Paul di Resta, tutor of Josh Pierson at United Autosports

Back with United Autosports for the first time since the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2021, Paul di Resta signed the two pole positions on Saturday in Abu Dhabi for the double headers finale of the 2022 Asian Le Mans Series season. With his great experience, the British driver is mainly in the United Arab Emirates to share it with his young teammate Josh Pierson, only 16 years old. “The aim this weekend is to help Josh gain as much experience as possible, but we were confident the car would be in the right performance window straight away, the 35-year-old Briton told us in the Yas Marina paddock. So we gave him a lot of running time in Free Practice, thinking that we could still get a pole position. It's good to have done both to give Josh the best chance to start his career in Endurance at 16 years old. »

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The Anglo-American team is in fact present at the Asian Le Mans Series to polish its rough diamond from Portland, which will race in the World Endurance Championship this season alongside Alex Lynn and Oliver Jarvis. “The most important thing is to see him collaborate with the staff, continues Paul di Resta. It's his team: he will ride in WEC and so to Sebring with them. I'm also taking the opportunity to get back into the rhythm with United and it's nice to come and do it in the sun in February. » The native of Uphall, in Scotland, nevertheless does not forget the victory, even if the relays risk returning more quickly to only two drivers compared to three for the other LM P2, notably at Nielsen Racing. “I always want to win, but we are not in the best position because we are only two drivers, He explains. Nevertheless, we came knowingly and to give Josh as much racing time as possible. Our hands are a bit tied in terms of driving time because I am platinum and therefore have to limit myself to an hour and a half in the race. So the majority of the work will be done by Josh, but we can't expect him to do everything at once. We're going to have to give him a break in the middle to allow him to rest. »

This also allows Paul di Resta to get back into the swing of things, before starting the WEC season which he will begin at Sebring with United Autosports, replacing Alex Lynn, retained in IMSA, in a team he knows well. “Sebring is only a month away. The weather is perfect and it's important for me to get some mileage and pace in before going to Sebring. It's good to do it with United, there's always a great atmosphere with great people. It's a shame we can't do more with them. But beyond that, they have a passion for motorsport and I have become friends with several people here. Richard (Dean) and Zak (Brown) made this possible. » It will then branch off towards the garage Peugeot when the French Hypercar will make its competition debut: " I am impatient. We've started rolling with the car, and it's exciting to see how the project has come together, where the 9x8 and the team have been since I met with them in October 2020 to see the basic designs. This is a special program. » Including the mystery surrounding participation or not in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June should soon be resolved…

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