IMSA: United Autosports Daytona winners take the third spot on the podium at ‘Battle on the Bricks’

On Friday afternoon the United Autosports took to the track at the historic speedway for the weekends first practice session around the 14 turn, 2.439-mile circuit. Both cars were relentless in their pursuit of being on top of the timing board, with Daniel Goldburg & Paul Di Resta in the red, white and blue LMP2 finishing the session P2, and Phil Fayer and McLaren Hypercar driver, Mikkel Jensen in the sister Nuvei car, crossing the line P4, a solid opening stint.

Moving on to Saturday morning, spectators started to fill the towering stands over the IMS home straight and as the team took to the tarmac for free practice two. The chequered flag waved on the 90-minute session with Fayer & Jensen in the No.2 car closing the stint in P10 and the No.22 of Goldburg and Di Resta in P9. However, all to be forgotten for when it counts most – after a turbulent start to qualifying due to changing weather conditions, which saw both GTD qualifying sessions cancelled, the LMP2 class continued as planned. Goldburg would start on the front row for Sunday’s race having secured a P2 start and Fayer in P8.

Sunday 20^th September, at 15:10, the lights on the two-hour and forty-minute race go green, soon to be interrupted by a safety car. Coming out of turn one, contact between two cars in the GTD class resulted in a multi-car collision, also involving a few LMP2’s. Fayer, was unavoidably caught up in the contact following the knock-on effect and poor visibility meaning his car would be recovered and taken behind the wall for repairs, later to be retired.

Meanwhile, in the No.22 piloted by 2025 Rolex 24 hours of Daytona winner, Daniel Goldburg was running at the front of the pack of the remaining LMP2 category, taking the absolute maximum from the car and gaining positions into P1, whilst creating a sizeable lead over the Era Motorsport car. Having completed his hour-long stint, embracing the heat and physical endurance of the Indy Speedway, Goldburg handed the reigns over to teammate, Paul Di Resta. Di Resta maintained the lead and continued to pull away from the pack, the pit crews’ execution was faultless, and the teams strategy worked in its favour until an unfortunate drive through penalty for overtaking under yellow flag conditions put the team on the backfoot. Due to the yellow flags, it meant the gap from the pack had closed, which ultimately meant Di Resta would re-join in P7 after Goldburg and Di Resta had led the race for 47 laps in total, just shy of 50% of the 109-lap race. But the No.22 car was still very much in the race having gained four positions and crossing the line P3, securing the final step of the podium – a bittersweet result, but a good one none-the-less. 

“Clearly, the United Autosports USA cars had race winning pace this weekend”, said Tom Hodgson, Director of Customer Racing. “This was evident by the No.22 qualifying on the front row and leading the race for a significant number of laps. On the other hand, it was a tough race for the No.2 with the contact on lap one, which simply couldn’t have been avoided. Racing at IMSA is often dominated by the strategy and unfortunately, following a drive through penalty, we missed out on the top step of the podium. But it’s great to still achieve a podium and the valuable points which leaves us still, narrowly in Championship contention going into the final round.”

In addition to the podium celebration, United Autosports USA were also celebrating the return of the IMSA Resilient Racers Programme following its debut in 2025, throughout the duration of the event. The IMSA Resilient Racers programme is a charitable initiative created by IMSA in partnership with the Austin Hatcher Foundation and Camp Boggy Creek, using the visibility and reach of sports car racing to support children and families affected by paediatric cancer and other serious illnesses.

This year, the team supported two Resilient Racers – Jack, who had been paired with the No.22 LMP2 whose name appeared alongside Dan & Paul’s. Jack was diagnosed with B-Cell ALL Leukaemia after a fall and suspected broken leg. Jack took his last chemo medication in 2022 and has been in remission since. The No. 2 car of Phil & Mikkel represented the team’s second Resilient Racer, Josie. Josie was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition, called Antley Bixler Syndrome at just three days old, which has impacted every aspect of her life. Camp Boggy Creek has been a safe place for Josie and her family and has helped them build resilience and strength. United Autosports along with many other teams in the paddock supported the programme with varying initiatives. United Autosports USA partnered with HRX and had both Jack and Josie replica team race suits made as well as other official team merchandise and team branding.

Ultimately, the programme uses motorsport as a platform to promote resilience, hope, inclusion and awareness, while giving children and families an opportunity to become part of an IMSA race team for a weekend.

The final round of the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship is the 29^th annual Motul Petit Le Mans, 30 September – 3 October, at the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. 

For regular updates and to get all the action, follow the teams progress on social – @unitedautosports.