- Fledgling super team aims for second podium in only second Macau visit
- Britain's Danny Watts races GR Asia-sponsored McLaren MP4-12C GT3 development car
- 'Local' man, Richard Meins, returns with tried and trusted Audi R8 LMS for 11th Macau
Richard Meins at Macau in 2010
Leeds-based Anglo-American team United Autosports returns to Macau for only its second visit on November 17 - 20th with leading British sportscar racer, Danny Watts (Thornborough), and Hong Kong-based Briton, Richard Meins, at the wheel of the GR Asia-sponsored cars.
However this year, instead of taking the two Audi R8 LMS GT3 cars for Watts and Meins as it did in 2010, the team will race a McLaren MP4-12C GT3 development car, which will be run in conjunction with GR Asia Ltd, one of United Autosports' Asian partners.
Running the 12C GT3 will be something of a taster for when the team takes possession of its own brace of McLarens at the end of the year, and the experienced Watts will have the reins of the car in Macau in a bid to improve on his third place finish last year.
Competing in the blue ribbon Macau race amidst its extensive program of worldwide events, gives a clear indication of United Autosports' commitment and ambition to become one of the leading sportscar teams in the world.
It is also, without doubt, a feather in GR Asia's cap that it will be responsible for the Asian début of the mighty new McLaren as it takes to the track for its inaugural outing in Macau. Watts has competed at Macau for the last 10 years in both single-seaters and sportscars, but victory on the Guia Circuit has so far eluded the Le Mans class winner, who finished third in the GT event both last year and in 2009, and was runner-up in the first ever race in 2008.
For Meins, Macau is his favourite track and like Watts, he has competed in Macau on 10 previous occasions, racing Touring cars, Porsche Cup, Ferrari GT and Porsche GT3. However, he insists the Audi R8 LMS is the best of them all in terms of balance; the ABS and traction control system giving him confidence over the inevitably bumpy street road surface.
Meins regards this year's outing in Macau as ‘unfinished business', having had mechanical issues last year, and is determined to take a top finish this time round.
The 58th running of the prestigious Macau 3.8-mile lap races, which attracts over 300 drivers, is headlined by the F3 Macau Grand Prix, and is the only street race in the world with both car and motorcycle competition taking place on the same weekend. This year the Star River-Windsor Arch Macau GT Cup will be a 12-lap counter, two laps more than last year, clearly denoting the popularity of the over-subscribed event.
In addition to the high profile Formula 3 and GT races, the four-day event also features the FIA WTCC - Guia Race of Macau, the CTM Macau Touring Car Cup, the City of Dreams Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, as well as a road sport challenge race.
Provisional Timetable (all times are local):
Thursday, 17 November - 12.00 – 12.30 Star River-Windsor Arch Macau GT Cup – Practice 1
Friday, 18 November - 13.55 – 14.15 Star River-Windsor Arch Macau GT Cup – Practice 2
Saturday 19 November - 12.50 – 13.10 Star River-Windsor Arch Macau GT Cup – Qualifying
Sunday 20 November - 09.00 – 10.00 Star River-Windsor Arch Macau GT Cup – Race, 12 Laps
Danny Watts (GB). Age 31. Born: Aylesbury, UK. Lives: Thornborough, nr Buckingham, England
"Macau is my favourite event of the year for several reasons. Firstly, the circuit, as any driver who has raced around the famous streets will tell you, is one of the biggest challenges in the world. It's over 6km in length with every corner imaginable, long straights, fast chicanes, adverse cambers, hills, bumps, and the world's only hairpin which is so tight there isn't room for two cars! Concentration, focus, accuracy and precision are the keys to a quick lap at Macau.
"Having been on the podium the last couple of years, it's time to finally be on the top step in the GT race, and having the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 at my disposal should give me the tools to achieve this. Having driven it at Silverstone, the car feels sharp, responsive and agile; all characteristics you need for a street circuit. While GR Asia makes this all happen for me, which is why I am very motivated and focussed on repaying its faith in me by winning the race, United Autosports is regarded worldwide as a highly-professional, competitive team."
Richard Meins (GB). Age 56. Born: Beckenham, UK. Lives: Stanley, Hong Kong
"There's nowhere quite like Macau; it's very fast, all the corners are blind with no run-off or room for error anywhere! Mentally the approach to Macau is different to almost all other circuits and total respect is needed before you even get in the car. I was lucky enough to drive for United Autosports this year in the Audi at the Spa 24 Hour race with a very serious line-up of ex-Formula 1 drivers. It was a great weekend and gave me many hours of experience in the car. I am really looking forward to putting that experience to good use and I'm confident of getting a good result in Macau with United Autosports, one of the most professional and friendly teams with which I have been involved."
Richard Dean (GB).Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports
This is our second year at Macau working with our partner GR Asia. It's a fantastic event; there is really nothing like it that I have seen before in motorsport and it provides a great atmosphere. The fans love it and our team loves it too! We have high hopes for the McLaren and Audi, and we're focused on improving on the third place which Danny took last year.
Danny Watts in the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 at Silverstone in October
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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, 365-412 kW (496-560 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, Avon radial tires. Start weight 1,305kg. 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.
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Date of issue: Friday November 4, 2011
* Meins and Watts biographies plus team & car 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:
Linda Keen
Press Officer
United Autosports
T: +44 1424 250840
M: +44 7745 121790
Email: linda@unitedautosports.com
Skype: lindakeen
www.unitedautosports.com
For further information on-event, please contact:
Jay Ashton
M: +44 7919 186291
E: jay@unitedautosports.com
www.unitedautosports.com
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