James Cottingham and Sebastien Baud - United Autosports and McLaren Automotive racing drivers - 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship LMGT3 class
2023 British GT Vice-Champion James Cottingham and WEC Bahrain podium placer Sébastien Baud will team up with Gregoire Saucy (read more) in the #59 McLaren LMGT3 EVO, completing the hotly-anticipated driver line-up for United Autosports and McLaren Automotive in the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship.
Returning driver Cottingham had a solid debut season in the WEC in 2024, securing four top-five Hyperpole results including a front-row start in Bahrain, and three fourth-place finishes (Spa, Sao Paulo and COTA) with United Autosports and McLaren Automotive - narrowly missing out on a deserved first WEC podium. Now, as the FIA Bronze-graded driver (who celebrates his 41st birthday today) heads into his second WEC season with the team, the goal is clear.
James Cottingham - United Autosports and McLaren Automotive racing driver - 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship
“I am super excited to come back with United Autosports and McLaren for another crack at the WEC,” says Cottingham, Managing Director of DK Engineering. “We had a strong season last year … just unfortunately without any podiums or wins. However, we were just getting started and this year we’re going to hit the ground running. We’ve got a super strong line-up in both cars, and I’m very confident that United Autosports and McLaren are going to deliver some very exciting results in 2025.”
French driver Sébastien Baud - a new addition to the #59 crew - will take the FIA Silver-graded seat in 2025. The 24-year-old, who has contested the GT4 European Series (2021) and GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup (2022-23), joins the team with one year of WEC racing and a Bahrain podium finish under his belt. Baud also won the Goodyear Wingfoot Award at the 6 Hours of Imola for achieving the fastest LMGT3 stint average on race day.
Sebastien Baud - United Autosports and McLaren Automotive racing driver - WEC 2025
"I am very proud to join United Autosports,” says Baud, “a major motorsport team with a wealth of experience, and McLaren Automotive for my second year in the World Endurance Championship. With one year already discovering this fabulous championship at the highest level of motorsport, I am ready to give my all for this team and my teammates. I am really looking forward to this new season starting. Thank you to the United Autosports team, McLaren Automotive and all the people behind this fabulous project."
Cottingham, Baud and Saucy will make their public debut at the WEC Prologue in Qatar in one month’s time, on February 21st – followed by the Qatar 1812Km, the first race of the season, on Friday 28th February.
“It is great to have James [Cottingham] onboard for another season and to welcome Sébastien [Baud] to the team,” says Richard Dean, United Autosports CEO. “The #59 crew came so close to the podium last year … they proved themselves as real LMGT3 contenders. In 2025, with the return of James and Gregoire, the addition of Seb and the continued hard work of the team, I have every confidence that we will see them on the podium, which is where they deserve to be.”
The line-up for the sister #95 car has already been confirmed with Darren Leung (read more) and Sean Gelael (read more) teaming up with returning WEC driver Marino Sato (read more). The full WEC team will be in action next month in Qatar – but first, it’s over to the United Autosports USA crew who are gearing up for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Stay up to date with the team on social @unitedautosports.