United Autosports will be entering the LMP3 category of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship for the remaining rounds of the Michelin Endurance Cup.
The Anglo-American squad will be running a single Ligier JS P320 alongside its existing LMP2 effort at the Six Hours of Watkins Glen and Petit Le Mans. Niklas Kruetten is the first driver to be confirmed to the line-up.
The 18-year-old German driver is in his first season of prototype competition after transitioning from single-seaters and has already taken a European Le Mans Series win with Cool Racing and appeared as part of WIN Autosport’s LMP3 effort in the Twelve Hours of Sebring.
“I am super excited for the opportunity to continue my IMSA WeatherTech racing in the US this year with United Autosports,” Kruetten said.
“United is one of the leading endurance racing teams in the world and I am sure that we will be in a position to fight for top results.
“My journey into prototype racing could not have started any better than with winning the 4 Hours of Barcelona in the European Le Mans Series two weeks ago. The goal is to build on that not only in Europe but also in the US.”
United Autosports was originally set to make its IMSA LMP3 debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, before those efforts were ultimately cancelled.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Niklas to our team as we make our LMP3 debut in America,” said team co-owner Richard Dean. “It is something we have looked at doing and now we feel the time is right to pull something together to compliment the LMP2 team we have out here.
“Niklas is a great talent, shown by winning the opening round of the ELMS season in Barcelona last month. I’m looking forward to working with him.”
