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Monday, June 20, 2011

United Autosports’ Duo Continue To Lead British GT Championship Despite Non-Scoring At Brands Hatch

· American Mike Guasch dumped out of two-hour race in opening three minutes
· British duo John Bintcliffe & Jay Palmer finish eighth in difficult conditions

United Autosports’ duo Matt Bell (GB) and Mike Guasch (USA) continue to lead the Avon Tyres British GT Championship despite being unceremoniously bundled out of the fourth round of the series at Brands Hatch (England) today (Sunday June 19).

Previous round Snetterton race winners Bell and Guasch looked to build on their 24.5-point series lead going in to the two-hour race but the American, having spectacularly brought his #23 Molecule Audi R8 LMS up from a disappointing 12^th place grid position to sixth in just over one lap of the 2.301-mile “Grand Prix” track, was assaulted by the #12 Ferrari at Druids Hairpin on lap two. The Audi R8 LMS, hit from behind, was too badly damaged for the American to continue.

Meanwhile John Bintcliffe (GB) and Jay Palmer (GB) will arrive for the next rounds at Spa-Francorchamps placed 11^th in the 10-race series. The British duo recorded a fine eighth – in only their fourth race in the #24 Teknavo Audi – in the 120-minute race featuring changeable weather and track conditions and which saw the weight ballast for the Audi R8 LMS increased by 10kg.

Avon Tyres British GT Championship (after four rounds):

1 Matt Bell & Mike Guasch, 70.5-points
2 Gedie/Gedie, 63.5pts
3 Lester/Simonsen, 58.5pts
11 John Bintcliffe & Jay Palmer, 21pts

Luyendyk & Johansson Shake Down New Audi R8 LMS At Snetterton
Double Indianapolis 500 race winner Arie Luyendyk (NL) and former Grand Prix and IndyCar driver Stefan Johansson (SE) “shook down” the brand new Bell/Guasch Audi at Rockingham (England) last Wednesday. The duo, who both drive for United Autosports in the Total 24 Hours of Spa (July 30-31), completed over 100-laps. The Audi was then on display at a Draper Tools “Meet the Team” event the following day (Thursday) for staff and customers of the team’s partner in Southampton along with United Autosports’ FIA GT3 European Championship driver Joe Osborne who also entertained Draper guests at Brands today.

Upcoming . . .

The fifth & sixth rounds of the FIA GT3 European Championship at Navarra (Spain) on July 2-3. Rounds five and six of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship staged at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) on July 8-9.

Race (duration 120mins)

Qualifying: 12^th #23 Bell, 1m 28.596s; 13^th #24 Bintcliffe, 1m 28.610s. Weather: Dry, bright.
Race Result: 8^th (#24), +1 lap. Retired (#23). Weather: Damp/cloudy, rain/wet, sun/drying.

Guasch immediately made up five places on his grid position to complete the opening lap on a damp track in seventh and having overtaken the #12 Ferrari for sixth place on lap two, was tagged by the same car at Druids Hairpin. The American’s Audi ended up in the barriers with substantial front and rear bodywork damage.

Palmer settled into a steady rhythm as the track began to dry, Jay placed 10^th with 15mins on the clock – 50secs off the lead. Palmer remained 10^th on 30mins – 71secs down. Heavy rain began to fall minutes later with the Safety Car deployed on 40mins to recover stranded cars with Palmer placed a praiseworthy eighth.

Palmer, who had driven brilliantly considering he had not previously raced on the Brands GP circuit, made his compulsory pit-stop to hand over to Bintcliffe as the race re-started with 70mins to run but the former Audi Sport UK “factory” British Touring Car Championship race winner spun down to 18^th place in the difficult conditions at the top of Paddock Hill on his “out lap”.

With an hour to run, Bintcliffe was 11^th but was up to seventh place 10mins later. The sun appeared for the last 30mins, the track drying allowing John to set a string of personal fastest laps although Bintcliffe slipped one place to eighth on the penultimate lap as the #11 Ferrari came past on the pit straight.

#23 Molecule – Audi R8 LMS

Matt Bell (GB). Age: 21. Born: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, T&W. Lives: Barningham, N. Yorks, England:

“I’d only driven here once before, in a Ginetta, two years ago. Practice was red flag interrupted and traffic a problem but was P5 in the final practice heading into qualifying so 12^th in ‘qually’ was disappointing. We could have and should have been in the top-six but I struggled to get in a clear lap. The track is narrow with few overtaking opportunities so the race was always going to be difficult but hadn’t expected it to be over so quickly! Today was a great shame. We’ll just have to pick ourselves up and move on to the next races at Spa.”

Michael Guasch (USA). Age: 53. Born: Palo Alto, California. Lives: Walnut Creek, California, USA:

“I’d previous practice experience in a Ginetta around the ‘Indy’ track but the GP section was daunting to begin with but I steadily got to grips with it. Qualifying down in 12^th always meant it would be a battle in the race. It had rained before the race but we decided to start on slicks. I made a number of passes but going into Druids for only the second time, I was on the outside, but the car on the inside just took me out – I can only assume he didn’t see me. The heavy impact shoved me into the barriers and pretty much destroyed the car. I went to the Medical Center but got the all clear. Amazingly we still lead the series.”

