The team has history with the support race winning the 2017 Road to Le Mans in a Ligier LMP3 with John Falb and Sean Rayhall, who also dominated the 2017 European Le Mans Series in the same prototype.
The Road to Le Mans is one of the premier support events to the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, held annually at the iconic circuit. Previously featuring a unique format of two 55-minute races, this year introduces a three-hour endurance race with a minimum of three mandatory pit stops in the same week as the main event, it provides teams and drivers the rare opportunity to compete on the full Le Mans circuit under race conditions.
Open to LMP3 prototypes and GT3 machinery, the series serves as a crucial stepping stone within endurance racing. Many drivers use it as a pathway toward the FIA World Endurance Championship, gaining invaluable experience on one of the most demanding tracks in motorsport. The event also places competitors in front of the same global audience that attends Le Mans, offering unmatched exposure and prestige.
The McLaren entry will see United Autosports return to GT competition alongside the Asian Le Mans Series and European Le Mans Series which starts with Round 1 in Barcelona next month. The McLaren will be piloted by Duo Michael Birch and Garnet Patterson, both familiar faces within the United Autosports set-up. The McLaren has previously demonstrated strong pace and consistency at Le Mans which the team hope will be replicated for 2026.
The entry into Road to Le Mans reinforces its well-established presence in GT and prototype racing, a ladder that has been central to the team’s success in nurturing drivers toward top-tier endurance championships.
“The Road to Le Mans is a fantastic platform for both our team and our drivers.” Says Max Gregory, Managing Director. “To compete on the same stage as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, at such an iconic circuit, brings real value—not just in terms of performance, but also exposure and experience. Running the McLaren car allows us to showcase the breadth of United Autosports and continue building for the future.”
The race will be held on Friday 12 June, with the start at 10h00, one day before the start of the 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For updates regarding the Race to Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2026, follow us on Instagram – @unitedautosports and X – @unitedautosport.
