Phil Hanson and Filipe Albuquerque will team up to drive the Ligier JS217 in LMP2 Class as the Anglo-American team makes their WEC Debut.
The current ELMS participant that finished 3rd in 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans confirmed the announcement on Twitter, as they extend their programme from Michelin Le Mans Cup and European Le Mans series and join a worldwide series for the first time for 2019/20 World Endurance Championship season.
Phil Hanson and Filipe Albuquerque currently confirmed to drive the Ligier JS217. Phil Hanson joined United Autosports at the end of 2017, driving alongside the Daytona 24H winner Filipe Albuquerque. The team won 4 Hours of Spa and 4 Hours of Portimao, enough for the team to finish in Top 4 in the final LMP2 Team's Standings. The 19-year old also raced in Sebring, Daytona and Watkins Glenn rounds of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship. He is currently racing in Asian Le Mans Series.
UNITED AUTOSPORTS CONFIRM 2019/2020 FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAMME WITH LIGIER JS P217
Phil Hanson and Filipe Albuquerque form initial driver line up first time racing in the world championship for Anglo American team relationship with Ligier strengthens into world championship
United Autosports have confirmed that they will enter the 2019/2020 FIA World Endurance Championship.
The Anglo American team will enter the world-wide race series for the first time with Phil Hanson and Filipe Albuquerque behind the wheel of the team’s Ligier JS P217.
Phil Hanson joined the team at the end of 2017 and has raced in the 2018 European Le Mans Series alongside Filipe Albuquerque, winning the final two races of the year. Phil also raced in selected rounds of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Daytona, Sebring and Watkins Glen. He is currently racing for United Autosports in the Asian Le Mans Series and scored his maiden pole position at Fuji in only his second LMP2 qualifying attempt. Phil is leading the championship with two rounds to go.
Filipe Albuquerque joined the team for their LMP2 debut at the start of 2017, finishing second in the championship. This year, he raced alongside Phil Hanson in the #22 Ligier JS P217. Filipe has previously raced in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2016 finishing second in the championship.
United Autosports will be strengthening their relationship with Ligier Automotive by fielding a Ligier JS P217 in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The relationship with the French manufacturer began in 2016 as they entered the European Le Mans Series with a pair of Ligier JS P3s.
Since then, the UK based team have become exclusive UK agents for Ligier Automotive and expanded into the LMP2 class with the new generation of Ligier LMP2 sports car – the Ligier JS P217. Further cementing their relationship with Ligier, they also chose to race the first generation Ligier LMP2 car in the 2018/2019 Asian Le Mans Series, as well as remaining committed to the French manufacturer during their debut IMSA season in 2018.
The FIA World Endurance Championship begins at Silverstone in August 2019 and will visit Fuji (Japan), Shanghai (China), Sakhir (Bahrain), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Sebring (USA) and Spa Francorchamps (Belgium), with the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours acting as the final round of the season in June.
Phil Hanson, driver, United Autosports:
“I’m really excited to be doing FIA WEC. I think it’s the obvious next step for us, having done the ELMS, Asian Le Mans Series and selected rounds of IMSA, including Daytona. I’m looking forward to continuing with United too."
"They have nurtured me and helped my development as a driver significantly in the last year so I’m looking forward to continuing with the team in a very professional environment. I’m excited to be driving on new circuits too such as Sao Paulo and Bahrain."
"They have definitely been on my radar of circuits I’ve wanted to race at. Sao Paulo has a lot of history and I’ve never been to Brazil so it will be exciting. I’m really looking forward to racing on a truly global platform.”
The team is hopeful that the ties will strengthen between them and Ligier Automotive by fielding the Ligier JS217 LMP2 Chassis.
Zak Brown, Team Owner said: “We are pleased to be able to announce our entry into the 2019/2020 FIA World Endurance Championship."
"It has been the aim for United Autosports to enter the world championship for a while, but everything needed to fall into place so we could do it at the right time. We feel that now is the right time.
"We have developed a great relationship with Phil and Filipe and they make a fantastic pairing. We are still working on the third driver but for now, we are excited for what 2019 brings.” said Brown.
Gerard Neveu, CEO of WEC Said: “This is a very good way to start 2019. We are really delighted to welcome a team of the calibre of United Autosports to the WEC, and are confident they will make a very positive contribution to the LMP2 category and to the championship as a whole."
Shahmir Khan
Editor-in-Chief Endurance Racing, Member news desk.
In his own words, “17-year-old guy who is avid motorsports gamer. Petrolhead, die-hard F1 and motorsports fan and loves to write about cars and motorsports.”
Shahmir can be easily reached by the following address:
Gmail: shahmirkhan9181@gmail.com
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