#24 Teknavo – Audi R8 LMS

John Bintcliffe (GB). Age: 45. Born: Bridlington, E. Yorks. Lives: Harrogate, N. Yorkshire, England.

“I went in to qualifying with less than four competitive ‘flying’ laps under my belt from practice after a 15 year break from racing at Brands. Qualifying just outside the top-10 was frustrating but that was down to my lack of laps in the Audi. I spun at Paddock on my out lap having just taken over from Jay – I was on slicks, the track was wet and although I felt I was taking it very gently, the car rotated. For the next four laps I took things very steady and let the car come to me. The weather played a big part today but apart from my embarrassing spin, we dealt with everything that was thrown at us.”

Jay Palmer (GB). Age: 38. Born: Harrogate. Lives: Harrogate & London, England / Barbados:

“The start of the race was fraught but I was intent on keeping out of trouble. I held position and through attrition moved up some places before pitting after the Safety Car period. That was an issue in itself due to a very slow GT4 class Aston Martin trundling around which cost us a lot of time and was most annoying. But taking everything in to account, it was a pleasing result and another race where we’ve claimed some points.”

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

“Qualifying was always going to be ‘busy’ with 31 cars on the track but it was the same for everyone. Matt was unlucky on his new tire run with traffic as was John so we never had the opportunity to show the true pace of the R8 LMS which had a good balance. So we needed luck going into the race and to keep out of trouble but we didn’t get it. The Ferrari turned Mike around and out of the race almost destroying our brand new Audi R8 LMS in the process. Jay and John ran a clean race but unfortunately Jay frustratingly lost time behind a GT4 car that decided to go very slowly during the Safety Car phase which effectively lost the #24 Audi half a lap. We’re still leading the series but now by only seven points.”

United Autosports

Audi R8 LMS

* Bell, Bintcliffe, Guasch & Palmer 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:

Martyn Pass

Audi UK Sport Press

T +44 1564 824600

M +44 7801 859502

Skype martyn.pass

Thursday, June 9, 2011

United Autosports Aims For Back-To-Back British GT Championship Victories

· Bell & Guasch look to consolidate early championship lead
· Bintcliffe & Palmer aim for another top-five finish after multi-year race lay-off

The fourth round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship staged at Brands Hatch (England) on Sunday June 19 sees United Autosports bidding for back-to-back wins.

Matt Bell (GB) and Michael Guasch (USA) earned the team its maiden victory last month when the Anglo-American pairing swept their #23 Molecule Audi R8 LMS to victory at Snetterton (England) which earned them a 24.5-point series lead after three rounds of the 10-race series United Autosports is contesting for the first time.

The John Bintcliffe (GB) and Jay Palmer (GB) #24 Teknavo Audi collected fifth place at Snetterton in only their third race at the wheel of their R8 LMS. Due to business commitments, both have been away from motorsport in recent years, but are quickly adapting to the V10-engined R8 LMS and in races featuring pit-stops for driver changes for the very first time in their careers.

Like the previous event at Snetterton, the Brands race staged on the 2.301-mile “Grand Prix” track, will be of a two-hour duration. The #23 Molecule Audi R8 LMS will be “held” for an additional 20secs “success penalty” during its mandatory driver change pit-stop.

Avon Tyres British GT Championship (after three rounds):

1 Matt Bell & Mike Guasch, 70.5-points

2 Jones/Jones, 46pts

3 Gedie/Gedie, 41pts

9 John Bintcliffe & Jay Palmer, 15pts

Provisional Timetable:

Saturday – 0935-1035 Practice; 1255-1355 Practice; 1745-1815 Qualifying

Sunday – 1000-1010 Warm-up; 1550-1750 Race

* All times are UK “local”

#23 Molecule – Audi R8 LMS

Matt Bell (GB). Age: 21. Born: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, T&W. Lives: Barningham, N. Yorks, England:

“United Autosports gave Mike and I a stunning racecar in the previous race at Snetterton which allowed us to score our maiden BGT race win. I was delighted to reward everyone in the team with that result but we’re hungry for more of the same success and where better than the next race at Brands and another two-hour race which again should suit our Audi ideally. I’ve only previously been around the Brands GP track in a Ginetta and it’s a great track.”

Michael Guasch (USA). Age: 53. Born: Palo Alto, California. Lives: Walnut Creek, California, USA:

“Despite having a pit-stop ‘success’ penalty of 20secs at Brands I believe that if we can qualify well again and hang with the leaders in the opening part of the race, our Audi should come on strong in the latter stages and be in with a good shot of a podium again. I’ve never previously driven on the GP circuit but have spent time on the simulator learning it so that I’m prepared for when I arrive.”

