American racer Mike Guasch will join United Autosports for its inaugural European Le Mans Series campaign.
The 57 year old joins Alex Brundle in one of two Ligier JS P3s entered by the Anglo-American outfit in 2016, as part of a growing LMP3 category.
Guasch is no stranger to the United Autosports organisation, having raced with the team in the British and European GT championships.
The partnership was a successful one, with Guasch and Matt Bell taking third overall in the 2011 British GT season.
Guasch has since raced in North America, scoring class victories at the Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours, as well as the 2013 American Le Mans Series title.
“I am thrilled to come back to United Autosports with Richard Dean and Zak Brown [team owners].” said Guasch. “I spent two great years racing in Europe with them in 2010 and 2011 in the Audi R8 LMS. I moved back to the States to drive prototypes and found that endurance racing in those types of cars suits my driving style very well.”
“I am excited to drive the Ligier JS P3 car because it is the new, modern version of the LMPC car that I have been driving for the last few years. I can’t wait to get back to racing in Europe, working with my old team, friends, team-mates and Alex Brundle, my new co-driver. I’ll be pushing hard to win the ELMS title for United.”
“It’s great to have Mike back with the team,” Added Richard Dean, team co-owner and managing director. “He won our first GT3 race with Matt [Bell] in 2011 and he’s gone on to do great things over in America. We are hoping he can return to the United family and continue his run of success with us.”
United Autosports has taken delivery of its first Ligier JS P3 ahead of the official pre-season test at Paul Ricard on March 22-23. The 2016 European Le Mans Series gets underway at Silverstone on April 16, in support of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
