United Autosports endured a demanding yet character-defining weekend at the Dubai Autodrome as the Asian Le Mans Series continued with Races three and four of the 2025/26 campaign. Across two action-packed endurance contests on the technical and wind-affected Dubai circuit, the United Autosports team displayed front-running pace, strategic ambition and relentless determination despite a series of setbacks beyond control.
Qualifying on Saturday underlined United Autosports’ outright speed. Giorgio Roda delivered a stunning lap of 1:47.996 to secure pole position in the #5 Oreca 07 LMP2, setting the benchmark for the field. Andrey Mukovoz on his debut with the team, qualified the #59 McLaren 720s EVO car in P10. Phil Fayer had a great start to qualifying having set laps time which would have seen him start second and third for the two races, however, post session penalties proved costly for Fayer due to track limits, and a pit lane infringement subsequently meaning the #6 car started from the back of the grid instead of the front row. As a result, Ben Hanley was confirmed to start both weekend’s races as the highest-placed United Autosports driver with a valid qualifying time from the previous testing sessions.
Race three quickly became an exercise in recovery and damage limitation. United Autosports veteran, Ben Hanley started the race and pitted within the opening laps for a driver change to Phil Fayer. Early progress was evident as Fayer carved his way through the GT and LMP3 traffic, though an extended recovery under yellow and a Virtual Safety Car halted momentum. The #6 car was ultimately forced into retirement just over an hour into the race, ending a promising charge prematurely.
The pole-sitting #5 entry initially controlled proceedings, running strongly through the opening half of the race. A sequence of Safety Cars and an unscheduled emergency service halted that progress, forcing the team onto an alternative strategy. Despite rejoining outside the top ten following pit lane closures and interruptions, the United Autosports crew committed to a long middle stint, allowing the #5 to fight back as high as sixth. Late-race neutralisations again shuffled the order, and a final fuel and tyre stop dropped the car back into traffic. At the flag, the #5 recovered to seventh, with the #59 classified fifteenth after a hard-fought run.
“We were unlucky with the safety car, and we had to box which changed our strategy”, says Giorgio Roda, #5 LMP2 Driver. “All our focus is now on the second race. The circumstances are different, but the mindset remains the same, we push on and hopefully have a better race on Sunday.”
Sunday’s second race of the weekend offered renewed optimism. Starting from pole, Roda made a clean getaway in the #5, creating an early gap from the car behind, before an early Safety Car reset the field. Challenging conditions, with gusting winds blowing sand onto the circuit, added another layer of complexity. Shortly after the restart, a power issue forced the #5 into the pits and eventually back to the garage, where mechanical repairs were required. Although the car briefly returned to the race, it was later retired.
Attention then turned to the remaining United Autosports entries. The #6 car, driven by Ben Hanley, Phil Fayer and later Paul di Resta, mounted an impressive recovery from deep in the order. Despite a ten-second penalty for a Full Course Yellow infringement, di Resta produced a standout stint, slicing through the field to run as high as fifth before a scheduled stop with just over an hour remaining. The #6 ultimately finished eighth after a gritty, hard-earned drive.
Newcomers, Andrey Mukovoz and Alexey Nesov alongside Wayne Boyd, who complete the Asian Le Mans Series line up in the McLaren for both Dubai and the season finale at Yas Marina, in Abu Dhabi next weekend enjoyed a strong mid-race in the #59, climbing into podium contention and running third at one stage. Late contact damaged the rear diffuser, forcing an unscheduled stop, but the crew regrouped to secure a solid seventh-place finish with Wayne Boyd taking the chequered flag, meaning two out of the three United Autosports fleet secured top-10 finishes in their respective classes.
“Luck wasn’t on our side here in Dubai, hopefully we’ll have some better luck in Abu Dhabi”, says Wayne Boyd, #59 McLaren driver. “There are definitely some positives to take away, we had strong pace in the McLaren, and Andrey and Alexey adapted to the car quickly. If everything goes our way next weekend, we should expect some good results. The crew have been amazing as always, so we’d like to share some successes with them.”
While results did not fully reflect United Autosports’ pace and potential, the Dubai weekend showcased the team’s depth, professionalism and fighting spirit. With valuable points secured and lessons learned, United Autosports now looks ahead with confidence to the final rounds of the Asian Le Mans Series.
The 2025/2026 Asian Le Mans Series continues at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, with Race 1 on 7 February 2026, and Race 2 on 8 February 2026. Stay up to date with the team in the meantime on social @unitedautosports.
