ELMS: United Autosports are the 2026 European Le Mans Series champions!
United Autosports have won the ELMS LMP2 Championship at Portimão, taking victory in the 4 Hours of Portimão to secure the title.The No. 22 enjoyed a faultless weekend, securing pole position on Friday before delivering a commanding performance in the race.
An outstanding opening stint from Peebles saw the car build an impressive 28-second lead over the rest of the LMP2 field following the first round of pit stops. Grégoire Saucy piloted the second stint, maintaining control at the front and managing the gap to the chasing pack. With the team executing a flawless strategy throughout, the No. 22 never relinquished the lead. With one hour and 10 minutes remaining, Hanley took over the wheel and brought it home in first place, securing both the race victory and the LMP2 Championship.
Click the link below for comments from United Autosports CEO & Team Principal, Richard Dean following the teams dominant win at the final race of the European Le Mans Series 2026.
Click the link below for comments from United Autosports CEO & Team Principal, Richard Dean following the teams dominant win at the final race of the European Le Mans Series 2026.
“We are delighted, we had a fantastic weekend. Grégoire put us on pole position. Griffin handed the car over in the lead with a with a nice gap. Grégoire did the same for me, and then we just brought it home. We managed the gap, the pace, and it was a flawless weekend from everybody in the whole team and all the drivers. So it feels amazing!”
Ben Hanley – Driver of the United Autosports No. 22 LMP2
Ben Hanley – Driver of the United Autosports No. 22 LMP2
“First of all, it feels amazing to be champions. It’s a lot of hard work behind the scenes that no one sees. The team put an enormous amount of effort in, and they’re not here by luck or good fortune. They’re here because they work very, very hard to constantly improve, And so I think we deserve it this year. We’ve worked very hard to make sure that our on-track results are as strong at every circuit, and I think that’s been reflected in only being off the podium once this year, which goes to show how consistent we have been”
Griffin Peebles – Driver of the United Autosports No. 22 LMP2
Griffin Peebles – Driver of the United Autosports No. 22 LMP2
“We won the race and secured the title, so it’s been a fantastic weekend from start to finish. After taking pole position yesterday, we executed the race perfectly today. Griffin got a really good start, took the lead and built a gap, which gave me the opportunity to do my job in the second and third stints. Ben then brought it home, and we took the race win and the championship. I’m so happy for the whole team and everyone involved. Everyone has worked incredibly hard to achieve these results, so it’s a great feeling to finish the job and become champions.”
Grégoire Saucy – Driver of the United Autosports No. 22 LMP2
Grégoire Saucy – Driver of the United Autosports No. 22 LMP2
Our LMP2 championship marks the second time in United Autosports’ history that the team has claimed the LMP2 title and the team’s fifth championship overall. It’s a testament to the collective effort of the entire team, whose hard work and consistency throughout the season have delivered another championship success. To achieve this milestone again, six years after the team’s previous title, is a moment of immense pride for everyone at United Autosports.
“It was a solid performance from everyone. The race was pretty much faultless from start to finish. Grégoire’s pole position on Friday got us off on the right foot and secured crucial points for the championship. The drivers then executed the race perfectly, leading every lap and securing the fastest lap as well. With pole position, the race win and every lap led, we couldn’t really have asked for much more. It was a very satisfying way to clinch the championship, and thoroughly deserved by the whole team.”
Tom Hodgson – Director of Customer Racing, United Autosports
Tom Hodgson – Director of Customer Racing, United Autosports
“We started from pole after a great qualifying lap from Grégoire, which put us in the perfect position for the race. I was able to control the start and the first stint, building a good gap before handing the car over to Grégoire.The car was mega today, and the team did an amazing job giving us such a competitive package. We were able to maintain a gap of around 10 seconds throughout the race and bring home the win, which secured the championship for us.
It’s amazing to be champions with a round still to go. The whole team deserves this. We’ve worked so hard all season to compete against some really strong teams, so to come out on top is a fantastic feeling.”
Max Gregory – Managing Director, United Autosports
It’s amazing to be champions with a round still to go. The whole team deserves this. We’ve worked so hard all season to compete against some really strong teams, so to come out on top is a fantastic feeling.”
Max Gregory – Managing Director, United Autosports
United Autosports’ Griffin Peebles added another accolade to his impressive 2026 European Le Mans Series campaign, claiming the Goodyear Wingfoot Award for his outstanding performance throughout the 2026 season. Having won the award voted for by fans for his race victory in La Castellet earlier in the year, the young Australian driver received the season award which recognises the most outstanding driver for impressive pace, race craft and composure, in each category, with Peebles earning the LMP2 honour following an exceptional debut campaign with United Autosports.
There’s no rest for the team now as they start to prepare for the Asian Le Mans Series which starts 12 -15 November at Circuit Paul Ricard with Rounds 1 & 2 of the winter series, with Rounds 3 & 4 in Spain in January before the closing two rounds back in Portimão in February.
There’s no rest for the team now as they start to prepare for the Asian Le Mans Series which starts 12 -15 November at Circuit Paul Ricard with Rounds 1 & 2 of the winter series, with Rounds 3 & 4 in Spain in January before the closing two rounds back in Portimão in February.
