In a thrilling show of motorsport prowess, United Autosports celebrated its first victory of the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) season at the inaugural 4 Hours of Aragon on August 26, 2023. The trio of Marino Sato, Oliver Jarvis, and Phil Hanson drove the No. 22 Oreca 07 Gibson to a commanding win, crossing the finish line nearly 15 seconds ahead of the nearest rival.
"This win means a lot to us, especially after the challenges we faced this season," said team driver Oliver Jarvis. Starting from pole position, United Autosports demonstrated strategic brilliance and driving skill in the tightly contested race. They finished with a margin of 14.987 seconds over the No. 28 IDEC Sport vehicle, which was driven by Paul Lafargue, Laurents Hoerr, and Paul-Loup Chatin.
The victory marked a return to form for the Anglo-American squad, who had not seen the top step of the podium since their win at the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in September 2022. Phil Hanson, who had a significant role in the race, led the first 90 minutes while maintaining a solid six-second lead, a margin that was later hindered by a safety car incident.
"We had a comfortable lead, but the safety car definitely added some pressure," recalled Hanson. The safety car was called out after a collision between Johnny Laursen’s No. 50 Formula Racing Ferrari 488 GTE Evo and Rui Andrade of Inter Europol Competition, forcing both drivers to retire early and creating a tense atmosphere for the competitors.
Upon resuming racing, Sato took over from Hanson but initially slipped to third place before launching a comeback that saw him reclaim the lead. However, with Jarvis taking the wheel for the final leg, the No. 22 car faced challenges as it dropped back to fourth position.
As the race approached its final hour, it seemed the IDEC Sport vehicle was in an advantageous position, especially after Paul-Loup Chatin managed to pass Job van Uitert of Panis Racing at Turn 1 with just under 45 minutes to go. Yet, a decisive fuel stop made all the difference; Jarvis completed a swifter stop of 56 seconds, compared to Chatin's 67 seconds, which allowed United Autosports to regain momentum.
"That pit strategy was crucial for us," Jarvis remarked. He used the opportunity to pull ahead significantly, ultimately leading to an uncontested run to the checkered flag. This strategic play solidified their victory over the French team of IDEC Sport and enabled Algarve Pro Racing to finish third, despite starting from the back of the grid.
Algarve Pro Racing’s performance was impressive, with drivers James Allen, Kyffin Simpson, and Alex Lynn starting from 42nd position due to a qualifying brake issue. Allen's strong opening stint quickly showcased their resilience, as they found themselves within the overall top ten shortly after the race began.
In addition, the team led briefly during the race thanks to Cadillac factory driver Lynn’s prowess. Meanwhile, Panis Racing concluded the race in a respectable fourth place. Fifth overall went to the No. 83 AF Corse trio of Francois Perrodo, Matthieu Vaxiviere, and Alessio Rovera, who also grabbed the Pro-Am class victory.
Vaxiviere's final drives were especially notable, as he successfully navigated through the competition late in the race. This performance ended Racing Team Turkey’s dominant streak in the series. Having led by nearly ten seconds, Racing Team Turkey’s Louis Deletraz faced significant misfortune, culminating in a late race mechanical issue that relegated the team to a disappointing finish.
Their car's engine was restarted with an external battery during the final pit stop, violating regulations and resulting in penalties that dropped them further in the standings.
The Duqueine Team secured sixth place with their No. 47 entry, rounding out a captivating race at Aragon. With this victory, United Autosports aims to build on their success in the upcoming races, hoping to leverage their newfound momentum in the ELMS season.