Matching our Best Result to Date In The World Endurance Championship - Round 5: Sao Paulo

The 6 Hours of Sao Paulo delivered the first LMGT3 podium for United Autosports in the FIA World Endurance Championship when the sister car, #95, scooped third place. – a landmark for racing partners United Autosports and McLaren Automotive.

In the #59 car, James Cottingham kicked off proceedings from fourth place on the grid, staying out of trouble in the hectic early stages. He handed over at 1/3 distance to former FIA Formula 3 racer Gregoire Saucy, who fought hard, initially with double stinted tyres, before being handed some fresher tyres for his second outing. Brazilian Nicolas Costa took the reins in the final stages, masterfully holding off two cars behind and securing P4 for the team at his home race.

Meanwhile, the sister #95 McLaren LMGT3 EVO,The crew of Josh Caygill, Marino Sato and Nico Pino started third place on the grid and - after six hours of racing at the iconic Brazilian track – successfully secured their place on the world championship podium.

The next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship is the Lone Star Le Mans in Texas, USA (1st September 2024).

James Cottingham: “Really pleased for our teammates who finished on the podium and chuffed we finished P4 in what was a very challenging race. Great to have come to Interlagos … what an experience! It’s a very difficult track … a busy short lap, steeped with history. I’m very glad that I did it with a Brazilian! It was amazing to see the appreciation. I’m absolutely focussed on achieving a podium. Three rounds left to go.”

Gregoire Saucy: “It was quite a good race … I think we all did good – me, James and Nicolas. It was difficult in my stint. We had some traffic and it was difficult to overtake but at the end we managed to finish P4 … where we started! Great improvements. We need to keep working for the next one!”

Nicolas Costa: “It was a very eventful race. A lot of stuff to manage. I think we started really well and then dropped down the order a bit. We had a couple of penalties which obviously didn’t help but in the end I think we maximised the strategy that we had. We maximised the pace we had and the result that we could achieve. I had a really hard fight with two of the best drivers on the grid with considerably less rubber on my tyres which wasn’t easy! But I was keen to keep them behind at my home race with the crowd pushing me forwards. It’s a dream come true to be here representing my country, in front of my home crowd and with my parents watching. It’s a privilege. Only good things about this weekend!”

Richard Dean, United Autosports CEO: “This is a really special moment. A podium finish for the #95 - our first with McLaren Automotive - and a solid fourth from the sister #59, sealing the Sao Paulo weekend with our strongest result so far. United Autosports has celebrated great success in the WEC with the LMP2s, but this has been a new challenge. I cannot emphasise enough the time, passion and pure determination that the team has poured into the McLaren programme over the course of eight months, from all sides. And the drivers put it into action on-track, with some stellar racing out there and very tough defence. The result is truly deserved. I am extremely proud, and excited to continue on this upward trajectory through the final three rounds.”

Mick McDonagh, Director of MSO Motorsport, McLaren Automotive: “With the progress we’ve made this season working closely with our racing partners at United Autosports, it was only a matter of time before we stepped on to the podium, so I’m delighted that the number 95 car achieved that objective in Brazil. The fact that we also finished fourth demonstrates the genuine pace in the car and the improvements we’ve managed to make in a relatively short period of time.

Massive congratulations to Josh, Marino and Nico on their first podium, as well as everyone at United Autosports on a job very well done. It’s a team effort and we all share in this success.