#24 Teknavo – Audi R8 LMS

John Bintcliffe (GB). Age: 45. Born: Bridlington, E. Yorks. Lives: Harrogate, N. Yorkshire, England.

“The key element for Jay and I in achieving a good result at Brands will be to hit the ground running in that we claim a good qualifying position. Then there is no reason why we cannot be challenging at the front in the race.”

Jay Palmer (GB). Age: 38. Born: Harrogate. Lives: Harrogate & London, England / Barbados:

“I’ve never raced on the Brands GP circuit but it looks great. I thoroughly enjoyed the two-hour race at Snetterton and John and I will be aiming for another top-six race result.”

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

“We won the last BGT race so we’ll arrive at Brands on a high. But we also know that we need to be on our very best form, drivers and team personnel, to be in with a chance of achieving back-to-back wins. None of our drivers have done many, if any, racing laps on the Brands GP circuit. Matt and Mike are a strong pairing – they raced with us in the FIA GT3 series last year so they have experience of the Audi R8 LMS and this kind of two-driver GT racing. For Jay and John, who have both come back to racing after multi-year lay-offs, they’re having to learn the car, the circuits again and races featuring pit-stops, so for them to achieve fifth at Snetterton last time out was a tremendous performance.”

United Autosports

Audi R8 LMS

* Bell, Bintcliffe, Guasch & Palmer biographies plus team & car profiles are available on the United Autosports websitebsite 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:

Martyn Pass

Audi UK Sport Press

T +44 1564 824600

M +44 7801 859502

Skype martyn.pass

Monday, June 6, 2011

United Autosports Out In The Cold At Home Silverstone FIA GT3 Races

Unseasonably cold weather thwarts Anglo-American team’s glory bid
Famous English venue proves to be a difficult track for Audi R8 LMS teams

“Flaming June” it was not at Silverstone (England) for United Autosports’ “home” FIA GT3 European Championship races of the year this weekend (June 4-5).

Consequently the unseasonably low ambient temperatures which decreased as the three-day event went on, wrecked any hopes the Anglo-American team had of scoring top finishes on “home soil”. Its Dunlop tires, normally excelling in the latter stages of the hour-long races as opposed to short qualifying runs, were unable to generate the necessary heat required for optimum grip leaving the drivers powerless.

Nevertheless the #22 Draper Tools sports car of Joe Osborne (GB) and Mark Patterson (USA) was the second-highest Audi R8 LMS in both one-hour races around the 3.67-mile “Arena” Grand Prix track.

Upcoming . . .

The fourth round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship. A two-hour race staged at Brands Hatch, Kent (England) on June 19 which Matt Bell (GB) & Mike Guasch (USA) start as championship leaders after winning the last race at Snetterton. Fifth & sixth rounds of the FIA GT3 European Championship at Navarra (Spain) on 2-3 July.

Race 1 (Saturday, duration 60mins)

Qualifying: 19^th #22 Patterson, 2m 06.259s; 22^nd #23 Brown, 2m 06.990s. Weather: Dry, cloudy.

Race Result: 15^th (#22) +51.477s P1; 21^st (#23) +70.767s. Weather: Dry, sunny, cool.

Patterson and Brown lined up 19^th and 22^nd respectively on the 27-car grid – both frustrated when cool morning conditions did not help generate heat in to the temperature sensitive Dunlop tires during the 20-minute qualifying session. Both dropped places during the hectic start with Patterson, who had incredulously been hit before the green light, was back in to 19^th by the fourth lap while Brown lay 26^th after a harmless spin at Becketts on lap eight.

Mark, having set his personal best time the previous lap, and Zak pitted from 19^th and 23^rd positions respectively with 33mins to run, Osborne and Bell resuming in 23^rd and 24^th positions separated by less than seven seconds.

With 10mins remaining Osborne moved up to 18^th – a mysterious handling imbalance severely handicapping Bell’s pace in 21^st. Joe was the quickest car in the field on the final lap, as his Dunlop tires came into their own, enabling him to take the checker in 15^th – one position and less than five seconds behind the best placed Audi, Osborne having set the eighth fastest lap time in the race – with Bell 21^st.

Race 2 (Sunday, duration 60mins)

Qualifying: 12^th #22 Osborne, 2m 04.230s; 22^nd #23 Bell, 2m 5.020s. Weather: Dry, cloudy, light rain.

Race Result: 16^th (#22) +69.334s P1; 17^th (#23) +82.508s. Weather: Dry, overcast, cool, breezy.

Osborne started from row six – the second best-placed Audi R8 LMS – with Bell on the 12^th row but optimistic further suspension changes overnight would solve the handling issue on the #23 Audi. A multi-car accident at the first corner moments after the green light resulted in a 10min Safety Car period – Osborne making up two places despite being forced wide to miss the carnage with Bell, who ran over on-track debris, 19^th.

Osborne was embroiled in a five-car dice over seventh at the re-start while Bell, enjoying a more consistent balance, impressively moved up to 15^th prior to pitting at mid-distance – five places behind Osborne.

