Sato Feels “Big Responsibility” to Lead United LMGT3 Entry

Marino Sato says he is grateful that United Autosports has given him its “trust” to be the designated Pro driver in one of its McLaren FIA World Endurance Championship entries.

Sato was named as one of two drivers by United, alongside single-seater convert Gregoire Saucy, when the team’s entries in the LMGT3 class with a pair of McLaren 720S GT3 Evos were confirmed late last month.

The Japanese driver was initially slated to drive in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with United, having made his sportscar racing debut with the Anglo-American outfit in the European Le Mans Series this year.

But a change of driver grading from Silver to Gold over the winter forced a change of plans as he was supposed to be the Silver driver in the IMSA LMP2 squad. 

Instead, Sato will be the highest-ranked driver in one of United’s WEC cars, and he says he is grateful to the team for placing its trust in him despite his lack of GT3 experience.

“Firstly I was hoping to do the WEC in LMP2, but now the LMP2 is no longer running in the WEC,” Sato told Sportscar365. “Then the team came up with the IMSA plan, but that sadly collapsed due to my driver grading. 

“Finally this WEC opportunity came up with the team. It’s great to have the trust from the team to do that, also from McLaren. It’s a big step in my career and I’m very happy to have this opportunity. It’s a big challenge and a big responsibility for sure.”

Sato had his first taste of the McLaren 720S in a test at Estoril in late November, and said he found the transition trickier than moving from Formula 2 to LMP2 machinery this year.

“It was my first time jumping into a GT3 car, and it’s quite different to anything I’ve experienced in the past,” said Sato. “Coming from single-seaters, LMP2 was quite easy I would say, but going to GT3 is a bigger step. 

“There are some new things for me, such as the ABS, and the car weighs a lot more than anything I’ve ever driven, so there’s a lot to work on.”

Sato added that a lack of other LMGT3 competitors in the test made it impossible to get any real gauge on how competitive McLaren is likely to be against its rival manufacturers.

“We felt pretty decent in the car but we can’t be sure about our performance until we get to Qatar,” he said. “It’s like guessing at the moment.

“The grid is very strong, with many experienced drivers and GT3 specialists, so we’ll have to wait and see where we are.”