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United Autosports “not favourites” despite record LMP2 pace

United Autosports LMP2 team boss Richard Dean says his cars are “not the favourites the win the Le Mans 24 Hours, despite their record pace in qualifying.

LMP2 pole sitter #22 United Autosports Oreca 07 - Gibson: Paul di Resta

LMP2 pole sitter #22 United Autosports Oreca 07 - Gibson: Paul di Resta

JEP / Motorsport Images

In United’s #22 Oreca 07 Paul di Resta took pole in Friday’s Hyperpole session with a new LMP2 track record of 3m24.528s, three tenths quicker than Paul Loup-Chatin’s 2018 benchmark.

The sister #32 entry also made it to the Hyperpole shootout, Alex Brundle piloting the car he shares with Will Owen and Job van Uitert to fifth on the grid of a bumper 24-car LMP2 field.

United Autosports has won the previous three FIA World Endurance Championship races in Bahrain, Austin and Spa, but team boss Dean said di Resta's pole still came “as a surprise” as the Anglo-American team has no previous Le Mans experience with the Oreca, having made the switch from Ligier at the start this season.

“Our form is a surprise given it's our first year here with the Oreca, we thought it might take longer to get on top of the car”, he told Motorsport.com.

"Just because you have got pole position and a winning record coming into the race doesn't mean anything at Le Mans. One small problem can put a car out.

“We don't feel we are favourites in our garage, only that we know we've got two competitive cars.”

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Polesitter di Resta, who shares the #22 car with Filipe Albuquerque and Phil Hanson, said his first every qualifying attempt at Le Mans was a “big eye-opener” as he found some clear air to set the record.

“It was mega to go on track with a bit of free air”, the Scot said. “It was a big challenge this year given the change to Oreca, but we're starting in the best position.

“If you make Hyperpole, it’s a good day, you’re in the top six, and I think [that means] you’re always within reach of this long race.”

Laurent: "10 or 15 cars can win the race"

"It’s true that there isn’t a favourite,” says Thomas Laurent, whose #36 Signatech Alpine Oreca starts in 10th after a disturbed qualifying session. 

“I would say that the first 10 or 15 cars can go for the win or at least a podium. It’s just about making the least amount of mistakes possible and make perfect pitstops.

"On track we’ll try to do nothing stupid and watch out for the traffic. I think it will be a race with a lot of Full Course Yellow and Slow Zones."

G-Drive’s Jean-Eric Vergne came to within three tenths of di Resta in the #26 Aurus-branded Oreca and was satisfied with how the race is shaping up for him and his teammates Roman Rusinov and Mikkel Jensen.

“We had a very strong qualifying on Thursday and Friday morning during Hyperpole,” the Frenchman commented. "The car felt great and the Michelin tyres are proving to make the difference. We will do whatever it takes to win this special 2020 Le Mans.”

Racing Team Nederland’s Nyck de Vries was looking like a good bet for pole, having topped Thursday’s first qualifying session.

But on his first Hyperpole lap, the Mercedes Formula E driver went off on the entry to Porsche Curves and just managed to keep the yellow #29 machine out of the barriers. His second attempt was good enough for third.

"I’ve been quick enough to fight for pole all weekend, so we expected we’d be able to do that again”, said de Vries, who shares the car with Giedo van der Garde and team owner Frits van Eerd.

“We went into Hyperpole with little knowledge or experience about the circumstances.

"I think the car was a bit tricky and it often did things I wasn’t really expecting, especially in the high-speed sections. That's how I lost the car in the Porsche Curves on my first set of tyres.

"And then you’re not exactly going into the second run with a lot of confidence. You just don’t know what the car is going to do, especially in high speed. I think second was definitely possible if we had a clean session."

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