2018 Daytona 24 First entry commitment: United Autosports







United Autosports have confirmed their entry into the 2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona.
The Anglo-American team are currently preparing for their debut season with their Ligier JS P217, which they will race in the European Le Mans Series. They will use the same sports prototype in the 56th running of the American endurance event at the start of 2018.
American Will Owen, who is part of the United Autosports LMP2 ELMS team, has been confirmed as the first driver for the 24-hour race. The Rolex 24 At Daytona will mark the second 24-hour race Will and United Autosports will enter in 12 months, as they prepare to enter the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours in their Ligier JS P217.
United Autosports previously raced in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2011 with Martin Brundle, Mark Blundell, Mark Patterson and Zak Brown behind the wheel of a Riley Ford Daytona Prototype. They finished fourth after 24 hours of racing – less than four seconds behind the winning car.
The 2018 running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona will begin on 27 January and is the first race on the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship calendar.
United Autosports are reigning ELMS LMP3 Champions and will be aiming to defend their title with a two-car entry in 2017. As a result of their championship win, they were handed an automatic entry into the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours, and will race their Ligier JS P217 in the world-famous endurance race. They will also contest a full season of the ELMS in the LMP2 class with the Ligier JS P217.
Further details of the final driver line up will be announced in due course.
Will Owen, driver, United Autosports:
“I’m excited to bring my endurance racing venture back home to the United States. I have enjoyed working with United a lot so far; I couldn’t think of a better opportunity to begin 2018 with. Although the race is pretty far away at this point, it’s nice to have that extra time to prepare for it. I watched the 2017 race, which was fantastic, so I’m honored to be part of the event. I’ve never raced at Daytona but I appreciate that it will come with new challenges compared to our other races this year.”
Zak Brown, Team Owner and Chairman, United Autosports:
“I’m so excited United Autosports are racing at the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona. It’s such a great event and I’m really proud to be taking our team there with the Ligier JS P217. The last time we went there as a team, I was racing and we finished fourth. Hopefully this time we can get on the podium!”
Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director, United Autosports:
“Zak and I have always wanted United Autosports to compete in the world’s greatest sports car races and the Rolex 24 At Daytona is one we not only want to take part in, but we want to go there and run at the very front. This is an iconic and historic event, I remember going as a kid watching Derek Bell, Brian Redman, Jochen Mass, Bob Wollek and all the sports car greats. We hope that other European teams will bring their LMP2 cars to Florida in January to try take on the USA based teams and drive the competition of this great race.”
Scott Atherton, President, IMSA:
“Following an extremely successful 2017 Rolex 24 At Daytona, we are delighted that United Autosports already has confirmed its plans to participate in the 2018 Rolex 24. Zak Brown and Richard Dean clearly have built a world-class race team in United Autosports, which is a prerequisite for success in the Rolex 24 and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. We extend a warm welcome to Will Owen, Zak, Richard and all associated with United Autosports and wish them the best of luck as they embark on this program.”

 

NORRIS TO MAKE SPORTSCAR & 24 HOUR RACE DÉBUT AT DAYTONA

Thursday, July 13, 2017






United Autosports have confirmed that Lando Norris will join the team for the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in 2018.
Norris has won numerous championships in his short career, which include the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup, Formula Renault 2.0 NEC, MSA Formula and many karting championships, establishing himself as one of the most exciting young talents in the world of motorsport. Lando is now part of the McLaren-Honda Young Driver Programme, which aims to help young, aspiring racing drivers to further their racing career. In 2016, Lando won the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award and was named a BRDC SuperStar in 2017. Lando is currently racing in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and won his first race from pole position.
United Autosports have already announced that their ELMS LMP2 driver, Will Owen will race for the team at the twice-round-the-clock race and are still to confirm the rest of their driver line up.
United Autosports previously raced in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2011 with Martin Brundle, Mark Blundell, Mark Patterson and Zak Brown behind the wheel of a Riley Ford Daytona Prototype. They finished fourth after 24 hours of racing - less than four seconds behind the winning car. The Daytona 24 Hours will be the second 24-hour endurance race the team will take part in in 12 months after finishing fourth in class and fifth overall at the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.
The 2018 24 Hours at Daytona will be held on 27-28 January.
Lando Norris, driver, United Autosports:
“I’m really excited to be racing for United Autosports and at Daytona. The team have proved themselves to be front runners in prototype racing and they had a great performance at the Le Mans 24 Hours last month so I’m hoping I can add to their LMP2 success. To race at Daytona will be fantastic. It will be my first 24-hour event but I can’t wait to get out in the car round such an iconic track.”
Zak Brown, Team Owner and Chairman, United Autosports:
“Lando is a great talent and I’m thrilled we have worked out a deal to have him drive for United Autosports at Daytona. Although he doesn’t know the car, I’m sure he will pick it up and learn from his now relatively experienced team mate Will. I’m excited to see how he gets on.”
Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director, United Autosports:
“I’m really excited that Lando Norris will be joining us for the 24 Hours at Daytona. I have been watching Lando since his Ginetta Juniors days and he has pretty much dominated all the lower formulas since then. As a McLaren-Honda F1 development driver and the current McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year award winner Lando is very hot property right now. I’m really pleased he joins the United family at Daytona in our Ligier LMP2 car.”

 

[h=2]Norris joins United Autosports for 2018 Rolex 24[/h] Thursday, 13 July 2017


Stephen Kilbey / Image by Gasperotti/LAT

McLaren-Honda Young Driver Lando Norris will make his sportscar racing debut with United Autosports at next January's Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, in the team's Ligier JS P217 prototype.
The 17-year-old is the second driver confirmed for United Autosports' 2017 Rolex 24 birth. The 2016 Mclaren Autosport BRDC Award winner will partner American racer Will Owen, who was announced by the team earlier this year. Owen currently competes with United Autosports in the European Le Mans Series LMP2 class, and won the opening round of the season at Silverstone.
"I'm looking forward to racing at Daytona – it will be an exciting one-off challenge competing in sportscars," Norris said. "The Rolex event and the Speedway track are both world famous. The experience will provide me with an opportunity to stay race sharp and physically fit during the winter, important elements for me heading in to the 2018 season, while at the same time having some fun in one of the world's greatest sportscar endurance races.
"The Ligier will be totally new for me, and the first car I've raced with a roof since a Ginetta in 2014 but I'm certain I'll adapt quickly. United Autosports has quickly made a name for itself in sportscars and so I'll be using its experience and Will's to help in my transformation from single-seaters."
Norris is currently taking on his first full season racing in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, and after 10 podium finishes, sits third in the points standings at the halfway mark of the season.
The 2018 running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona will begin on 27, and will once again open the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.