Filipe Albuquerque racing with United Autosports
Filipe Albuquerque is set for a one-off appearance in the European Le Mans Series with United Autosports, racing the #21 LMP2 Pro/Am entry in the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps later this month (25th August 2024).
The Portuguese driver - who won the European Le Mans Series, Le Mans 24 Hours and FIA World Endurance Championship with United Autosports in 2020 – will race in place of full-season Pro driver Oliver Jarvis, who has IMSA commitments on the same weekend.
“I am very happy to be back with United Autosports,” says Filipe, “I just came from Mosport with them, which was great … and now to have another race with the team at Spa, one of my favourite tracks. I have great memories with United there. I think we won five in a row … that’s a hell of a record, hard to beat!”
Between 2018 and 2021, Filipe and United Autosports dominated the LMP2 class at Spa-Francorchamps, taking three consecutive victories in the Belgian round of the European Le Mans Series (2018-20) and two wins in the six-hour FIA World Endurance Championship race (2020-21).
In the LMP2 Pro/Am class, Albuquerque and his Spa co-drivers, Daniel Schneider and Andy Meyrick, also have a track record of ELMS success. Last August, Albuquerque joined the same #21 Pro/Am crew for the 4 Hours of Aragon in place of Nelson Piquet Jr – with the trio going onto score United’s first ELMS LMP2 Pro/Am podium.
Andy Meyrick, Filipe Albuquerque and Daniel Schneider celebrate LMP2 Pro Am podium in 2023 4 Hours of Aragon
“If you’re going to Spa-Francorchamps and looking for a driver, there is no one better than Filipe Albuquerque,” says Richard Dean, United Autosports CEO. “It’s great to see the podium-placing trio from last year in Aragon back together. I am excited to see what Daniel, Andy and Filipe can achieve this time.”
So far this season, the full-season #21 LMP2 Pro/Am crew of Schneider, Meyrick and Jarvis have celebrated a podium finish in the 4 Hours of Le Castellet – and Filipe is determined to continue the momentum.
“To be back again with Daniel Schneider and Andy Meyrick … it’s going to be exactly like one year ago when we went to the podium,” says Filipe. “This year is no different! The goal is the same. We will aim for the victory.”