24h Le Mans
Christian England joins United Autosports, who are gearing up for the 2016 European Le Mans Series (ELMS) with two Ligier JS P3s. The Yorkshireman will be teamed with Alex Brundle and Mike Guasch.
The three drivers form the crew of one of the two Ligier PS3s entered for the ELMS. England (aged 34) lacks the experience of his teammates: fellow Briton Brundle (25), whose father is the Formula One driver Martin Brundle, has raced at Le Mans three times and American Guasch (58) won the PC class of the American Le Mans Series in 2013. However, it is worth noting that he came second in Formula Ford in 2002, behind Westley Barber and ahead of some high-class opponents such as Mike Conway, Stuart Hall, Oliver Jarvis, Joey Foster and Tom Kimber-Smith, who saluted his friend’s return to racing.
“I’m really excited to be joining United Autosports for the 2016 ELMS season. Although the championship and Ligier car will be all new to me, I worked with many of the guys at United previously during my time at JLR in Formula Ford and I feel immediately at home. I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in and working with the team and the car to deliver on our past performances together,” says England.
After an outing at Magny-Cours, Leeds-based United Autosports will continue their LMP3 testing programme at Imola on 15-16 March, before the official ELMS prologue at the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet on 22-23 March.
For the moment, two seats are taken in the second Ligier. American gentleman driver Mark Patterson and Briton Matt Bell await confirmation of their teammate’s identity.
Geoffroy Barre — Translated from French by Emma Paulay
Photo: United Autosports are running an ambitious two-car European Le Mans Series campaign.
