United Autosports Chief Turns Back The Clock At Monterey Historic Meets

·       United Autosports claims wins in North America and England over same weekend

Stefan Johansson shares some last minute advice with Zak Brown (in car) at Monterey

United Autosports Co-Owner Zak Brown immediately turned the clock back after helping his new GT team achieve a magnificent podium place on its 24 hour race début.

The American entrepreneur returned to the US after placing third in the GT3 category of the Spa 24 Hours (Jul 31-Aug 1) to compete over two consecutive weekends at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

The Californian track played host to the Monterey Pre-Historics (Aug 7-8) and then the four-day Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion (Aug 12-15) which saw tens of thousands of spectators attend to view a mouth-watering collection of over 600 historic automobiles racing on the world famous 2.238-mile Laguna circuit just as they did "back in their day."

 

Zak Brown exits the famous Corkscrew section of the Laguna Seca circuit in his McLaren M28. Ulsterman John Watson achieved third-place in the 1979 Argentine Grand Prix and also sixth in the Belgian GP in this actual car

Brown raced his ex-John Watson 1979 McLaren MP28 to sixth place after qualifying ninth at the Pre-Historics event. Last weekend Zak qualified 11^th and finished ninth in a quality 36-car field at the Reunion meet for 1966-1983 Formula One machines – the highest-placed McLaren Formula One machine.

Meanwhile “Super Swede” Stefan Johansson, who had placed the “sister” United Autosports Audi R8 LMS GT3 sports car fourth at Spa, qualified in pole-position, led every lap and won the 1981-1989 FIA Mfg. Championship & IMSA GTP Race in Brown’s 1986 Porsche 962 IMSA GTP car.

This particular car won five races in its heyday and was driven mainly by Price Cobb and Rob Dyson. Brown was joined at Laguna by Historic Motorsports Productions LLC (HMP) partner Bobby Rahal who also raced some of his cars. Brown teamed up with Rahal plus Peter Stoneberg earlier this year to welcome in HMP’s new era of vintage motor racing.

Stefan Johansson (Sw) drove Zak Brown’s 1986 Porsche 962 to victory at Monterey. The 962 is one of the most successful sports cars in history, accumulating 54 wins in IMSA competition alone, 40 of which came between 1985-87. This particular Porsche won its début race at the Six Hours of Riverside (1986).

“Coming off the back of our incredible Spa achievement, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my last two weekends at Monterey,” confirmed Brown. “It’s always a privilege to get behind the wheel of the McLaren and to be racing it at Laguna doesn’t get much better. Stefan [Johansson] drove brilliantly to dominate his race event while the entire atmosphere last weekend was just awesome.”

While Johansson was winning in the United Autosports entered Porsche at Laguna, its European operation were chalking up win number one in England. Brothers Rob and Matt Bell joined forces for the first time and duly claimed a class victory in a two-hour, two-driver British GT Championship race at Silverstone (August 15).

The Bells scored a comfortable one-lap G4 category win in the 120mins race which marked not only their respective débuts in the British GT series but also the first time either had raced a G4 class Ginetta G50 entered and prepared by United Autosports. Matt, aged 21, co-drives with Zak Brown in the FIA GT3 European Championship at the wheel of an Audi R8 LMS.

Englishman Richard Dean, Brown’s fellow co-owner of United Autosports, remarked: “It’s very pleasing for United Autosports to achieve its first class win in the British GT Championship on only our second outing in the series and our first with the Ginetta. Matt and Rob faced some very experienced Ginetta drivers and we came out on top.”

