Formula One & Le Mans Winner Johnny Herbert To Race For United Autosports At 24 Hours Of Spa

• Ex-British Grand Prix winner Herbert, Matt Bell, Richard Meins & Henri Richard to make Spa 24 Hour race débuts
• 1991 Le Mans race winner Herbert reacquainted with Audi marque

Johnny Herbert (GB) makes his début in the Total 24 Hours of Spa this summer (July 30-31) when the three-time Formula One Grand Prix winner races a United Autosports Audi R8 LMS sports car for the first time.

The immensely popular Englishman joins previously announced fellow former Le Mans 24 Hour race winners and GP drivers Mark Blundell (GB) and Stefan Johansson (Sweden) plus Indy 500 race victor Eddie Cheever (USA) in the Anglo-American team’s bid for glory in the Belgian “classic”.

Having had his last 24 hour race was in Dubai two years ago, Herbert already sampled the GT3 class Audi at Snetterton (England) earlier this month. Johnny raced an Audi R8 sports-prototype for the “factory” Audi Sport and “customer” Champion Racing (USA) and Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx (GB) teams between 2001-04.

Herbert, who won the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans plus three Grands Prix during an 11-year F1 career with spells at Benetton, Jaguar, Ligier, Lotus, Sauber and Stewart, is joined by Matt Bell (GB), Richard Meins (GB) and Henri Richard (France) in United Autosports’ 12-driver, three-car Spa squad. They are all scheduled to test at the famous Belgian venue later this month (March 29).

Johnny Herbert tested the United Autosports Audi R8 LMS at Snetterton (England) earlier this month

Bell raced for United Autosports in the FIA GT3 European Championship last year and continues in the FIA series as well as the British GT Championship this year. Meanwhile Richard and Meins competed for United Autosports in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (Zhuhai, China) last November, California-based Henri Richard recording third place in the GTC category while Hong Kong-based Richard Meins ended up unclassified after his Audi had led much of the 1,000km race. Meins also drove in the GT Cup race at Macau.

The identity of the 12^th and final driver which Zak Brown, Chairman & Co-Owner of United Autosports, promises will be another “legend” plus car combinations will be finalized early next month (April) for Britain’s only “official” Audi Sport customer team racing at Spa which is the third round of the Blancpain Endurance Series.

Brown was at the 12 Hours of Sebring (Florida, USA) last Saturday (March 19) to monitor the progress of BGT driver Michael Guasch (1^st LMPC) and Spa race recruits Alain Li (2^nd GTC) and Henri Richard (7^th LMPC). Johansson was also an interested spectator. Zak, Founder & CEO of JMI (Just Marketing International), the global leader in motorsports marketing, received the distinguished honor of induction into Street and Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal Forty Under 40 Hall of Fame earlier this week, having been named for the third time as a recipient of the prestigious award.

Last year’s corresponding Spa race was United Autosports’ maiden twice-around-the-clock event in which they achieved praiseworthy third and fourth places in the GT3 classification to record the highest-placed finishing positions for Audi with its two-car entry.

This year’s Spa event will mark the team’s third 24 hour race. Blundell, Brown, Martin Brundle (GB) and Mark Patterson (USA) achieved a magnificent fourth place finish in the 49^th Rolex 24 At Daytona (January 30).

Matthew Bell (GB). Age: 21. Lives: Barningham nr Richmond, North Yorkshire, England:

Spa 24Hr: Début. Spa History: Spa début October 2009 (Ginetta G20). Last race at Spa: October 2009, Ginetta races (5^th, 7^th, 3^rd) . Other 24Hr races: None.

“I am really looking forward to my first 24 hour race. It’s going to be a challenge; modern 24 hour races are effectively long sprint races due to the reliability of the cars nowadays, so you have to push yourself as a driver and make sure you're on the limit every lap, day and night, for up to 2 and a half, sometimes 3 hours at a time for each stint. I'm very excited about racing at Spa. It’s my favorite circuit and the 24hrs is a fantastic event. I was involved behind the scenes with United Autosports’ first attempt at the Spa 24hrs last year.”

