United Autosports return to the Road to Le Mans after a 3-year hiatus, entering the Papaya and black McLaren 720S GT3 piloted by European Le Mans Series drivers, Michael Birch and Garnet Patterson, who were recently presented with some silverware at the opening round of the ELMS season at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. This year, the format of the main support race differs to previous. Where historically the RTLM race was two 55-minute races, 2026 sees the introduction of a 3-hour endurance race with three mandatory pit stops. 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.
Max Gregory, United Autosports Managing Director previously commented:
“The Road to Le Mans is a fantastic platform for both our team and our drivers. 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.”
his year, United Autosports enters two Oreca 07s in the LMP2 category of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The two-time winning (2020, 2024) #22 LMP2 will be challenging for the overall class victory for a third-time with McLaren Hypercar Programme driver Mikkel Jensen, McLaren DDP (Driver Development Programme) driver Grégoire Saucy and 24 Hours of Le Mans Rookie, Rasmus Lindh, all three of which have not competed in the prestigious race for the team in the LMP2 category.
The second entry is the #222 LMP2, fighting for Pro/Am honours. European Le Mans Series driver Daniel Schneider, 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Ben Hanley and fellow Briton and two time Le Mans winner Oliver Jarvis who will start his fifteenth 24 Hour, complete the team’s line-up. The Oreca 07 has become a staple for United Autosports with its global entries, and it was only last week that it was announced that the team extend their partnership with Oreca Motorsport from 2028 to 2032 with the next generation car, the Oreca 09.
Le Mans isn’t just about the race, it’s the entire spectacle of the event. In the build-up to the challenging 24-hour race around the 13.8km Circuit de la Sarthe, the drivers and teams have a multitude of obligations including the famous scrutineering at Le Pesage, driver appearances throughout an array of outlets, the World Endurance Championship media day, as well as the drivers parade through the Le Mans city centre, giving fans and followers and opportunity to get up close and personal with the hexad of drivers.
The Road to Le Mans race is on Friday 12 June at 10:00 CET to 13:00 CET followed by the 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Saturday 13 June at 16:00 CET, concluding on 14 June. For regular updates and to get all the action, follow the teams progress on social – @unitedautosports.