Patterson resumed 13^th but Zak coasted to a standstill on his out-lap, a full ignition re-set getting the American underway almost immediately but having slipped back to 21^st. Further woes afflicted the #22 Audi when Patterson was forced wide dropping to 18^th – one place ahead of Brown with 16mins remaining.

At the checker, Patterson and Brown claimed 16^th – a spin on the penultimate lap costing Mark a place – and 17^th respectively – both United Autosports’ Audi sports cars recording some impressive lap times in the closing stages culminating, once again, with each driver setting their best laps at the finish.

#22 Draper Tools – Audi R8 LMS

Joe Osborne (GB). Age: 22. Born: Bedford, GB. Lives: Olney, Buckinghamshire, GB:

“I had a lot of work to do in Race One but just got my head down. The tires came in towards the very end and I managed to claw back some places which was encouraging. I was reasonably happy with my qualifying performance on Saturday, claiming P12 although it could have been a top-eight but I lost out in traffic on what was looking to be my quickest lap. I was close to getting wiped out at the start of the second race with the first corner accident, having to go way off onto the run off area. It’s frustrating as we [Audi] shouldn’t be in a position whereby the R8 LMS is fighting for positions in midfield – it would seem that the Balance of Power is not right.”

Mark Patterson (USA). Age: 59. Born: Port Elizabeth, SA. Lives: Bronxville, New York State, USA:

“I qualified P19 for Saturday’s race which was the best I could manage. Amazingly I was hit three corners before the race had even started which caused me to be slow away at the green light and then I had to be a little careful until I knew if the car had been damaged. It wasn’t a particularly rewarding stint which gave Joe a lot to do when he took over. Having driven the Audi on full tanks on Saturday, I enjoyed Sunday’s race far better. Joe handed me over a nice racecar. Unfortunately I had a spin near the end.”

#23 Legends of Motorsport – Audi R8 LMS

Matt Bell (GB). Age: 21. Born: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, GB. Lives: Barningham, North Yorks, GB:

“We tested at Snetterton before we came here and the Audi R8 LMS was excellent but here, the handling has not been good. We’d made an overnight change to the suspension set-up on Friday resulting in the back end being too loose for me in qualifying on Saturday so we reverted back to the previous set-up for Race One but the handling was still not to my liking. Further changes were made for Sunday’s race and it was more consistent but not perfect. I made a good start but then had to stand on the brakes to avoid the opening corner accident. With the cool conditions, the opposition’s Michelins didn’t drop off in terms of grip as much as normal while our Dunlop tires, didn’t give us a second half of the race advantage that they normally give us.”

Zak Brown (USA). Age: 39. Born: Los Angeles, California, USA. Lives: Carmel, Indiana, USA:

“Frustrated – no other word sums up how Matt & I feel, and the entire team for that matter, feel after this weekend. With United Autosports coming off recording its first outright win [British GT Championship] combined with us racing here at Silverstone for a second time, we expected to be very competitive this weekend. The set-up clearly didn’t suit the conditions we’ve had over the past three days. Our Dunlop tires excel as a race progresses but they need the ambient temperature to be warm. At Silverstone, it got colder each day so we couldn’t enjoy the advantage that we normally enjoy as a race progresses. We therefore qualified poorly and I’m afraid that continued in to both races when we had one of those days in the office that is best forgotten. We all have bad weekends, this was ours, and all we do now is look ahead to the next races and hopefully some hotter weather!”

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

“Although the weekend was a huge disappointment to everyone in the United Autosports team, we will learn from the experience for future races. The cold ambient temperature in both races negated the advantage our Audi R8 LMS has of being easy on its tires as well as the actual performance of our Dunlop tires from the mid-race stage. We now look forward to an upturn in fortune in Spain next month and replicate the success we are enjoying in the British GT Championship.”

United Autosports

Audi R8 LMS

For further information, please contact:

Martyn Pass

Audi UK Sport Press

T +44 1564 824600

M +44 7801 859502

Skype martyn.pass

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

United Autosports Looks To Build On Success In “Home” FIA GT3 Races

· Team targets top-10 qualifying positions to fully exploit race tire strengths

· British GT race victor Bell aiming to continue winning ways

United Autosports arrives at Silverstone (England) for its “home” FIA GT3 European Championship races aiming to take forward the momentum the Anglo-American team has generated after its maiden race win.

The historic Silverstone venue situated 130-miles from United’s British raceshop in Leeds, stages the third and fourth rounds of the FIA series (June 3-5) with the GT3 squad buoyed by its victory in the British GT Championship last month (May 15).

Matt Bell (GB) and United’s 2010 FIA driver Mike Guasch (USA) steered their Audi R8 LMS in to victory lane making Bell doubly determined for a repeat dose of success at Silverstone – the scene of the team’s FIA race baptism 13 months ago.

