United Autosports has signed former F1 driver Paul di Resta for its 2019/20 FIA WEC campaign and the 2019 Le Mans 24 Hours

The Scotsman will race a Ligier JS P217 with Phil Hanson, who he partnered with in his title-winning 2018/19 Asian Le Mans Series campaign and Filipe Albuqeurque for Le Mans and the FIA WEC season that starts later in the year.

“I’m really happy to be continuing with United Autosports in Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship,” said di Resta.

“I think to continue where we have been with Phil in the Asian Le Mans Series and bringing the first LMP2 championship to the team, the obvious next step is to move into a world championship. It’s good that the driver line up is a familiar one, with Filipe being part of it too. It’s definitely a challenge I am up for. We have a little bit of time to prepare for it but I think that United are more than capable of taking it on.”

Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director, United Autosports added: “Our debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship is an exciting step for our team and now I believe our driver line up is as strong as anything out there. Paul has been a valuable member of the team since he first raced for us at the Daytona 24 Hours and he has contributed to our maiden LMP2 title in the Asia Le Mans Series.

“Paul is a quality driver who in many people’s eyes could still be doing a great job in F1. It is a sign of how far we have come to be able to attract drivers of his quality and now that Paul is such an important team player for United Autosports it made perfect sense to add him to our WEC line up. He works well with Phil and Filipe so I’m feeling very positive going into our first world championship season.”