United Signs Van der Garde for IMSA-Clashing Rounds

United Autosports has signed Giedo van der Garde to drive in two of next season’s FIA World Endurance Championship rounds, substituting for an IMSA-tied Tom Blomqvist.

Ex-Formula 1 driver van der Garde will step into the No. 23 Oreca 07 Gibson for the 6 Hours of Portimao and the 6 Hours of Monza, which clash with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship rounds at Long Beach and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

Blomqvist is contracted to drive for Acura GTP squad Meyer Shank Racing in the full WeatherTech Championship season, meaning he is unable to join United for the second and fifth rounds of the WEC.

His temporary stand-in van der Garde has prior WEC LMP2 experience with Racing Team Nederland.

The Dutchman will share the No. 23 Oreca with Oliver Jarvis and Josh Pierson, who will also be one of his co-drivers in next year’s IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup.

“I’m really looking forward to racing with United Autosports,” said van der Garde.

“I’ve known them for a long time – they’ve always been up front and we’ve had some great battles in WEC over the years.

“It’s also an honor to race with Josh Pierson, we will be teammates in the IMSA championship, and we go again in WEC Monza and Portimao.

“Oliver Jarvis, I’ve known for a long time – we did karts when we were teenagers. This is the first time we’ll race together but he’s a quick guy, he knows what he’s doing.

“For me, it’s a good opportunity to be back in the WEC. Last time, we won the 2021 championship [Pro-Am Class] – now, I have two races with United so let’s fight for the wins.”

United Autosports CEO Richard Dean expects van der Garde to “add quality” to the United LMP2 squad.

“Giedo has always been a tough competitor to go up against,” Dean said.

“We have raced against him in LMP2 for quite a few seasons now and he always gives maximum effort and extracts the maximum from his car.

“It will be a relief to have Giedo on our side next year, rather than the thorn in our side that he has been up to now. He adds quality to the already formidable lineup we have for the 2023 WEC season.”

United has two IMSA GTP drivers in its WEC lineup for next season, with Wayne Taylor Racing Acura driver Filipe Albuquerque also involved in the British team’s plans.