Bell partners United Autosports’ Chairman Zak Brown in the #23 Legends of Motorsport Audi R8 LMS with Joe Osborne (GB) and Mark Patterson (USA) in the “sister” #22 Draper Tools R8 LMS looking to challenge for honors around the 3.67-mile “Arena” Grand Prix track. A new $43million pit and paddock complex, unveiled by HRH The Duke of Kent this month (May 17), will be used for the first time over the FIA championship weekend.

Bell, Brown and Patterson each drove the Audi in the corresponding Silverstone races last year while Osborne, who lives less than 20-miles away, netted a fifth place – in a Porsche 911 GT3 R. The quartet is determined to improve on their qualifying positions which they deem is the key to success at Silverstone. The Audi R8 LMS and its Dunlop tires are a strong race combination – its major asset being the longevity of its rubber in the latter stages. United Autosports has tested at Spa (Belgium) and Snetterton since the Algarve races.

2011 FIA GT3 Drivers' Championship (after two races):

11^th= Bell/Brown, 2pts

2011 FIA GT3 Teams' Championship:

10^th United Autosports

Provisional Timetable:

Friday – 1220-1320 Practice; 1730-1830 Practice

Saturday – 0940-1030 Qualifying; 1330-1430 Race 1

Sunday – 1145-1245 Race 2

* All times are “local”

#22 Draper Tools – Audi R8 LMS

Joe Osborne (GB). Age: 22. Born: Bedford, GB. Lives: Olney, Buckinghamshire, GB:

“Silverstone takes on added importance for me as I was born and bred just 20 minutes away so I have got no excuse for not having track knowledge! I’ll be pushing hard and after the Portugal race, I’m only too aware that qualifying will be critical. We must start races from inside the top-10 to be in a position to push for podiums. I desperately want to score a top-three result in these races.”

Mark Patterson (USA). Age: 59. Born: Port Elizabeth, SA. Lives: Bronxville, New York State, USA:

“Joe and I will be trying to make up for our ‘sins’ in Portugal and get on to the championship scoreboard. If we get ‘typical’ English summer weather that’s not a problem – our Audi is fine in the cold and wet! I raced at Silverstone last year and am looking forward to going back to the ‘home’ of British motor racing.”

#23 Legends of Motorsport – Audi R8 LMS

Matt Bell (GB). Age: 21. Born: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, GB. Lives: Barningham, North Yorks, GB:

“I love being at Silverstone. I had my first ever GT win with my brother there last year in a one-off British GT race. Our Audi R8 LMS was quick there in testing earlier this year and so I am definitely looking to achieve better results than in the opening races in Portugal.”

Zak Brown (USA). Age: 39. Born: Los Angeles, California, USA. Lives: Carmel, Indiana, USA:

“We must qualify better at Silverstone – grid positions are critical for a good race result. Our Dunlop tires probably aren’t as quick as Michelin rubber over a single lap but are a better race tire. But a better grid slot would mean we need to take less risks in the race.”

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

“Silverstone is the team’s ‘home’ race in that it’s the only round of the FIA series staged in England so it would be additionally good to achieve good results as we’ll have a large number of sponsor and partner guests throughout the weekend including Draper Tools and West London Audi. We put a lot of effort in at the Algarve and got scant reward. Our drivers, the team and our tire partner must all improve in qualifying. Top-10 grid positions would mean we’d be able to comfortably run in the top-six in the race so that has to be our target.”

United Autosports

Audi R8 LMS

For further information, please contact:

Martyn Pass

Audi UK Sport Press

T +44 1564 824600

M +44 7801 859502

Skype martyn.pass

Monday, May 16, 2011

Fantastic Hard Earned Maiden Win For United Autosports After Dramatic British Championship GT Race

· Bell & Guasch score Audi’s first BGT race win with R8 LMS to take series lead

· “Newcomers” Bintcliffe & Palmer finish a superb fifth in two-hour race

· Bell claims Anglo-American team’s first BGT front row start position

Mike Guasch (left) and co-driver Matt Bell stand on the top step of the winner’s rostrum at Snetterton today

United Autosports scored a stunning maiden race victory today (Sunday May 15) when Matt Bell (GB) and Michael Guasch (USA) swept the #23 Molecule Audi R8 LMS to a dramatic, last-gasp yet thoroughly deserved victory in the third round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Snetterton (England).

The Anglo-American team’s joy was topped off by a fine fifth place achieved by John Bintcliffe (GB) and Jay Palmer (GB) in only their third race in the #24 Teknavo Audi R8 LMS in the 172-mile event run in changeable weather conditions.

Bell & Guasch started the race joint third in the championship standings but their hard-earned 2.946-secs victory now puts them at the top of the rankings with Bintcliffe & Palmer scoring their first points of the season to lie ninth in the points table.

Bell, having briefly been in pole-position at the beginning of the red flag interrupted 30-minute qualifying session on Saturday (May 14), claimed a place on the front row with 10-minutes remaining. The achievement represented Matt’s career best qualifying position in the Audi R8 LMS and the first front row start for United Autosports in the team’s fifth BGT race.

