- DTM driver, Fabio Scherer to join Le Mans winners in Oreca 07
- Reigning LMP2 champions return to United Autosports for second WEC season
- Six-race season begins at Sebring in March
United Autosports are delighted to confirm that Fabio Scherer will be joining reigning FIA World Endurance LMP2 Champions Phil Hanson and Filipe Albuquerque for the 2021 season.
Fabio Scherer began his racing career in karting, winning the Swiss championship twice before switching to car racing in 2016, winning on his ADAC Formula 4 debut. In 2018, Fabio progressed to the F3 European Championship, finishing second at Spa and scoring four further podiums that season. Fabio raced in the FIA International Formula 3 in 2019 as part of the Sauber Junior Team, before beginning his DTM Championship campaign for WRT Audi Racing Team at the beginning of this year.
Phil Hanson joined United Autosports in 2018, making his debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona alongside Fernando Alonso and Lando Norris. Since then he has entered six championships with the team consisting of 34 races, including three Le Mans 24 Hours and has notched up 11 wins, 12 pole positions, 20 podiums and three championships. This year, at only 21 years old, Phil won the FIA WEC LMP2 Championship, the ELMS LMP2 Championship and Le Mans 24 Hours in the same year.
Filipe Albuquerque joined United Autosports in 2017, when the team made their LMP2 debut in the European Le Mans Series. Over the last four years, Filipe has scored 12 wins, 11 pole positions – including six consecutive ELMS poles – 19 podiums and two championships, including his long-awaited Le Mans 24 Hours win earlier this year.
The six-race 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship begins in March at Sebring, USA before visiting Spa, Le Mans, Monza, Fuji and Bahrain.
Fabio Scherer, driver:
“I am very happy to be part of the United Autosports team for 2021. To team up with the reigning champions and Le Mans winners Phil Hanson and Filipe Albuquerque is a great opportunity and another big step in my career. The World Endurance Championship is one of the best known and competitive championships out there. The Le Mans 24 Hours will be the highlight of my racing career so far. To be able to race such iconic race tracks next to Le Mans, like Sebring, Spa, Fuji, Monza and Bahrain is a great chance to prove myself in endurance racing. I am already counting down the days until the season opener in March. At this point, I want to say thank you to my sponsors and all those who supported me in the recent days. It seems like Christmas came one week earlier for me this year.”
Phil Hanson, driver:
“Returning to United Autosports was always the plan for next year given the success we have had together this year, winning both the WEC and ELMS championships and of course Le Mans. It sets the bar very high for 2021, but I have confidence in the team and I am excited to start working with Filipe again and welcoming our new team mate Fabio as well.”
Filipe Albuquerque, driver:
“Back in 2017 when I first met Zak and Richard in Daytona, I never thought I was signing for a team that I would come to love so much and that would mean so much to me and my career. And now we are going into 2021 for another World Championship. It makes sense to continue together with United and Phil. It was one of my priorities to race with them again and having Fabio on board will be great. I’m looking forward to racing with him and I think we have a great team to win. I’m just super happy to be with United for my fifth season. They are becoming one of the teams I’ve been with the longest in my career. I cannot thank Richard and Zak enough for having me on board.”
Zak Brown, Team Owner and Chairman:
“I am delighted to welcome Fabio to the team alongside our double LMP2 champions and Le Mans winners Phil and Filipe. I’m sure he will fit into the team well and they will have a good year in the FIA WEC.”
Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director:
“We are delighted to have Phil and Filipe with us once again. They are very much part of the United family. They have both shown what they are capable of by winning the World Endurance Championship, Le Mans and the ELMS together last season and it is an exciting challenge for us to attempt to retain our titles in 2021. I’m also delighted to welcome Fabio to the team. His F3 and DTM experience will help him adapt to sports cars and although it will be his first-time racing in the WEC, I’m sure he will settle into the team and get up to speed quickly to help us defend our FIA WEC LMP2 title.”