Martin Brundle Joins United Autosports for Le Mans Support Race

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Martin Brundle has been confirmed at United Autosports for the Road to Le Mans support race, in one of the team’s Ligier JS P3 Nissans.

Brundle had 158 Formula 1 starts between 1984 and 1996, and currently forms part of Sky Sports F1’s commentary lineup. He has eight starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and won the 1990 race outright, in a Jaguar XJR-12.

With Brundle’s Formula 1 commitments, and the controversial clash between the new European Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Brit is one figure who has chosen Le Mans over Baku.

This year, he won’t be in the actual 24 hour race itself, but rather the 60 minute Road to Le Mans support race, on June 18.

He will race in the same Ligier JS P3 that his son, Alex, won the European Le Mans Series-opener in at Silverstone last month.

Brundle’s team-mate will be Christian England, who also won the Four Hours of Silverstone with United Autosports in April.

“This golden opportunity allows me to drive the full Le Mans circuit again in a Prototype race car,” Brundle said.

“It’s always such a pleasure and privilege to drive that magnificent circuit, so I grabbed the opportunity to rejoin United Autosports, after our last successful adventure in the 2011 Daytona 24 Hours, and along with our longstanding sponsor Richard Mille, to once again race a Ligier.

“At 57 years of age I consider this a wonderful and unexpected bonus.”

This won’t be Brundle’s first outing with the Anglo-American team, as he competed in the 2011 Rolex 24 at Daytona in the team’s Riley Daytona Prototype, with Zak Brown, Mark Patterson and Mark Blundell.

“Martin Brundle to race for United Autosports at Le Mans in a Ligier…sounds very exciting to me!” said team co-owner and managing director Richard Dean.

“Martin loves Le Mans and he loves prototype racing, he has shown great faith in the team by entrusting his son Alex with us in the ultra-competitive LMP3 category of the ELMS this year.”

The Road to Le Mans event begins on Wed., June 16 with a 60-minute free practice session.

On Thursday, there will be another 60-minute practice session, followed by 30-minute qualifying. The 60-minute race will be held on Sat. June 18, only a few hours before the feature Le Mans event.

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.