Bintcliffe, fifth quickest for a spell, was bumped down to a sixth row start on the 25-car grid around the revised 2.99-mile Snetterton '300' track but greater rewards were to be achieved 24 hours later for both cars.

Avon Tyres British GT Championship (after three rounds):

1 Matt Bell & Mike Gausch, 70.5-points

2 Jones/Jones, 46pts

3 Gedie/Gedie, 41pts

9 John Bintcliffe & Jay Palmer, 15pts

Race (duration 120mins)

Qualifying: 2^nd #23 Bell, 1m 51.398s; 12^th #24 Bintcliffe, 1m 52.701s. Weather: Dry, bright.

Race Result: 1^st (#23) -2.946s; 5^th (#24), +71.666s. Weather: Damp, wet, drying, changeable.

With light rain falling, Guasch and Palmer started the #23 and #24 cars respectively, Mike slipping to third on lap four with Jay running 10^th before a 20mins Safety Car period from lap 10.

Rain began to fall once more but Guasch aggressively forced his way back into second place at the re-start on lap 20 with Palmer still a creditable 10^thbefore both United Autosports cars pitted for their compulsory driver changes on 40mins (lap 22) – Bell and Bintcliffe rejoining the race in 13^th and 15^th respectively.

Unfortunately seventh-placed Bell, who was actually “leading” the race by 14secs in terms of the cars having pitted, was back in the pits on 65mins (lap 29) to serve a six-seconds stop-go penalty, officials having deemed the #23 Audi’s pit-stop to have taken under the minimum time limit.

With 45mins to run a charging Bell was challenging for third with Bintcliffe a praiseworthy sixth. Bell moved into third place on 93mins (lap 43) – 36-seconds down on the leader – with Bintcliffe still sixth.

Bell, consistently the fastest car on track, and Bintcliffe moved up into second and fifth places respectively with 21mins remaining when the second-placed Ferrari retired. But with just 12mins remaining and with the lead now down to just 22secs, second-placed Bell was summoned to serve a drive-through penalty for a “no overtaking” yellow flag infringement although Matt retained second place but now 40secs adrift of the leading #10 Ferrari.

However, having been shown the black/orange warning flag by race officials five minutes from the finish for loose front bodywork, the lead Ferrari was forced to make a quick pit-stop for repairs at the start of final lap, exiting the pits marginally still ahead, although Bell snatched the lead around the outside of Turn One – Matt setting the #23 Audi’s best lap time on the final lap.

Upcoming . . .

The third & fourth rounds of the FIA GT3 European Championship at Silverstone (England) on June 4-5. The fourth round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Brands Hatch (England) on June 19.

#23 Molecule – Audi R8 LMS

Matt Bell (GB). Age: 21. Born: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, T&W. Lives: Barningham, N. Yorks, England:

“I’m very happy. It was a race full of incidents and mistakes. I was a little surprised to get P2 in qualifying and to ultimately win the race after everything that was thrown at us which made it additionally hard. I just kept my head down, focus on the grip level in the slippery conditions and it paid off for us. I had a scary sideways moment on the grass when a Ferrari which I’d just overtaken came back up the inside and drove me off the track damaging his car in the process. I quickly had to get the two penalties out of my head and get the job done. From then on I just needed to be fast and consistent. I was alongside the #10 Ferrari as he exited the pit-lane on the final lap and drove around the outside of him at Turn One.”

Michael Guasch (USA). Age: 53. Born: Palo Alto, California. Lives: Walnut Creek, California, USA:

“It’s a fantastic result for the team, Matt and I, and Audi. It was hard work – we had a lot of bad luck and also a little good luck which evened out in our favor. I ran either second or third in my stint and there was a lot of carnage out there. Matt was released a little early costing us a stop-go penalty but Matt drove the wheels off the car – I’m thrilled.”

#24 Teknavo – Audi R8 LMS

John Bintcliffe (GB). Age: 45. Born: Bridlington, E. Yorks. Lives: Harrogate, N. Yorkshire, England:

“Jay and I are really chuffed with the result. We didn’t get much running before qualifying due to a handling issue in the opening practice then changing weather affecting the second practice. I’ve had very limited running on new tyres but felt I’m making progress in terms of the technique required, especially in qualifying. I’d not previously driven the Audi for over an hour at any one time so on reflection I was perhaps a little conservative in terms of my race pace. Only issue was an attack from an Aston Martin. Overall, a magnificent result for the team with first and fifth places.”

Jay Palmer (GB). Age: 38. Born: Harrogate. Lives: Harrogate & London, England / Barbados:

“It was a really good race with a lot of attrition. My stint went well. I made a good start making up places but lost a position at the re-start following the Safety Car period. It was raining quite hard just before I pitted to John. Our objective today was to finish today’s race after non-scoring at Oulton so a fifth place is very pleasing.”

