Mike Hedlund and Guy Cosmo have joined United Autosports for the inaugural Road to Le Mans event on 18th June.
Mike and Guy will drive the team’s second Ligier JS P3 sports car entered into the Le Mans support event for LMP3 and GT3 cars, which will take place the morning of the main Le Mans 24 Hours race.
Mike Hedlund last raced in the European Le Mans Series race at Imola in Italy, winning the GTE class in a Porsche. He has previously raced a variety of GT and LMP machinery in the Rolex Daytona 24 Hours, the American Le Mans Series where he scored two podiums at Petit Le Mans and Baltimore, the six hours of Watkins Glen, the Pirelli World Challenge and the IMSA North American Endurance Championship.
Guy Cosmo is a well-known American sports car driver, having raced in the IMSA Tudor United Sports Car Championship, the American Le Mans Series, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series, among other prestigious championships. In 2005, Guy won the Rookie of the Year award in the American Le Mans Series after coming third in the LMP2 class.
Mike and Guy will join already confirmed drivers, Martin Brundle and Christian England as part of the United Autosports team at Le Mans. On track action for the pair of Ligiers begins on the evening of Wednesday 15th June with the first free practice session starting at 20:30. Second practice will begin at 14:30 on Thursday 16th followed by qualifying at 18:00. The Road to Le Mans race will begin on Saturday 18th June at 11:10.
Mike Hedlund, Driver, United Autosports:
“Since I was a kid I've dreamed of racing at Le Mans. While I haven't yet had the opportunity to compete in the legendary 24-hour race itself, I'm thrilled to get my first taste of the track with United Autosports in the Road to Le Mans event. After witnessing first hand what the United Autosports team has done in the European Le Mans Series, I couldn't wish for a stronger programme to do well in my first LMP3 race. Teaming up with my long time friend Guy Cosmo drives our potential up even higher and I'm confident we can do the job for United Autosports. This will be my first time driving the new LMP3 spec machines, but after sharing the track with the LMP3 cars in the ELMS and with support from United Autosports to prepare for the event, I expect us to be up to speed immediately. Learning this fabled track for the future is great, but make no mistake, we're entering this race to compete for a victory.”
Guy Cosmo, Driver, United Autosports:
“I’m ecstatic to be joining United Autosports for the Road to Le Mans race. United Autosports has quickly established themselves as the leading LMP3 team in the world and I’m honored to be a part of the team for this exciting inaugural race in their Ligier JS P3. Racing at Le Mans has been a dream of mine nearly my entire life, however I have never raced there. This new Road to Le Mans race will provide drivers with an opportunity to race at Circuit le Sarthe that has previously never existed unless you were in the big show. I am excited to be joining my long time friend Mike Hedlund, who is absolutely one of the fastest, most competent bronze-ranked drivers in the world. I have coached Mike, been his teammate and also raced against him. I could not think of a better person to share this opportunity with. With all of these factors combined I am confident we will arrive at Le Mans having one of the strongest efforts on the grid.”
Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director, United Autosports:
“I’m really pleased to welcome Mike and Guy to the team for the Le Mans support race. I've been following Guy for a number of years and we shared the podium in the most recent ELMS round at Imola with Mike, after his GTE win there. They are both quick drivers and I’m looking forward to working with them. I think with Mike and Guy, along with Martin Brundle and Christian England in the other Ligier, we have a really strong line up for Le Mans.”
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United Autosports United Autosports is a well-known GT and sports car race team, based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Founded in 2009 by businessman, Zak Brown and racing driver, Richard Dean, United Autosports have raced in a number of different championships, with a vast range of cars and drivers. In 2016 the team are making their debut in the European Le Mans Series with two Ligier JS P3 cars. United Autosports have also been announced as sole UK agents for Onroak Automotive's range of LMP3 and CN cars. They will also enter the official ACO Le Mans LMP3 support race and the inaugural Prototype Cup in their two Ligier JS P3 cars. United Autosports restore, maintain and race a vast range of rare historic Formula One and sports cars, entering races in the UK, Europe and across the world. The team are known for contesting various special events throughout the year, such as the Bathurst 12 Hours (Australia), Spa 24 Hours (Belgium), and the Macau GT Cup (Asia). The team have also entered the Daytona 24 Hours (USA), the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (China) and Petit Le Mans (USA).
For further information, please contact:
Charlotte Lumley
United Autosports
Marketing Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 845 45 999 59
charlotte@unitedautosports.com