Johnny Herbert (GB). Age: 46. Born: Brentwood, Essex, England. Lives: Dorsington nr Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England:

Spa 24Hr: Début. Spa History: Début September 13 1986 (F3/8^th). F1 (1989, 1991/7^th, 1992/13^th ret, 1993/5^th, 1994/12^th, 1995/7^th, 1996, 1997/4^th, 1998/10^th, 1999/11^th, 2000/8^th), F3 (1986/87). Last race at Spa: September 12 2004 (LMS/1^st). Other 24Hr races: Le Mans (1990, 1991/1^st, 1992/4^th, 2001, 2002/2^nd, 2003/2^nd, 2004/2^nd, 2007/9^th). Dubai 24 Hours 2009 (45^th/ 8^th).

“To get the opportunity to do a 24 hour race again is wonderful and especially as it’s at Spa which has always been one of my favorite race tracks. I’ve never competed in the Spa 24 Hours so I’m really looking forward to that aspect as well as competing for United Autosports for the first time and reacquainting myself with Audi. I raced an Audi sports-prototype for a number of years. I attended last year’s race for TV and it was good to see my old F1 buddies Mark, Stefan and Eddie all driving again. They did brilliantly well and it’s an absolute privilege for me now to be involved and joining up with these guys. On my first test for United Autosports at Snetterton, I sampled the team’s Audi R8 LMS for the very first time and it was just like driving and sitting in my favorite armchair – so smooth and easy to drive and with such nice power delivery. I’m very much looking forward to Spa.”

 

Richard Meins (GB). Age: 56. Born: Beckenham, Kent, England. Lives: Stanley, Hong Kong:

Spa 24Hr: Début. Spa History: Début 1999 (National Saloons). 2006 1^st & 3^rd Grand Prix Masters (Surtees TS19), 2006 2^nd World Sportscar Masters (Lola T70), 2^nd (Ford GT40), 2007 4^th Grand Prix Masters (McLaren M23), 2008 2^nd Masters Sportscars (Lola T70), 5^th Historic Motor Racing News U2TC (Mini Cooper). Last race at Spa: September 24-26 2010, 3^rd Spa 6Hrs Endurance (Ford GT40). Other 24Hr races: Nürburgring (2004/5/6). BritCar (Silverstone, GB).

“I am delighted to be racing for United Autosports again and aiming for a good result at Spa after my Zhuhai and Macau disappointments. I know the Audi R8 LMS is up to the job and the team now have an established track record, especially after their strong performance at Spa last year. All the elements are there for success. The Spa 24 Hours is one of Europe's great races and one I have very much wanted to add to my racing C.V. and to have the opportunity to drive for United Autosports again partnered with drivers of such a high caliber in a seriously competitive car as the Audi R8 LMS means it will be a very special experience.”

Henri Richard (F). Age: 52. Born: Paris, France. Lives: Los Altos Hills, California, USA:

Spa 24Hr: Début. Spa History: None. Spa début 2011 Spa 24 Hours. Last race at Spa: None. Other 24Hr races: Daytona 24 Hours (2010, 2011).

"After a successful maiden race at Zhuhai last November, I cannot wait to get back in to the Audi R8 LMS with United Autosports. To do it on the unique Spa Francorchamps race track is a dream. The Audi and the team have proven already that they are solid contenders to win this race and I am looking forward to helping United Autosports take the top spot on the podium this year. I have never raced at Spa and approach this track with much respect and anticipation.”

Zak Brown (USA). Chairman & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

“Johnny [Herbert] needs absolutely no introduction to race fans, especially those in Europe where he remains unbelievably popular. He joins fellow Grand Prix greats Mark Blundell, Eddie Cheever and Stefan Johansson in our Spa team bristling with experience. Henri [Richard] and Richard [Meins] return to our team after outings with us in the Far East last November and like Johnny, are excited about making their Spa 24 race débuts in potentially a race-winning car. Meanwhile Matt [Bell] will make his 24 hour race début with us. Richard [Dean] and I are very excited about Matt’s potential and we’re certain that he’ll rise to the challenge the Spa race offers.”

Richard Dean (GB), Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

“I have known Johnny [Herbert] since we were 13 and racing karts together – I didn’t get the chance to beat him too often – just the once I recall over a 6 year period! So the opportunity to have him on our side rather than racing against us is a massive relief. If you talk to anybody who has worked with Johnny, or raced in the same team as him, they will tell you he is probably the most naturally talented driver they have ever seen. Adding a British former GP winner to the United Autosports Spa driver line-up underlines our serious desire to improve on our 2010 performance at Spa.