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

“It’s a fantastic result for everyone connected with our team which ran its first race in April 2010. We achieved GT3 class podium finishes in the FIA European Championship, 24 Hours of Spa, Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and at Macau in our maiden season of competition and I’m thrilled that our team has achieved a race win – the first of many I’m sure this year. I’m very proud that United Autosports has scored Audi’s first BGT win with the R8 LMS.”

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

“Achieving United Autosports’ maiden race win has been hard to achieve but Zak and I have been extremely proud of the work ethic shown from every individual in the team and I’m sure we can go on and win more races. We made hard work of it but the victory was fully deserved. Mike and Matt both drove really well while Jay and John were fantastic – the entire team deserve this success and I’m personally delighted for everyone. Today’s race was difficult but once again the Audi was especially strong in the second half of the race. Twenty-four hours earlier it had been a great effort from Matt in qualifying while John’s performance was excellent considering his lack of miles in the Audi. ”

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, Dunlop radial tires. Start weight 1,320kg. 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.

* Bell, Bintcliffe, Guasch & Palmer 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:

Martyn Pass

Audi UK Sport Press

T +44 1564 824600

M +44 7801 859502

Skype martyn.pass

Sunday, May 8, 2011

United Autosports Opens Points Tally In Portugal While Also Enduring Frustration On Algarve Return

· Anglo-American team show race competitiveness only for bad luck to strike
· #23 Audi scores championship point in both opening rounds of FIA series
· #22 Audi misses out on top-five result in closing stages of Race Two

United Autosports scored a valuable FIA GT3 European Championship point in both opening rounds of the series at the Autodrómo Internacional do Algarve circuit near Portimão this weekend (May 7-8).

Having netted a “podium” finish in the corresponding Portuguese races last year, the Anglo-American team had high hopes of repeating the feat around the challenging 2.92-mile track staging rounds one and two of this year’s series.

But poor qualifying results, due in the main to lack of front-end tire grip, ensured it was always going to be a struggle to record top places in the one-hour races. Ultimately the Matt Bell (GB)/Zak Brown (USA) #23 Legends of Motorsport Audi R8 LMS netted 10^th place in both races while the #22 Draper Tools R8 LMS of Joe Osborne (GB)/Mark Patterson (USA) posted two retirements – a top-five placing looking likely in today’s race.

2011 FIA GT3 Drivers' Championship (after two races)
11^th= Bell/Brown, 2pts

2011 FIA GT3 Teams' Championship

10^th United Autosports

Race 1 (Saturday, duration 60mins)

Qualifying: 17^th #22 Patterson, 1m 48.064s; 19^th #23 Brown, 1m 48.303. Weather: Dry, cloudy.
Race Result: 10^th (#23) +77.083s P1; Retired (#22), -31 laps. Weather: Dry, sunny.

Patterson started 16^th but having made up positions, was punted out of the race at the third corner on the opening lap – the American ultimately managing to bring his Audi with broken right rear suspension back to the pits to post the #22 Audi’s first retirement in its 13^th FIA race.

At the green light, a determined Brown made up an incredible six places on a hectic opening lap and into 11^th by lap 11 despite getting hit a number of times in the opening laps which damaged a wheel. He pitted from just outside the top-10 just before mid-distance, handing the Legends of Motorsport Audi over to Bell who was obliged to serve a stop-go penalty by race officials for completing the mandatory driver change pit-stop two tenths of a second under the 75secs minimum “stationary” time – a decision organizers 24 hours later suggested was incorrect due to a timing malfunction. Bell recovered to take the checker placed 10^th – the second highest Audi R8 LMS – despite sustaining a broken engine mount.

Race 2 (Sunday, duration 60mins)

Qualifying: 17^th #22 Osborne, 1m 46.828s; 20^th #23 Bell, 1m 46.996s. Weather: Dry, cloudy.
Race Result: 10^th (#23) +41.569s P1; 18^th (#22) Not running at finish -3 laps P1. Weather: Dry, sunny.

Overnight repairs finished at 3.30am after a fantastic effort by the crew to get both Audi sports cars race ready for Race Two – the drivers looking to reward their hard work with top finishes. Osborne and Bell hovered just outside the top-10 line astern before a Safety Car period prompted the pit-stop phase, both United Autosports cars stopping together on lap 15.

Patterson was placed eighth when the race action resumed and went for fifth place with three laps to go but collided with an Aston Martin which tore off the Audi’s front wheel. A slightly tardy pit-stop saw Brown lose contact with the “sister” Audi but worked his impressively through the field and up to 10^th by the end – despite being spun around in the closing stages – his “attacker” receiving a drive thru penalty for the ambitious overtaking maneuver to underline the team’s competitiveness.

Upcoming . . .

The third round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship. A two-hour race staged at Snetterton, Norfolk (England) on May 15 – on the new “300” track. Matt Bell & Mike Guasch are placed joint third in the standings after a “double” podium in the opening races at Oulton Park (April 25). Third & fourth rounds of the FIA GT3 European Championship at Silverstone (England) on 4-5 June.