United Autosports Claim Magnificent Top-Three Finish On 24 Hour Race Début

·       American-owned outfit is best-placed Audi “customer” team in Spa 24 Hours

·       United Autosports’ Audi R8 LMS sports cars net third & fourth in GT3 category

·       Power steering issue in closing stages costs #68 Audi likely GT3 class honors

United Autosports claimed a podium finish on its maiden 24 Hour race appearance. (Left to right) Zak Brown, Mark Blundell, Eddie Cheever and Richard Dean celebrate third place in GT3 at the Spa 24 Hours on the winner‟s rostrum today (Aug 1)

United Autosports scored a stunning top-three GT3 rostrum finish on the American-owned team’s 24 Hour race début when Mark Blundell (GB), Zak Brown (US), Eddie Cheever (US) and Richard Dean (GB) steered their Audi R8 LMS home into third place in the annual and historic Spa 24 Hours this weekend (Jul 31-Aug 1).

The Leeds (GB)-based team’s “sister” Audi of Emil Assentato (US), Stefan Johansson (Sw), Alain Li (F) and Mark Patterson (US) added to United Autosports’ superb achievement by finishing fourth in class, the team’s brace of R8 LMS GT3 sports cars claiming ninth and 10^th overall in the 40-car field.

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A power steering issue on the #68 Audi of Blundell/Brown/Cheever/Dean, just four hours from the finish with Cheever poised to re-take the class lead, cost them a possible GT3 victory following a lengthy pit-stop for repairs.

At one-quarter distance, the #68 and #67 United Autosports cars were placed fifth and 10^th in class respectively – the latter surviving two harmless spins. Cheever’s 128min stint saw him remain on “slick” dry weather tires, the American reveling in the treacherously slippery conditions as rain fell in varying degrees of intensity which saw the #68 hovering just outside the top-three.

With 6hr 25m gone Dean, who had qualified 10^th in class on Thursday evening and who had begun the race, was up to third in the #68 (9^th overall) with Johansson, who qualified the #67 Audi 13^th, eighth as heavy rain fell.

The #68 Audi enjoyed a relatively trouble-free night apart from a puncture and lay third (eighth overall) in the 16^th hour in contrast to the “sister” #67 Audi which endured a more eventful night. Assentato visited the gravel trap at Les Combes twice, the second resulting in a Safety Car to retrieve the Audi (0115hr), Li suffered a harmless spin, Patterson contacted a backmarker necessitating an 11mins pit-stop for bodywork repairs (0324hr) while Johansson had a puncture (0445). Despite these dramas, Li was sixth (14^th overall) at 0800hr.

Blundell swept the #68 into second place (sixth overall) during the pit-stop phase shortly before three-quarter distance (1000hr) prior to his own scheduled stop, with Patterson placed fifth (12^th). But the honor of taking the GT3 class lead (fifth overall) for the first time fell appropriately to United Autosports’ Chairman & Co-Owner Brown 19hrs into the race (1100).

With four hours remaining, Cheever and Assentato lay second (sixth overall) and fourth (10^th) in class but moments later Cheever in the #68 Audi and poised to re-take the GT3 lead, Cheever controlled a massive “moment” exiting the high speed Eau Rouge, a power steering issue diagnosed after two subsequent pit-stops costing 43mins and dropping the #68 to third in class (ninth overall) – one place ahead of the “sister” car – with three hours remaining.

#67 Cerutti / FXDD / Roger Dubuis Watches / Road & Track / Legends of Motorsports / LG Electronics – Audi R8 LMS

HOURLY OVERALL/GT3 CLASS POSITIONS: Driver rotations SJ/EA/AL/MP. Start Pos 21^st/13^th; 1hr 25^th/14^th; 2hrs 24^th/14^th; 3hrs 18^th /10^th; 4hrs 18^th/10^th; 5hrs 17^th/9^th; 6hrs 19^th/10^th; 7hrs 17^th/9^th; 8hrs 17^th/9^th; 9hrs 17^th/9^th; 10hrs 18^th/9^th; 11hrs 18^th/10^th; 12hrs 18^th/9^th; 13hrs 17^th/8^th; 14hrs 16^th/7^th; 15hrs 14^th/6^th; 16hrs 14^th/6^th; 17hrs 12^th/5^th; 18hrs 12^th/5^th; 19hrs 11^th/5^th; 20hrs 10^th/4^th; 21hrs 10^th/4^th; 22hrs 10^th/4^th; 23hrs 10^th/4^th; FINISH 10^th/4th

