24h Le Mans
Since its debut in endurance racing in 2017, United Autosports USA has never failed to make it into the top 6 in the LMP2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team's #23 ORECA 07-Gibson finished in sixth place this year and the #22 in 10th after a difficult race.
The Anglo-American team seemed on its way to a possible win in the LMP2 class with the #22 qualifying in second position and the #23 in sixth. However, a crash through no fault of the team a few seconds after the start dashed all hopes of another victory for the 2020 LMP2 winners.
The #22 was sandwiched and sent into the gravel in the first turn by a rival car (given a one-minute penalty for causing the accident). Unfortunately, it lost Phil Hanson, Filipe Albuquerque and Will Owen two full laps.
The #23 fared slightly better despite three unplanned pit stops in the first three hours due to flat tyres. Despite the setbacks, the whole team remained completely focused on obtaining the best possible result. Drivers Alexander Lynn, Oliver Jarvis and Josh Pierson proved fast and steady. At just 16 years old, Pierson is the youngest driver to finish the 24 Hours in the history of the race.
United Autosports USA is currently second in the FIA Endurance LMP2 Teams Trophy running, 11 points behind JOTA.
Filipe Albuquerque: "What a hard race! Everything had looked good before the race. Phil, Will and I had a competitive car and were happy with the balance. Everything needs to be perfect, it needs to be clean with no mistakes. But, within a few hundred metres after the start, everything changed after Will’s crash after others got too excited. From then on, the race was over so we had to minimise the damage. A top result was not to be – it’s a shame because the package was there. Bring on the next one."
Josh Pierson: "It was a good race, a long one with many twists and turns. The highlight was my first stint because that was when I officially made history and the most emotional moment was to finally get to race in the 24 Hours! We had to overcome a lot after our tyre dramas early on and had seven or eight more pit stops than our main LMP2 rivals. A P6 finish was good, as Olly and I are now 11 points behind the LMP2 championship leaders."
United Autosports USA co-owner Richard Dean: "It was a tough race and looked like it could be over for us inside 24 seconds rather than 24 hours. It wasn’t the start we expected with unacceptable driving standards and the #22 in the gravel through no fault of Will’s which the stewards confirmed with the penalty issued. The ultimate penalty though was the innocent #22 car, last and two-laps down inside the opening minutes, but which fought back superbly.
The #23 was quick throughout, but due to tyre issues early on, made eight more pit stops than the ultimate winners. It was an incredible fightback by the team to get both cars inside the top 10 at the finish, both pushing on the very last lap after 24 hours, confirmed by Phil moving up a place with a couple of corners."
