Dean Explains United’s Revised Le Mans LMGT3 Lineup

Photo: United Autosports

Budget was a contributing factor in United Autosports’ revised LMGT3 driver lineup for the 24 Hours of Le Mans according to team co-owner Richard Dean, who also cited the short period of time to finalize its FIA World Endurance Championship roster.

The Anglo-American team will line up at Le Mans with two different drivers in its No. 95 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, with Hiroshi Hamaguchi replacing Josh Caygill as the designated Bronze-rated pilot.

Additionally, Silver-rated Nico Pino will move over to United’s LMP2 Pro-Am entry for the French endurance classic, with Pino’s replacement alongside Hamaguchi and Marino Sato yet to be announced.

It’s understood the No. 59 McLaren will contest Le Mans with its full-season trio of James Cottingham, Nicolas Costa and Gregoire Saucy.

“Honestly, everything came back to a very late start to the project,” Dean told Sportscar365. “The fact that this series is not manufacturer-supported, you need budget.

“So trying to piece the budget together while maintaining a really good quality driver lineup has been difficult in the period of time that we’ve had.

“You add in the complication of the [driver] grading requirements, ability, budget, personality, experience… It’s really about trying to get that best combination throughout the season.”

Dean added: “We could all sit around, have a beer, and pick an amazing three drivers. But we’d probably go out of business pretty quickly.

“You have to balance that with what’s support a driver might have or what support we’ve been able to secure.

“And even when we’ve managed to secure some team sponsorship, there’s some direction a sponsor might want to have on the nationality of a driver or something.

“We are trying to piece all that together.”

Dean explained that its No. 95 driver lineup change was also made with other factors in mind.

“We wanted to go to Le Mans with some Le Mans [driver] experience,” he said. “We’ve added Hiroshi Hamaguchi to that.

“While he hasn’t done the 24-hour race, I think he won the last two Road to Le Mans races. He’s been really quick there and is one of the best Bronzes around there and knows the track.”

Continued WEC Presence Keeps United in Spotlight for Possible Hypercar Project

Dean said the team’s continued WEC presence, amid the removal of the LMP2 class, can be only considered as a positive when considering its prospects of stepping into top-class prototype competition in the future.

“The honest answer is that we’re better off being here than not being here,” he said.

“Whether it really leads to something and whether it puts us in a spotlight on the stage and therefore we get further opportunities, whether it’s sponsorship for this project or opportunities in the top class, we’re more likely to have an opportunity as you’re walking up and down the paddock than sat at home.

“We love the WEC. We want to be at Le Mans. We want to be in the top series.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John