Emil Assentato (USA).Age: 61. Born: New York City, N.Y., USA. Lives: Locust Valley, N.Y., USA:
Spa 24Hr: Début. Spa History: None. Other 24Hr races: Daytona (2000 26th, 2001 34th o/a/9th, 2002 28th/10th, 2004 37th/16th, 2005 11th/2nd. 2006 21st/10th. 2007 19th/7th, 2008 13th/5th, 2009 17th/9th, 2010 28th/16th).
 

“I feel exuberated – it‟s a great result for our car – on my first 24 Hour race in Europe. My first stint which was in the dry, was conservative, getting to know the track and the car. The second stint was okay then I was in again for the night hours. After pitting for „slicks‟ on the drying track, I spun into the gravel trap exiting Les Combes on my „out‟ lap. But with just three laps remaining in that stint, I became over confident and spun at La Combes again, losing about three laps while I got towed out of the sand trap. That was disappointing because I let the team down. Later on Sunday I had a much better stint and was much happier with my lap times. The track was hot with plenty of rubber down for my last stint resulting in the car „pushing‟ a lot while the brakes were going off. You always think as a driver you‟re prepared for a 24 hour race but in reality you never are.”

Stefan Johansson (Sw).

Age: 53. Born: Växjö, Sweden. Lives: Los Angeles, California, USA:

Spa 24Hr: Début. Spa History: Début August 9 1981 (F2/14^th). F1 (1983, 85-91 – 1986/3^rd, 1987/2^nd), F2 (1981-2 – pole-position 1982/F2), GpC (1982-4), 1,000km sports cars (1988/1^st). Last race at Spa: August 19 2007 (LMS/Ret). Other 24Hr races: Le Mans (1983/6^th, 1984, 1990, 1991/6^th, 1992/5^th, 1997/1^st, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003/3^rd, 2006, 2007, 2008). Daytona (2000 23^rd, 2002 36^th/13^th, 2005/4^th, 2006/22^nd).

“The first goal in any 24 hour race always has to be to get both cars home and that’s exactly what United Autosports did. I started the race and managed to get past the #68 Audi but then had a big, big ‘tank slapper’ of a spin at Blanchimont caused by debris and gravel on the track. My second and third stints were good. We had no technical glitches to speak of with our car. I’d love to race this Audi again.”

Alain Li (F).

Age: 50. Born: Caen, France. Lives: Hong Kong:

Spa 24Hr: Début. Spa History: Début 1998, Ferrari Challenge Series (1994-8). Last race at Spa: 1998. Other 24Hr races: None.

“It’s been an eventful 24 hour race début for me as you’d expect – especially at a place like Spa – and an incredible experience. I steadily picked up speed throughout my stints. I had to contend with light and heavier rain on “slicks” in my first stint. My second stint in darkness was a little chaotic. I was spun around at La Source by a slower car I was lapping, thankfully without damage to the car, but then had another spin. I was really pleased with my third stint, setting some good times and gaining places. To summarize a fantastic opportunity with a great team.”

Mark Patterson (USA).
Age:58. Born: Port Elizabeth, S Africa. Lives: Bronxville, N.Y., USA:
Spa 24Hr: 2009 17th o/a (Ferrari 430 GT3). Spa History: Début 2001. Lamborghini Super Trophy (2001). Last race at Spa 2009 (24hrs). Other 24Hr races: Daytona (2004 38th/13th, 2005 23rd/14th, 2006/2nd, 2007/9th, 2008/6th, 2009/41st, 2010/7th)

“I was fourth in to the car after Stefan, Emil and Alain and despite a spin early on, settled myself in quickly after that balletic move. I was back in the car in the early hours and was hit as I attempted to lap a backmarker at La Source causing left side rear bodywork damage which earned us a pit-stop for repairs. I was very happy with my third stint, a double, setting good, consistent times.”