“I am delighted to welcome back Richard [Meins] and Henri [Richard] in to our team. They drove together for United Autosports in the Zhuhai Intercontinental Le Mans Cup last November and were immediately on the pace and worked well with the team. They both have 24 hour race experience and so add strength to our line-up.

“Matt [Bell] is a very exciting prospect. This marks his first 24 hour race but he is intelligent, fit and very fast. I am not concerned whatsoever about his lack of Spa experience as Matt – he will race there in the British GT Championship three weeks before the 24 hour race. He is part of the long term future of this team and I am sure it will become evident why Zak and I rate him so highly.”

United Autosports continues hectic testing schedule in England then Belgium

Since the Avon Tyres British GT Championship Media Days at Silverstone earlier this month, the Anglo-American team has continued its hectic testing program.

Its three-car Audi R8 LMS sports car team has clocked up mileage at Snetterton (March 10) and Rockingham (March 14-15) with BGT “regulars” Matt Bell, John Bintcliffe, Michael Guasch and Jay Palmer – plus latest Spa signing Herbert – all involved. Later this week the Leeds-based team heads to Oulton Park before making the trip to Spa-Francorchamps.

Richard Dean (GB), Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

“Lots of laps in every condition possible including fog so basically everything we expect the British series to throw at us during the course of the season! We’ve got two days booked at Oulton Park later this week for the BGT team to continue our pre-season work at the venue which hosts the opening two rounds of the BGT at Easter. Then we go to Spa to combine both the BGT team and some members of our Spa 24 Hour line-up. And like Zak says, watch this space for exciting driver news next month!”

United Autosports

Created in 2009, United Autosports is co-owned by American Zak Brown and Briton Richard Dean, both successful entrepreneurs and international race car drivers. The unique Anglo-American racing team fields GT3 class Audi R8 LMS sports cars from its United Kingdom headquarters in Leeds. It also races a fleet of “Legends of Motorsports” historic racing cars from its US facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 2011, the team competes in full-seasons of FIA GT3 European Championship, Avon Tyres British GT Championship and the “Legends of Motorsports” series. It will additionally contest selected GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series events, the 24 Hours of Spa (Belgium) and Macau GT Cup race (China).

Audi R8 LMS

V10 5.2-liter engine, 4 valves per cylinder, petrol direct injection, 523 PS, emission control by two racing catalytic converters, rear-wheel-drive, traction control (ASR), sequential pneumatic activated 6-speed sport gearbox with shift-paddles, Audi Space Frame (ASF) made of aluminum with bolted steel roll-cage, carbon-fiber composite/aluminum bodywork, Dunlop (for FIA & Spa 24Hr) and Avon (for BGT) radial tires. Start weight TBA. Limitation at 8500rpm for every gear. Developed by Audi Sport with cooperation from quattro GmbH. Won seven championships across Europe in 2009-2010 plus Spa 24 Hours class victory in début 2009 season and Nürburgring 24 Hours class victories in 2009-2010 and scoring a total 64 victories.

* Comprehensive Bell, Herbert, Meins & Richard biographies plus team & car profiles are available on the United Autosports website http://www.unitedautosports.com/

* Johnny Herbert photographs can be downloaded at www.flickr.com/unitedautosports/sets

For further information, please contact:

Martyn Pass

Audi UK Sport Press

T +44 1564 824600

M +44 7801 859502

E audiuk-motorsport@earthlink.net

Skype martyn.pass

www.audi-press.co.uk

United Autosports Replicates Strong GRAND-AM Début With Another Solid Result In “Grand Prix of Miami” Despite Unfortunate Setback

• Blundell unceremoniously barged out of strong second place in opening hour
• Valiante recovers to place #23 Ford-Riley in the lead with 27mins to checker
• United Autosports with Michael Shank Racing placed fifth in GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series Team Standings*

Mark Blundell (GB) and Michael Valiante (CAN) swept the United Autosports with Michael Shank Racing Ford-Riley home in to sixth position in the “Grand Prix of Miami” at Homestead today (March 5).

The Anglo-Canadian “combo” driving together for the first time, finished 24.012secs behind the winner in the 165mins race which ran 116-laps around the 2.3-mile, 11-turn Homestead-Miami combined speedway/road course and in 80°F ambient weather conditions.

