United Autosports Thrives at Lone Star Le Mans, Eyes Podium at Upcoming WEC Japan Round
On 1 September, at the FIA World Endurance Championship's sixth round during the Lone Star Le Mans six-hour race, United Autosports continued to secure points with the McLaren GT3 EVO in the USA.
The 3.4-mile, 20-corner Circuit of the Americas (COTA) near Austin, Texas, a venue for the US Grand Prix since 2012 and last a WEC host in 2020, provided a formidable backdrop. The cars and drivers faced a severe endurance challenge, with temperatures soaring to 35 degrees Celsius.
James Cottingham clinched ninth place during a hectic qualifying session, advancing to the Hyperpole session where he recorded the seventh fastest time. His teammate, Josh Caygill, narrowly missed Hyperpole, securing the eleventh spot.
Both cars launched smoothly at the race start, with Caygill in the #95 car overtaking multiple competitors to position just behind Cottingham’s #59 car in eighth by the end of the first lap. As the race unfolded, #59 consistently vied for the top three, influenced by varying pit stop strategies. With minimal Full Course Yellow interruptions, the race brimmed with close, wheel-to-wheel action throughout.
In the last 45 minutes, the #59 car, driven by Gregoire Saucy, surged towards a potential podium finish. Armed with fresh tyres, Saucy's outstanding performance earned them fourth place, a mere 7.4 seconds from the podium. Meanwhile, despite a late penalty, Marino Sato secured seventh place in the #95 car.
Looking ahead, the WEC season proceeds to Japan for the seventh round on 15 September at the Fuji circuit.
James Cottingham, Gregoire Saucy, Nicolas Costa, and the #59 crew have once again delivered a commendable result with a fourth-place finish. Despite the proximity to the podium sparking some frustration, the team’s morale remains high as they consistently contend for LMGT3 podiums against world-class competitors.
Challenges for the #95 crew included a midfield start and traffic issues, which they aim to resolve before Fuji. Despite these hurdles, the collective effort over the weekend was monumental.
“We are setting our sights on cooler temperatures and stronger finishes in the final two races,” stated Richard Dean, CEO of United Autosports.
Mick McDonagh, Director of MSO & Motorsport at McLaren Automotive, highlighted the team’s consistent performance and determination to pursue podium finishes in the upcoming Japan round, building on their recent near-podium experience in Austin.
