Ben Keating, Filipe Albuquerque and Ben Hanley to race at 2024 Le Mans 24 Hours
Ben Keating, Filipe Albuquerque and Ben Hanley count four Le Mans victories between them - and in 2024, this esteemed racing trio are uniting in hunt of LMP2 Pro/Am glory at the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with United Autosports.
“To bring together the experience, skill and determination of not one but three proven Le Mans winners is phenomenally exciting as we prepare for our debut in the LMP2 Pro/Am class,” says Richard Dean, United Autosports CEO. “Le Mans is always exciting … never straightforward, but with this driver line-up, we are making our intentions very clear.”
Reigning FIA World Endurance LMGTE Am Champion Ben Keating has taken class victory at Le Mans twice in as many years, celebrating on the top of the LMGTE Am podium in 2022 and 2023 – and posting two more podium finishes in 2018 and 2021. This summer will mark his tenth start in the iconic endurance race, and his first with United Autosports.
“The Pro/Am field in LMP2 is looking very strong,” says Keating, “with a lot of winners taking the wheel. This is really fun for me. I can’t wait to tackle this challenge with United Autosports, Filipe and Ben. We all have a lot of experience and that makes a big difference in this race.”
The sought-after Bronze-graded racer will team up with his 2024 IMSA co-driver Ben Hanley in one of six LMP2 Pro/Am entries at Le Mans. Hanley, hailing from the UK, celebrated LMP2 Pro/Am class victory in the 2021 edition of Le Mans and is currently racing with United Autosports in the WeatherTech IMSA SportsCar Championship and European Le Mans Series.
“It’s awesome to be going to Le Mans again”, says Hanley. “The race is always tough but with our line-up and the team’s history, we will be aiming for the win.”
Filipe Albuquerque wins 24 Hours of Le Mans
Completing the line-up for the #23 ORECA 07 is long-standing team member Filipe Albuquerque, who has raced at Le Mans every year with United Autosports since the team made its debut in 2017, achieving class victory and three top-four finishes along the way.
“Another year, another Le Mans with United Autosports! It’s just amazing … I’m super happy to be racing with this great team that I’ve been racing with for the last eight years. Ben Hanley … we raced together when we were in go-karts, and now we meet again. And Ben Keating … he is a superstar of LMP2. For sure, he has more miles than me! And he knows Le Mans really well. He has one more victory than me! I have immense respect for him and his drive to keep pushing harder and harder. I’m pumped for it, let’s go for the win.”
In June 2024, United Autosports will field two ORECA 07s at the 24 Hours of Le Mans - with the full line-up of the #22 LMP2 Pro entry yet to be revealed - and two McLaren GT3 Evos which are contesting the full 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship season.
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