Guasch Joins United Autosports LMP3 Effort

Former American Le Mans Series Prototype Challenge champion Mike Guasch will return to the United Autosports team for their maiden European Le Mans Series campaign this year.

The American will join Britain’s burgeoning sports car star Alex Brundle in one of the team’s two Ligier JS P3 cars as preparations intensify for the Anglo-American team’s ELMS debut that begins at Silverstone on 16 April.

Guasch raced for the UK-based team in 2010 and 2011 in an Audi R8 LMS GT3 and scored the team’s first race victory at Snetterton alongside Matt Bell – who will be piloting the team’s second Ligier in 2016.

He also raced with the team in the 2010 FIA GT3 Championship, with Mark Patterson as his team mate. Mark too has been announced as part of the team’s 2016 ELMS campaign.

Since Guasch left the team, he has been successful contesting endurance racing in prototype machinery in his native North America. He won the 2013 ALMS PC title and won the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans, en route to the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup last year.

“I am thrilled to come back to United Autosports with Richard Dean and Zak Brown,” Guasch said. “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’m 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.”

The team, who are looking for a second Bronze-graded driver to join Brundle and Guasch and a Silver-graded driver to join Mark Patterson and Matt Bell, have taken delivery of their first Ligier JS P3 sports car.

“It’s great to have Mike back with the team,” Dean said. “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.”