Having qualified eighth fastest the previous day for the second round of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, Blundell completed the opening lap in sixth place and was third after 26mins just 12secs behind the leader.

The ex-Formula One & IndyCar driver, contesting only his second career GRAND-AM race, pitted during the race’s opening caution period with the #23 Ford-Riley exiting the pits in second place after stunning work by the pit crew.

Blundell ran a strong second until the #01 unceremoniously barged Blundell off the track with 49mins run. The heavy “side-on-side” contact shoved Blundell wide over the kerbs and onto the grass, Mark rejoining ninth with his assailant Memo Rojas penalized with a drive-thru penalty for the incident. 

Valiante took over on 63mins, resuming 11^th one lap down, but by mid-distance was eighth setting lap times comparable with the leaders and importantly back on the lead lap. Having been up to fifth during the pit-stop phase, Michael himself pitted for fuel and tires with an hour to go, rejoining ninth.

When the race went green with 41mins remaining after the race’s third full course caution Michael, fifth in the corresponding 2006 race, lay second – directly behind the Michael Shank Racing #60 – but moments later swept in to the lead before the race went yellow once more.

The #23 Ford-Riley led at the re-start with 27mins remaining with Valiante setting the car’s fastest lap on lap 96. But Michael slipped back to third with 18mins to go as his tires deteriorated, losing another two places on the following lap (lap 102), then to sixth place three laps from home as his car’s tires continued to lose grip.

The United Autosports with Michael Shank Racing #23 Ford-Riley, having recorded fourth place in the Rolex 24 and now sixth at Homestead, is likely to make further outings at the end of the season.

#23 Johnnie Walker / UBS / Legends of Motorsports / Just Marketing International / GAC Logistics / Thunderhead / FXI – Riley-Ford

Mark Blundell (GB). Age: 44. Born: Barnet, England. Lives: Royston, England:

“I was very conscious of looking after the tires at the beginning of the race. The team did a great job on my first pit-stop to get me back out in second place. After the second caution, I didn’t have as much grip as I’d have liked due the tire’s heat cycle and so was under pressure from the #01 car when the race went green. But I believe I defended fairly and he [Rojas] didn’t need to knock me off the track – the incident was totally unnecessary. It cost us time and it cost us a lot of track position. Michael did a very good job but we were out of sync strategy wise [with pit-stops] but we just didn’t have the tire grip in the end. The guys that finished in front of us were just on fresher tires. Overall, still top-six and we’ve come away with a half smile on our faces but we know there’s a lot more to come. It’s only my second GRAND-AM race and I’ve very limited mileage here at Homestead so I’m still learning the Ford-Riley.”

Michael Valiante (CAN). Age: 31. Born: New Westminster, B. Columbia. Lives: Vancouver, Canada:

“It was a great race. We got out of sync on tires early on and we gambled. If we’d been on fresh tires at the end we’d have least got a podium – it’s frustrating. For once it would be nice to have a fairytale ending when we’ve had tough times. But we led. It wasn’t a bad weekend overall. I think it was a good showing for United Autosports and hopefully the speed that we showed and the pace that we had leads to some more races this year.”

Zak Brown (USA). Chairman & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

“I’m very proud of our team today. We weren’t even sure we were going to race until earlier this week.  Mark and Michael both did fantastic jobs behind the wheel. I watched every lap courtesy of SPEED TV and I was on the edge of my seat. Mike Shank and his crew did a great job giving us a fast race car and were great in the pits. It’s a bit of a bummer not to win after leading the race in the closing stages but sixth place isn’t too shabby. We’re now placed fifth in the Teams’ standings* which is incredible so we’ll work like hell to keep the effort going and maybe get to Barber in addition to the other couple of races we will do later in the year.”

Mike Shank (USA), Team Owner of Michael Shank Racing:

“The run-in with the 01 at the beginning hurt our chances and from there on we were off-sequence [with pit-stops] and that really effected the situation late in the race. We just didn't have enough tire, or luck, at the end.”

Riley DP

Roush-Yates prepared V8 Ford 5 liter modular engine, 4 cam, 4 valve, producing over 500hp. Rear-wheel-drive. Continental Tires. Weight: 2275lbs; 5 gears, paddle-shift gearbox. The Riley Technologies MK XXII is the most successful Daytona Prototype of all time.