#68 Remington / Singapore Exchange / Road & Track / Legends of Motorsports / LG Electronics – Audi R8 LMS

HOURLY OVERALL/GT3 POSITIONS: Driver rotations: RD/MB/ZB/EC. Start Pos 16th/10th; 1hr 22nd/12th ; 2hrs 9th/3rd ; 3hrs 12th/6th; 4hrs 15th/7th; 5hrs 14th/6th; 6hrs 12th/5th; 7hrs 9th/3rd; 8hrs 9th/3rd; 9hrs 7th/3rd; 10hrs 7th/3rd; 11hrs 8th/4th; 12hrs 10th/4th; 13hrs 10th/4th; 14hrs 12th/6th; 15hrs 9th/4th; 16hrs 9th/4th; 17hrs 7th/3rd; 18hrs 6th/2nd; 19hrs 5th/1st; 20hrs 6th/2nd; 21hrs 9th /3rd; 22hrs 9th/3rd; 23hrs 9th/3rd; FINISH 9th/3rd

Mark Blundell (GB). 
Age: 44. Born: Barnet, England. Lives: Royston, England:
Spa 24Hr: Début. Spa History: Début May 16 1987 (F3000/2nd). F3000 (1987-89 – 1987/2nd), F1 (1991-95 – 91 scored first-ever F1 point, 94/5th, 95/5th), sportscars (1989/3rd). Last race at Spa: August 27 1995 F1/5th. Other 24Hr races: Le Mans (1989, 1990, 1992/1st, 1995/4th, 2001, 2002, 2003/2nd).

“I'm a little disappointed with only third place after leading GT3 and when a win looked realistic but that‟s endurance racing. It looked like a win, I had one moment when another car hit me during the race. Double-stinting [approximately 140mins] after seven years out or a racecar has been tough. I must admit I'm tired. The team has done a tremendous job to get onto the winners' rostrum in its first 24 hour race and I'm personally very happy to be in the best-placed Audi.”

Zak Brown (USA). 

Age: 38. Born: Los Angeles, California, USA. Lives: Carmel, Indiana, USA:

Spa 24Hr: Début. Spa History: Opel Lotus Formula (1993/3^rd). Other 24Hr races: BritCar (GB), Daytona (1997/8^th, 1999, 2000, 2010/33^rd o/a/20^th) .

“I had a [lazy] spin but in a 24 hour race that’s not too bad! I did a stint and a half to begin with in varying weather conditions on “slicks” and managed to stick it out which was pleasing. On Sunday morning I just wanted to keep out of trouble – I’m glad I wasn’t told I took the GT3 lead as that would’ve been pressure I could do without. I had the honor of bringing the Audi home at the finish. I’m absolutely delighted with what our team has achieved this weekend.”

Eddie Cheever (USA). 

Age: 52. Born: Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Lives: Indianapolis, USA:
Spa 24Hr: Début. Spa History: Spa début May 22 1983 F1/3rd, F1 (1983, 85-89 – 1983/3rd, 1987/4th, 1988/6th), GpC (1986/5th, 1987/4th. Last race at Spa: 1989/Ret (F1). Other 24Hr races: Le Mans (1980/19th, 1981/8th, 1986/24th, 1987/5th. Daytona (2
006/17th, 2007/32nd)
 

“The United Autosports team did everything and more than anyone could have expected in its maiden 24 hours. Our strategy, pit-stops and engineering were all good. My first stint, getting in the car after Richard, Mark and Zak was difficult due to the conditions with the track going from wet, drying, getting wetter again etc etc, but that was the same for everyone. With a track as long as this, you get half good and half bad in terms of track conditions so you may as well suck it up and stay out [on slicks] which is what I did. The Audi R8 LMS was very good in those conditions. It has a lot of electronics that helps the driver to use whatever grip is available. That stint allowed us to put a dent in to the others and put us in the game. I didn't have any problems in the second stint. Around lunchtime on Sunday, I had a power steering problem coming out of Eau Rouge and I was lucky not to crash. 