#22 Draper Tools – Audi R8 LMS

Joe Osborne (GB). Age: 22. Born: Bedford, GB. Lives: Olney, Buckinghamshire, GB:
“This weekend has been so frustrating after what had been a successful winter testing program in which the Audi was mega. I was gutted after qualifying. We’d been in the ‘mix’ in practice but on new tires, we had no front end grip which wasn’t helped by the track being ‘greener’ due to overnight rain.

“The start of Race Two was crazy – we were four wide going in to Turn 1 and I just waited for a hit. I made up around five places and had Matt as a ‘rear gunner’ for me before the Safety Car and handing over to Mark. I’d tried to hold back so as to get in the pits early – which worked perfectly for the ultimate winner because he was way behind Matt and I before the Safety Car. For us it was a second DNF of the weekend but we’d shown in this race that we were competitive. I must thank the crew who were up until the early hours making repairs to our car – made courtesy of sponsor Draper Tools’ range of pit equipment!”

Mark Patterson (USA). Age: 59. Born: Port Elizabeth, SA. Lives: Bronxville, New York State, USA:
“The cooler temperatures in qualifying didn’t help our cause while a Red Flag interrupted my run. Race One got no better for me when I posted our car’s first-ever DNF. I’d made a pretty good start and picked up a place or two, took a bump at turn two then a guy turned in on me aggressively at turn three, hitting my back wheel which broke the suspension.

“Joe did a great job in Race Two before handing to me in the Safety Car phase during which I picked up some ‘cheap’ positions. I guess I was a little over anxious and tried a pass that was too aggressive and that was the end. A little more patience from me would have been a great asset for the team but I will learn from this.”

#23 Legends of Motorsport – Audi R8 LMS

Matt Bell (GB). Age: 21. Born: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, GB. Lives: Barningham, North Yorks, GB:
“We didn’t have the ultimate pace in qualifying, struggling massively for grip, but our race pace was good in both races. However, starting where we did on the grid meant it was always going to be impossible to make up a massive amount of time and despite coming through to 10^th in Race One, I was still disappointed. Zak made a good start and put in a great stint, handed over to me and I went back out in P11, caught a group in front of me only to get a stop-go penalty – there was potential for a top-six no question.

“I made a great start in Race Two – it was a complete mêlée out there. I couldn’t describe how I got to where I did – I was just praying no one would hit me because there was so much going on – and ended up behind Joe in the ‘sister’ Audi. We got stuck behind an Aston Martin which held us up before he made a mistake due to our pressure just before the Safety Car. In the end, it was another point for 10^th place. A big thanks to our car crew – they did a great job overnight in giving us a good racecar.”

Zak Brown (USA). Age: 39. Born: Los Angeles, California, USA. Lives: Carmel, Indiana, USA:

“I’ve not done as much pre-season testing as I would have liked. I had minor surgery after the 24 Hours of Daytona that took me out of action for a month so I’m a little short of miles. I was disappointed with my qualifying performance for Race One but put that behind me and made a mega start, making up a load of places with some neat overtaking. Unfortunately we got a penalty, which later turned out to be an incorrect decision by the organizers, otherwise I think we would have been inside the top-six.

“Unfortunately in Race Two another Audi hit me on the back section of the track which spun me around costing about four positions. If we compare our FIA début at Silverstone 12 months ago to this weekend, we’ve shown in both races to be competitive and potential top-six finishers. Mark and Joe did a great job today and were very unfortunate not to post a top-five.”

Richard Dean (GB), Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports:
"I can’t help being disappointed – especially for the team who have worked incredibly hard and tirelessly this weekend and through no fault of our drivers, were not rewarded with the race results we deserved. Last year we started a race here from the front row. Our best this weekend was 17^th – our qualifying performance was a major frustration. Our Dunlop tires are superb in a ‘used’ condition and over a race duration – as was shown in both races – but for qualifying, the grip level is not there. In Race One, Zak got hit a number of times not far away from where Mark’s race was wrecked with suspension damage while the #23 Audi, despite a bent rear wheel and what we later found to be a broken engine mounting, registered 10^th place after strong performances from both Zak and Matt.

“Joe and Mark deserved to get a top-six finish in Race Two today and although Mark’s attempted pass wasn’t successful, I’m glad he went for it as it shows we are competitive. Matt and Zak should have recorded another top-six finish for us. The #23 was sat bumper-to-bumper with the #22 Audi in the pit-stop but was a little slower during the driver change procedure. So we come away with a 10^th yesterday – organizers today admitting that the timing was wrong for a number of cars including our #23 so we shouldn’t have had any penalty – and another 10^th today. Scant reward for every member of the team. But we leave Portugal knowing that an improvement in qualifying will enable us to regularly fight for top-six placings this season.”

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, Dunlop radial tires. Start weight 1,320kg. 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.

* Bell, Brown, Osborne & Patterson 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:

Martyn Pass

Audi UK Sport Press

T +44 1564 824600

M +44 7801 859502

Skype martyn.pass