United Autosports

Co-owned by Zak Brown and Richard Dean, the US-owned, UK-based team was formed in late 2009 and contested the 2010 FIA GT3 European Championship with a brace of Audi R8 LMS sports cars. Also competed in 24 Hours of Spa (finishing third & fourth in GT3 class on team’s 24 race début), Intercontinental Le Mans Cup at Zhuhai, China (third in GTC) and Macau (third GT Cup). Competes in the 2011 FIA GT3 European and Avon Tyres British GT Championships plus 24 Hours of Spa and Macau.

Michael Shank Racing

Since moving full-time to the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, Pataskala, Ohio-based Michael Shank Racing has taken three overall wins and 19 podium results, including second overall in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona as well as monopolizing the front row for the 2008 Rolex 24.

* Daytona Prototype Unofficial Standings

** Comprehensive Blundell & Valiante biographies plus team profiles on United Autosports and Michael Shank Racing are available to download from the United Autosports website

World-renowned Ex-F1 Engineer Joins United Autosports’ GT3 Program

• Ultra-Experienced Trevor Foster Who Engineered F1 World Champions Schumacher & Hill To Success commits to British-based team’s future
• United Fronts Up For 2011 Avon Tyres British GT Championship Media Days
• Blundell/Valiante Ford-Riley Starts “Grand Prix of Miami” from Fourth Row
• Success Ballast Out, Compensation Times in for FIA GT3

Ultra-experienced Trevor Foster (GB) has joined United Autosports as Race Engineer & Technical Director. Foster's illustrious career spans over 40 years, running teams in Formulae Ford 1600, 2000 and Three before working in Formula One with Tyrrell, Team Lotus, Jordan and BAR.

Foster has worked with the likes of Formula One World Champions Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill plus Jean Alesi, Martin Brundle and Johnny Herbert. Trevor, who was at Zytek Engineering since 2003, will engineer the Zak Brown/Matt Bell Audi R8 LMS in the FIA GT3 European Championship.

Trevor Foster (GB). Age: 59. Born: Leicester, England. Lives: Loughborough, Leics, England: 

“I am delighted to be joining Richard [Dean] and Zak [Brown] at United Autosports. The results the team achieved in its first year during 2010 were truly exceptional. They both have very clear goals regarding the future and I am very excited to be part of those plans. United Autosports already has a strong team of people and I aim to integrate my experience with them to enable the success story to continue.”

Richard Dean (GB), Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

“Securing the services of Trevor Foster at United Autosports is fantastic news. His CV makes a huge statement for the team and is a genuine effort by Zak and myself to add top class experience to our staff. I had the pleasure of working with Trevor, sitting on the Board with him at Zytek. The opportunity to secure the services of somebody of this stature doesn’t come around often. Timing is everything and ours was perfect on this occasion!”



John Bintcliffe (left) and Jay Palmer at Silverstone today (March 4).

United Fronts Up For 2011 Avon Tyres British GT Championship Media Days

British GT Championship newcomers John Bintcliffe (GB) and Jay Palmer (GB) had their first spell behind the wheel of their Audi R8 LMS today (Mar 4) when the Yorkshire duo tested on the “National” circuit at Silverstone (GB).

Bintcliffe and Palmer return to the Northamptonshire venue next week (March 8-9) along with team-mates of the “sister” United Autosports Audi Matt Bell (GB) and Michael Guasch (USA) for the series’ Media Days.

Richard Dean (GB), Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

“Despite a weather forecast suggesting snow, it turned out to be a bright, sunny if cold day in which we enjoyed a very successful test. It was a ‘general’ test day so traffic was not great but John and Jay completed around 80 trouble-free laps between them and as importantly, thoroughly enjoyed their first track experience of our Audi R8 LMS. Both of them loved the car, took to it straightaway and cannot wait until their runs next week.”

Blundell/Valiante Ford-Riley Starts “Grand Prix of Miami” from Fourth Row

The United Autosports with Michael Shank Racing Ford-Riley of Mark Blundell (GB) and Michael Valiante (CAN) start tomorrow’s (March 5) “Grand Prix of Miami” from the fourth row of the 30-car grid.