Richard Dean (GB). 

Age: 45. Born & Lives: Leeds, West Yorkshire, England:
Spa 24Hr: Début. Spa History: Début August 29 1992/Ret (F3000). F3000 (1992), FIA GT (1997/24th/12th), British GT (1998/6th/2nd 1999/2nd). Last race at Spa: September 26 1999 (British GT). Other 24Hr races: WillHire (GB), BritCar (GB), Nürburgring, Le Mans (2006/15th/1st, 2007/23rd/5th, 2009), Mondello Park (IRL), Daytona (2010/33rd/20th), Dubai
 

“The United Autosports did not exist six months ago. To achieve third and fourth places and be the best placed Audi team with both cars finishing, I have to be proud. That said, it's tinged with a little disappointment because a win was beckoning for a while. I started and my opening stint was trouble-free, the balance of the car improved as the stint went on. I then did a double stint behind the wheel in the wet which went well apart from near the end when I was on “wets” and the racing line was bone dry. It was looking like a three stint session in the car next time out but I picked up a punctured left front tire bringing my stint to a finish.”

Audi R8 LMS (Sportscar according to Spa 24 Hour race regulations)
V10 5.2-liter engine, 4 valves per cylinder, petrol direct injection, emission control by two racing catalytic converters, rear-wheel-drive, traction control (ASR), sequential pneumatic activated 6-speed sport gearbox with shift-paddles, Audi Space Frame (ASF) made of aluminum with bolted steel roll-cage, carbon-fiber composite/aluminum bodywork, Michelin radial tires. Start weight 1,335kg. Limitation at 8500rpm for every gear. Developed by Audi Sport with cooperation from quattro GmbH. Won FIA GT3 European Championship, ADAC-GT Masters and Belgian GT Championship plus Nürburgring 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours class victories in début 2009 season scoring a total 23 victories.

24h SPA 2010 Round 1 - Spa-Francorchamps

1     23     GT2     Dumas / Bergmeister / Ragginger / Henzler     Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)     24:00:27.341     541     0.000     0

2     16     GT2     Narac / Long / Pilet / Lietz     Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)    
24:01:44.163     541     1:16.822     0

3     79     GTN     Werner / Müller / Adorf /     BMW M3    
24:01:34.635     540     1:07.294     0

4     78     GTN     Müller / Lamy / Alzen /     BMW M3    
24:01:31.393     534     1:04.052     0

5     1     GT2     Waltrip / Cadei / Kauffmann / Cioci     Ferrari F430    
24:01:50.763     519     1:23.422     0

6     53     GT3     Häring / Konstantinou / Peyroles / Vannelet     Porsche 911 GT3 R    
24:01:45.255     518     1:17.914     0

7     4     GT2     van Splunteren / Hommerson / Machiels / Bastiaans     Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)     24:00:27.995     515     0.654     0

8     99     GT3     Leinders / Martin / Duez /     Ford GT    
24:01:32.261     512     1:04.920     0

9     68     GT3     Blundell / Brown / Dean / Cheever     Audi R8 LMS    
24:02:13.983     503     1:46.642     0

10     67     GT3     Johansson / Li / Patterson / Assentato     Audi R8 LMS    
24:02:59.559     501     2:32.218     0

11     7     GT2     Ashburn / Rosenblad / Asch / Bergmeister     Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)    
24:01:29.267     500     1:01.926     0

12     17     GT2     Bourret / Gibon / Belloc / Balandras     Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)    
24:01:44.150     498     1:16.809     0

13     73     GT3     Ortelli / Mollekens / Lemeret / Verbist     Audi R8 LMS    
24:01:29.113     497     1:01.772     0

