Filipe Albuquerque has been signed by reigning ELMS LM P3 champions United Autosports, bringing a wealth of experience to support youngsters Will Owen and Hugo de Sadeleer in the #32 Ligier JS P217.

The Portuguese driver already boasts an impressive endurance track record. He had previously raced in the Blancpain Endurance Series, DTM, Formula Renault 3.5 and the A1 Grand Prix, before focusing on endurance. He chalked up his first major win in 2013 by taking the GTD class in the Daytona 24 Hours. He then competed in the European Le Mans Series (Jota Sport, 2nd in 2014) before moving up to the World Endurance Championship (Audi Sport, and then RGR Sport by Morand, 2nd in LM P2 in 2016). Albuqerque has three previous 24 Hours of Le Mans appearances under his belt. In 2014 and 2015, he was part of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro LM P1 squad before driving for RGR Sport by Morand (Ligier JS P2) in LM P2 last time out. His best result was the overall seventh place achieved in 2015.

United Autosports will be testing this weekend at Portimão, Portugal, the venue of the final round of the ELMS season in which they are scheduled to run three cars. All eight of the team’s ELMS drivers will be in attendance: John Falb, Sean Rayhall, Mark Patterson, Wayne Boyd and Christian England in the two Ligier JS P3s, as well as Albuquerque, Owen and de Sadeleer in the LM P2. 

Filipe Albuquerque: “I am really happy to join United Autosports. They are a very experienced team, winning the ELMS LM P3 class last year, so they really know what they are doing. This year will be my third ELMS season. I have been close to winning it before and I will work hard to make it happen this year especially finishing again in Portugal at a track that I really like.

I am looking forward to working with two young guns. I already know Will as he tested with me at Bahrain last year and he was very fast. It will be a challenge for him to learn all the tracks but I am sure I can guide him well as we did at the Rookie Test. As for Hugo, he comes from Formula Renault, a series that I know very well, so it will be beneficial to him knowing all the tracks. He will have to deal with all the traps that an endurance race has but I am confident he will do fine too. I am optimistic about our Ligier JS P217 chassis. I have already done some testing and development. Of course, the competition will be hard but I think Ligier have done a great job on this car.”

Quote courtesy of team press release.