Blundell set a personal fastest time of 1min 15.117secs, an average speed of 110.228mph on his third “flying” lap, in today’s (March 4) 15mins qualifying session around the 2.3-mile, 11-turn Homestead-Miami combined speedway/road course. This marked Mark’s first-ever GRAND-AM qualifying run and his first since the 2002 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Mark, along with United Autosports’ Chairman & Co-Owner Zak Brown (USA), Martin Brundle (GB) and Mark Patterson (USA), finished an excellent fourth in the Rolex 24 At Daytona (January 29-30).  The second round of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16  is scheduled to begin at 12noon (Eastern) and is screened “live” on SPEED TV.

#23 Johnnie Walker / UBS / Legends of Motorsports / Just Marketing International / GAC Logistics / Thunderhead / FXI – Riley-Ford

Mark Blundell (GB). Age: 44. Born: Barnet, England. Lives: Royston, England:

“I’m a little disappointed, especially for the team, with only P8. It was the first opportunity we’d had to run new tires and it just didn’t quite come together – perhaps I got a little too greedy and asked too much as I made a mistake on both ‘flying’ laps and paid the price. That said, with a little bit more work in the final practice session, we should have a strong racecar for tomorrow’s race.”

Success Ballast Out, Compensation Times in for FIA GT3

Success Ballast, which has been a feature of the FIA GT3 European Championship since 2009, has been replaced with Compensation Times for the 2011 season. Instead of the top three cars and drivers being awarded +20kg, +15kg and +10kg in each race, they will receive a time of +15 seconds for 1st place, +10 seconds for second place and +5 seconds for 3rd, which will be added to the minimum pit stop duration set for the following race in the Championship.

The 2011 Avon Tyres British GT Championship has also abandoned the success-ballast system with a time penalty formula. Thus the front-running cars in Oulton Park’s first round on Easter Monday (Apr 25) will find themselves forced to spend longer in the pits during the second-race driver change. Championship promoter SRO Motorsports Group has made a minor alteration to the proposed 2011 Avon Tyres British GT Calendar, introducing a two-hour endurance race into the June Brands Hatch round and revising the format of the season-opener at Oulton Park to feature two one-hour races.

Audi R8 LMS

V10 5.2-liter engine, 4 valves per cylinder, petrol direct injection, 523 PS, emission control by two racing catalytic converters, rear-wheel-drive, traction control (ASR), sequential pneumatic activated 6-speed sport gearbox with shift-paddles, Audi Space Frame (ASF) made of aluminum with bolted steel roll-cage, carbon-fiber composite/aluminum bodywork, Dunlop (for FIA) and Avon (for BGT) radial tires. Start weight TBA. Limitation at 8500rpm for every gear. Developed by Audi Sport with cooperation from quattro GmbH. Won seven championships across Europe in 2009-2010 plus Spa 24 Hours class victory in début 2009 season and Nürburgring 24 Hours class victories in 2009-2010 and scoring a total 64 victories.

United Autosports Expands North American Racing Effort After Impressive Stateside GRAND-AM Début At Daytona

·       Anglo-American race team adds additional GRAND-AM Rolex Series events beginning at Homestead, Florida

·       Mark Blundell & Michael Valiante drive #23 Riley-Ford in the “Grand Prix of Miami” on Saturday

Mark Blundell (GB) and Michael Valiante (CAN) team together in an exciting line-up for the first time in a late United Autosports with Michael Shank Racing Ford-Riley entry at Homestead on Saturday (March 5) – the second round of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16.

The #23 Ford-Riley achieved a magnificent fourth place finish in the season-opening 49^th Rolex 24 At Daytona (USA) which featured Blundell – United Autosports’ maiden North American race for present day racecars – while GRAND-AM Rolex race winner Valiante netted 10^th place in a similar MSR run Ford-Riley.

Blundell and Valiante, the latter having finished fifth in the corresponding 2006 race, contest the Grand Prix of Miami at the 2.3-mile, 11-turn Homestead-Miami combined speedway/road course. It is considered to be the toughest event on the entire GRAND-AM calendar due to a necessity for prolonged high-power and with the race run in intense midday Florida sunshine.

The further expansion into GRAND-AM racing by United Autosports adds to the team's existing North American racing forays. United Autosports’ Chairman and Co-Owner Zak Brown is also a co-founder of the rapidly rising Legends of Motorsports historic racing series.

From its US hub in Indianapolis, United Autosports fields a full fleet of iconic racing machines on the Legends tours. This compliments the full-season efforts the team campaigns in British GT and FIA  GT3 European Championships from its UK headquarters in Leeds, England. This in addition to its Anglo-American ownership contributes to United Autosports unique business and racing structure.