14     71     GT3     Mortimer / Bamford / Griffin /     Ford GT    
24:00:44.225     492     16.884     0

15     60     GT3     Slingerland / Soulet / Schroyen / Menten     Porsche 911 GT3 R    
24:00:29.164     488     1.823     0

16     81     GTN     Grosjean / Radermaecker / Alessi / Marchal     Mosler MT900    
24:00:41.329     466     13.988     0

17     66     GTN     Lichtner Hoyer / Eckert / Seefried / Rich     Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY06     24:00:40.972     461     13.631     0

18     56     GT3     Corbel / Duchene / Beroujon / Bernard     BMW Alpina B6 GT3    
24:00:57.783     441     30.442     0

19     58     GTN     van der Straten / Al Azhari / Close / Qvick     Ford Mustang FR500C GT     24:00:28.744     431     1.403     0

20     55     GT3     Brandela / Lesoudier / Prignaud / Stepec     BMW Alpina B6 GT3    
20:49:20.143     417     3:11:07.19     0

21     86     GT3     Andre / Goethe / Wainwright / Demoustier     Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4     24:00:30.600     410     3.259     0

22     59     GT4     Dolan / Hancock / Wills / Twyman     Aston Martin V8 Vantage    
24:04:17.539     376     3:50.198     0

23     85     GT3     Giroix / Fatien / Valentini / Beltoise     Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4    
20:54:15.837     374     3:06:11.50     0

24     70     GT4     Viale / de Coster / NelissenGrade / Renmans     Aston Martin V8 Vantage     24:01:06.569     338     39.228     0

25     69     GT4     Deblauwe / Brugmans / Grandjean / Gerome     Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY06     24:00:32.876     333     5.535     0

26     64     GT3     Renard / Verbergt / Wauters / van Hooydonk     Aston Martin DBRS9    
22:13:24.385     328     1:47:02.95     0

27     51     GT3     Margaritis / Hennerici / Piccini / Moser     Audi R8 LMS    
15:08:15.392     325     8:52:11.94     0

28     2     GT2     Bruni / Longin / van de Poele / Vilander     Ferrari F430    
13:20:16.287     295     10:40:11.0     0

29     50     GT3     Kumpen / Fässler / Luhr / Rockenfeller     Audi R8 LMS    
13:20:18.488     294     10:40:08.8     0

30     98     GT3     De Doncker / Kuppens / Palttala /     Ford GT    
11:46:19.998     249     12:14:07.3     0

31     91     GTN     Broodcooren / Marin / Barbaro / Corten     Porsche 997 Cup    
12:40:12.908     235     11:20:14.4     0

32     13     GT2     Westbrook / Holzer / Lieb / Goossens     Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)    
10:11:40.492     207     13:48:46.8     0

33     52     GT3     Fumal / de Lorenzi / Thiry / Thomas     Porsche 911 GT3 R    
6:15:03.983     135     17:45:23.3     0

34     74     GT3     Bouvy / Kelders / Blachemain / Tuchbant     Audi R8 LMS    
7:20:57.850     127     16:39:29.4     0

35     100     GTN     Vos / Schothorst / Coronel / Kolen     Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S    
4:16:47.312     91     19:43:40.0     0

36     84     GT3     Kox / Hayek / Bonaldi / Lee     Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4    
2:51:38.649     63     21:08:48.6     0

37     72     GT3     Franchi / Vosse / Stippler / Biela     Audi R8 LMS    
2:25:31.503     57     21:34:55.8     0

38     61     GT3     Brouard / Noziere / Kerkhove / Sougnez     Porsche 911 GT3 R    
1:51:40.383     43     22:08:46.9     0

39     63     GT3     D'Ansembourg / Grivegnee / Demay / Merche     Aston Martin DBRS9    
1:09:23.275     25     22:51:04.0     0

40     62     GT4     Barff / Ordonez / Buncombe / Buncombe     Nissan 370Z    
1:03:34.892     23     22:56:52.4     0