United Autosports conquers ground at Spa-Francorchamps

The list of participants for the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps indicates that the only Belgian team lined up is WRT. However, and despite their leading position in the general classification, the trio Delétraz-Kubica-Ye does not advance with the status of big favorite in the Ardennes. The fault lies with a team that has been untouchable for three seasons here: United Autosports. One wonders if it is ultimately not the latter which is driving at home. “We are really good on this track… or very lucky”, hesitated Richard Dean in the paddock. The Briton, co-founder of the structure with Zak Brown, does not hide his ambitions for this 2021 edition: “The goal is to maintain our unbeaten streak here which started in 2018.”

The weekend started on solid foundations for the Oreca 07 – Gibson number 22 of the trio Aberdein, Hanson, Gamble, with the best time of the first Free Practice session signed in 2:05.743. WRT was already relegated to more than a second during this session (1.034). “ The car has always been good here and we have established ourselves in recent years. We have good settings too, and that translated into a good time this morning, with a good margin ahead of the runners-up”, reacted Phil Hanson after this performance. 

Also read > United Autosports dominates Team WRT in FP1

A level of performance maintained thanks to the self-sacrifice of the technical staff according to the London driver: “I think every year we build a competitive car and we try to make improvements every weekend, because if we don't we stagnate. Fighting with our opponents pushes us to improve. Their level forces us to be even more competitive every year”. “You should ask the technical team why we always find something that works wonderfully on this circuit, confirms Richard Dean. But it's not the team or the car, it also comes from the drivers. We have a good line-up, very solid. We will need all this together… but also a little luck to continue our series”. Whatever its secret on the Ardennes slide, United Autosports is hoping for a fourth victory in a row on WRT grounds. 

Also read > WRT wants to take a step towards the title at Spa