All four drivers will be looking to give United Autosports a successful debut weekend in the GT4 European Series.
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Bailey Voisin:
“I’m really excited for my debut race with United Autosports in European GT4. I’ve never been to Monza, but it looks like a fantastic track and one that should suit the McLaren, so I hope we can get our championship off to a good start. The entry list looks very competitive, so I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Charlie Fagg:
“I’m really excited to be heading to Monza for round one. It’s a place I really like and a track where I’ve had good results, taking pole in 2019. Hopefully it should suit the McLaren GT4 car well and we can hit the ground running in our title campaign. This championship has always held a special place for me. It was the first series I raced in after Ginetta Juniors and I always loved it. I can’t wait to get started with United Autosports and deliver the results hopefully straight away.”
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Gus Bowers:
“I am utterly thrilled to be able to make my debut for United Autosports in such a prestigious championship. The combination of United Autosports and the McLaren GT4 should make for a very strong first outing at Monza.”
Dean MacDonald:
“I can’t wait to finally get back to racing again after a long break and especially racing at Monza for my first time in the GT4 European Series. It will also be my first race with United Autosports and it couldn’t be a better combination of track and car. I am feeling confident going into the race as I know I have a great team behind me that will give myself and Gus all the help we need to compete at the front.”
Source. United Autosports
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