Grand Prix of Miami – Provisional Timetable:

Friday, March 4: 1010-1140 Practice; 1345-1415 Practice; 1545-1600 Qualifying.

Saturday, March 5: 0830-0900 Final Practice; 1200 Rolex Series Race (2hr 45mins)

* The race will be broadcast “live” on the SPEED Channel

#23 Johnnie Walker / UBS / Legends of Motorsports / Just Marketing International / GAC Logistics / Thunderhead / FXI – Riley-Ford

Mark Blundell (GB). Age: 44. Born: Barnet, England. Lives: Royston, England:

“It’s great to make such a quick return to the cockpit of the United Autosports with Michael Shank Racing Riley. The entry was only confirmed 100% today [March 1] so I haven’t had much time to think about it. But with flight tickets now booked, I am really looking forward to racing at Homestead. I raced there on a different circuit configuration in my IndyCar days but never previously raced on the Speedway/infield combined course. However, I had my first run in the #23 Riley there last December. It’ll also be great to team up with Michael Valiante who I met for the first time at Homestead and then at Daytona – he is a very impressive driver. I must say a big thank you to Zak [Brown] for putting this deal together.”

Michael Valiante (CAN). Age: 31. Born: New Westminster, B. Columbia. Lives: Vancouver, Canada:

“I'm very happy to have this opportunity to race the United Autosports with Michael Shank Racing entry at Homestead and am very much looking forward to co-driving with Mark. He's of course a very exciting racer and we worked together at the Continental Tire test at Homestead in December as well as during the 24, so I'm really looking forward to building on that this weekend. The #23 had an outstanding race at Daytona and I'd love to add to that with a strong run this weekend at Homestead.”

Zak Brown (USA). Chairman & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

“I'm extremely pleased coming off our very strong result in Daytona that we are able to extend our program with the United Autosports/MSR entry. We'll have two great drivers in the car this weekend and we are committed to doing some additional races later in the year and hope we can keep the effort going all season.”

Mike Shank (USA), Team Owner of Michael Shank Racing:

“I'm very happy that we have the opportunity to race the No.23 United Autosports with Michael Shank Racing entry once again at Homestead. Having two drivers with the speed, experience and star power that Mark and Michael bring is just fantastic. This is a partnership that I'm personally very excited about and we had a great first race together with our run to fourth in the 24. I'm very pleased that we are able to continue with this program for Homestead and I'm optimistic that we will see this car racing in the Rolex Series a few more times this year.”

Richard Dean (GB). Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

“To be making another GRAND-AM appearance so soon after our Rolex 24 dbut is fantastic. I’m sure the #23 can play an important part in this race and the series in the longer term. To have Mark [Blundell] who is now something of a regular for us [he races at Spa for a second consecutive year], is an important endorsement and a sign of serious intent from United Autosports. We are also delighted to have Michael Valiante with us. Michael was hugely helpful at Daytona when driving for the ‘sister’ MSR car so we had a close-up at his very impressive ability and experience at this level.”

Riley DP

Roush-Yates prepared V8 Ford 5 liter modular engine, 4 cam, 4 valve, producing over 500hp. Rear-wheel-drive. Continental Tires. Weight: 2275lbs; 5 gears, paddle-shift gearbox. The Riley Technologies MK XXII is the most successful Daytona Prototype of all time.

United Autosports

Co-owned by Zak Brown and Richard Dean, the US-owned, UK-based team was formed in late 2009 and contested the 2010 FIA GT3 European Championship with a brace of Audi R8 LMS sports cars. Also competed in 24 Hours of Spa (finishing third & fourth in GT3 class on team’s 24 race début), Intercontinental Le Mans Cup at Zhuhai, China (third in GTC) and Macau (third GT Cup). Competes in the 2011 FIA GT3 European and Avon Tyres British GT Championships plus 24 Hours of Spa and Macau.

Michael Shank Racing

Since moving full-time to the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, Pataskala, Ohio-based Michael Shank Racing has taken three overall wins and 19 podium results, including second overall in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona as well as monopolizing the front row for the 2008 Rolex 24.

* Comprehensive Blundell & Valiante biographies plus team profiles on United Autosports and Michael Shank Racing are available to download from the United Autosports website.