Di Resta returns to United Autosports' Le Mans 24 Hours team

Paul Di Resta at last year's Le Mans 24 Hours. Picture: Jean-Francois Monier / AFP via Getty Images

The 34-year-old Scot will return to the Wakefield-based team after United's record-breaking year in 2020, when alongside team mates Phil Hanson and Filipe Albuquerque, di Resta won the Le Mans 24 Hours LMP2 class in nail-biting fashion.

The former Force India and Williams Formula One driver was also victorious in the first Hyperpole session, scoring the team’s maiden Le Mans pole position, ahead of their race win.

Di Resta was a crucial part of the team’s FIA World Championship winning effort, scoring four wins, five podiums and four pole positions throughout the 2019/2020 season, racing alongside Hanson and Albuquerque in seven out of eight races.

United Autosports will enter one car under their United Autosports USA licence and two cars as United Autosports UK into the 89th edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours, which is now scheduled for August 21 and 22.

Di Resta's team mates in the #23 Oreca 07 are still to be confirmed. The #32 Oreca will be driven by Nico Jamin, with his team mates also still to be confirmed. The #22 Oreca 07 – the team’s 2021 FIA WEC entry – will be driven by reigning LMP2 champions, Phil Hanson and Filipe Albuquerque who will be joined for the season by Fabio Scherer.

Di Resta said: “It’s great news to announce that we are going back to the 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours. It’s nice to be part of that journey again and trying to retain the win that we got with Phil and Filipe last year.

"It’s obviously a different set up this year, but it’ll be interesting to see how it goes with my new team mates when they are announced. I think it’s good that the ACO have taken action early with changing the date of the race to allow people to prepare.

"I’m definitely looking forward to going racing again. LMP2 looks very strong once again and Le Mans is the best race in the world to get to grips with, so it can’t come soon enough.

"Until then I’ll be doing as much as I can to get integrated into the team again and with my new team mates. I really appreciate the efforts from both Richard and Zak to get me back into it.”