- Jim McGuire, Wayne Boyd and Guy Smith return to IMSA paddock for second race in 2021
- Niklas Kruetten, Edouard Cauhaupe and Austin McCusker join United Autosports for team’s LMP3 IMSA debut
- Six-hour race begins on Sunday 27 June at 10:40
JPrice IMSA Fri Sebring2021 3372
United Autosports are preparing for the next IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Watkins Glen this weekend – the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen – on 25-27 June.
For the United Autosports LMP2 team, this will be their second IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship event of 2021, after entering the 12 Hours of Sebring in March. Jim McGuire, Wayne Boyd and Guy Smith will once again team up in the #22 AERO Oreca 07 for the six-hour endurance race.
The Watkins Glen event will mark the first time United Autosports LMP3 team have entered an IMSA race, or indeed raced in America. Niklas Kruetten, Edouard Cauhaupe and Austin McCusker will race the #2 Ligier JS P320 as Edouard makes his US racing debut. Niklas competed in the Sebring 12 Hours but has never raced at Watkins Glen, while Austin is a former IMSA Prototype Challenge champion, bringing valuable experience to the Anglo-American team as they make their LMP3 debut in America.
The team have been busy at their USA-based workshop in West Palm Beach, Florida, preparing both the Oreca 07 and Ligier JS P320 ahead of travelling to Watkins Glen with their dedicated American race transporters and equipment. United Autosports last raced at Watkins Glen in 2018 where they finished fourth with their Ligier JS P217. Since then, the team has been working hard to establish an American base for their US race activities in order to keep kit and equipment separate from their European race activities.
The race begins at 10:40am Eastern Time (15:40 BST) on Sunday 27 June, with both qualifying and the six-hour race available to watch on IMSA.tv.
UA ELMS Barcelona 2021 344
Jim McGuire
“I’m really looking forward to Watkins Glen in the AERO-liveried Oreca 07 LMP2 car with United Autosports. Having grown up in western New York, Watkins Glen has always been a track I dreamed of racing in a prototype. To be running with Guy Smith and Wayne Boyd again will be mega.”
Guy Smith
“It’s really exciting to get back behind the wheel of the #22 United Autosports AERO car. Sebring was such a great event and Jim, Wayne and myself had a blast and we all left pumped for Watkins Glen. I really enjoyed working with United Autosports for the first time and my first time driving the Oreca 07 LMP2 car, which should be awesome around Watkins Glen. I have raced there before back in 2005 and it's one of the old school American circuits, with high-speed corners and is full of character. It will be a challenge, but one that we are fully up for and I can’t wait.”
Wayne Boyd
“I’m really looking forward to Watkins Glen. It’s a track I haven’t been to before but we went to the sim, which was very worthwhile. It’s a great track, proper old school and fast, so it’s something I’m looking forward to. I really enjoyed Sebring last time out and as a line up we all get on so well so we can definitely push for a result at Watkins.”
Niklas Kruetten
“I can’t wait to be driving for United for the first time this weekend in Watkins Glen. The track looks really fun and I feel ready to deliver a good job this week. We won’t have a lot of practice time so we need to work very structured and hard to get up to speed and deliver a good job on Sunday.”
Edouard Cauhaupe
"I can't wait to be at Watkins Glen and start a new adventure. It will be my first racing experience outside Europe. I will do my best to obtain a really good result. I'm sure with the team and the line up we have we can do something really good.”
Austin McCusker
“I am very excited to join United Autosports for the upcoming Watkins Glen six-hour race. It is one of the most iconic endurance races in the world and as a New Yorker, it’s my home race. I will do all I can to finish on the top step with my teammates at the weekend.”
Zak Brown
“I’m excited for the LMP3 team making their IMSA debut this weekend at Watkins Glen. It’s a great track and I’m hoping that they will come away with a good result. Our LMP2 team are entering their second IMSA race of the year and again, I’m hopeful of a good result for them.”
Richard Dean
“Watkins Glen is a great track and we had a good race last time we raced there in 2018. We have wanted to bring our LMP3 team over to America for a long time now, so I’m really pleased we have managed to pull a deal together to make that happen at Watkins Glen. Our LMP2 team are also looking forward to getting back out on track again. The team has been out in the US prepping both cars ahead of the race week at our workshop in Florida so we are fully ready to get back out on track.”