- Debut for the team in LMP2
- First races in an LMP car for Brown and Patterson
- Star driver Johansson brings valuable LMP experience
INDIANAPOLIS / LONDON: Sept. 23, 2011 – Next week, September 29 to October 1 2011, United Autosports will be at Road Atlanta for the world famous Petit Le Mans. This will be the Anglo-American team's first event racing Le Mans Prototype (LMP) cars.
United Autosports co-owner Zak Brown and his team-mate Mark Patterson will make their LMP debut at Road Atlanta. Joining them will be ex-F1 driver Stefan Johansson.
Johansson brings to the team a wealth of experience. In addition to a career in the FIA Formula One World Championship, Swedish-born Johansson is also a former Le Mans 24-hour winner and has contested the American Le Mans Series in both the LMP1 and LMP2 classes including a second place overall at Petit Le Mans in 2006.
For 2011, the hugely diverse United Autosports cadre have taken part in the FIA GT3 European Championship, British GT Championship, Daytona 24-hours, the Spa 24 hours and will now partner with the experienced and respected DAMS (Driot-Associés MotorSport) to race a Pescarolo-Judd LMP2 car in the greuling 10-hour Petit Le Mans.
A test for the team in July at Le Mans gave Brown and Johansson an opportunity to sample the car they and Patterson will share next week. With both drivers feeling positive at the end of the session, a podium at Petit Le Mans is certainly targeted.
Schedule: Wednesday September 28 – 14:45-16:45 Test session; Thursday September 29 – 10:00-11:00 Practice 1; 14:55-15:55 Practice 2; 19:00-21:00 Night practice; Friday September 30 – 10:15-11:15 Practice 3; 15:30-15:45 Qualifying (LMP1/LMP2); Saturday October 1 – 9:15-9:40 Warm up; 11:30 Race
All times are Eastern, US.
#22 – United Autosports Pescarolo-Judd LMP2
Zak Brown (USA). Age: 39. Born: Los Angeles, California, USA. Lives: Carmel, Indiana, USA:
"I'm very much looking forward to my debut in a LMP2 car. I really enjoy driving with Stefan and Mark and think the United Autosports partnerships with DAMS should make for a competitive outing.
Mark Patterson (USA). Age: 59. Born: Port Elizabeth, SA. Lives: Bronxville, New York State, USA:
"Our challenge is to learn enough to get the most out of the car, as a class win guarantees a Le Mans grid spot - the ultimate cherry in sports car racing. Zak told me the biggest leap of faith is learning to trust the carbon brakes, which allow you to start slowing down well after your heart has already stopped - just so much deeper into the big corners than a steel brake car permits.
"I've studied coach Danny Watts' Road Atlanta notes like an 8 year old's multiplication tables the night before exams and hope that my maiden LMP bum-in-seat experience lasts more than a lap and ultimately quick lap times."
Stefan Johansson (SE). Age: 55. Born: Växjö, Sweden. Lives: Los Angeles, California, USA:
"Petit Le Mans has developed into one of the premier events in North American racing, together with Sebring for the sports car arena and it's great to be back there in a prototype.
"LMP is the type of racing I've been enjoying the most for the past ten years so I'm delighted to be back out in one. Zak and I tested the car at Le Mans earlier in the year and it felt very good. It's a pretty good car so we're looking forward to the weekend and hopefully we'll have a good run."
About 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.
* Brown, Patterson and Johansson biographies plus team profiles are available on the United Autosports website http://www.unitedautosports.com/
* A comprehensive library of Editorial Copyright Free photographs can be downloaded at www.flickr.com/unitedautosports/sets
For further information, please contact:Jay Ashton
United Autosports
Mobile: +44 (0)7919 186291
Jay@unitedautosports.com
www.unitedautosports.com
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