Albuquerque, Hanson Confirmed for United LMP2 Return

Photo: MPS Agency

Filipe Albuquerque and Phil Hanson will return to the LMP2 ranks next year, having been confirmed at United Autosports for another European Le Mans Series season.

The pair will again share a Ligier JS P217 Gibson after winning the last two races of the 2018 ELMS season.

They will complete next year’s six-round season together, although Albuquerque will be replaced at the season opener with his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship commitments taking priority.

Hanson became the series’ youngest-ever overall winner at Spa in September, and is set to partner Paul Di Resta in the Asian Le Mans Series over the winter months, which gets underway at Shanghai later this month.

“Keeping Phil and Filipe together is a no brainer for us as a team,” said team owner and managing director Richard Dean.

“They work together very well and have proved they have what it takes to win races – in wet and dry conditions. Phil has developed well and he is now a race winner in his own right.

“He has learnt a lot from Filipe this year and I’m sure he will continue to develop in 2019. 

“Our aim is the championship win – it will be tough as the ELMS grid has been so competitive over the last few years and is getting stronger each season.

“We finished second in our debut year and are winning races each season, so if we start 2019 where we left 2018, then there’s no reason why we can’t go for the overall win.”

Jake Kilshaw

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