United Autosports is buoyant and optimistic that good strategy combined with “clean” stints from its four drivers can deliver a top result in one of the world’s most important and prestigious 24 hour races for GT sportscars this weekend (27-28 July). Will Bratt (GB), Glynn Geddie (GB) Alain Li (F) and Mark Patterson (USA) clocked up almost 100 trouble-free laps in the Anglo-American team’s Audi R8 LMS ultra equating to over 420-miles in the four on-track sessions during Thursday.
And the team, co-owned by Zak Brown and Richard Dean, believes that it’s capable of posting a top result in the Pro-Am (PAM) category of the TOTAL 24 Hours of Spa despite an obvious handicap. The R8 LMS has won the corresponding Spa race for the past two years but a performance imbalance due to organizer regulations clearly restricted the pace of all Audi sportscars in Thursday night’s two qualifying sessions. Geddie, despite his almost complete lack of experience in the Audi, posted a very creditable 26th fastest PAM class time a little over three seconds slower than the fastest PRO class Audi that could only manage 16th quickest overall. Today the United Autosports team has conducted routine maintenance in preparation for its sixth twice-around-the-clock by installing a new gearbox, driveshafts and running gear.
Will Bratt (GB). Age: 25. Born: Oxford, UK. Lives: Banbury, England, UK.
Glynn Geddie (GB). Age: 23. Born/Lives: Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
Alain Li (F). Age: 53. Born: Caen, France. Lives: Hong Kong.
Mark Patterson (USA). Age: 61. Born: Port Elizabeth, S Africa. Lives: Bronxville, N.Y., USA.