United Autosports will carry its IMSA partnership of Phil Fayer, Hunter McElrea and Mikkel Jensen into the 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS), with the trio set to share the team’s #23 Oreca 07-Gibson throughout the six-race winter campaign.
The combination currently races together in United Autosports’ #2 LMP2 entry in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and will extend that relationship into the 2026/27 ALMS campaign. The season begins with two four-hour races at Circuit Paul Ricard from 13-15 November before moving to Jerez in January and Portimão in February.
United will field two LMP2 entries in ALMS, although the driver line-up for its second Oreca has yet to be confirmed. The team is in discussions with several established and emerging drivers as it completes its programme for a season that will unusually take place entirely in Southern Europe.
IMSA partnership extends into ALMS
Fayer, McElrea and Jensen have already established themselves as a competitive combination during the 2026 IMSA campaign, with their season highlighted by victory at the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring. The trio helped United Autosports secure an LMP2 one-two at the Florida endurance classic, giving Fayer his first class victory since returning to racing.
Their continued partnership provides United with an established driver combination as it prepares for an ALMS campaign relocated from its traditional Middle Eastern base because of ongoing regional uncertainty. Rather than starting the winter with three drivers still building their working relationship, the team can carry the experience accumulated throughout IMSA directly into its #23 Oreca.
For Fayer, the programme also extends a relationship with United that will continue into the 2027 IMSA season. The Nuvei founder, chairman and CEO only returned to racing in 2025 after spending time away from competition but has quickly developed his LMP2 experience alongside McElrea and Jensen.
“Extending my partnership with United Autosports was an easy decision,” Fayer said. “I’ve learned a lot racing in IMSA, and now I get to put that experience to work in Europe with a team that knows how to win there. I’m excited to see what we can do together.”
Fayer prepares for first European campaign
The 2026/27 season will mark Fayer’s first racing programme in Europe and his second ALMS campaign. His move into the European-based winter championship comes after a year in which he has gained significant endurance racing experience through United’s IMSA programme.
Sharing the car with the same two drivers should provide valuable continuity as Fayer adapts to Paul Ricard, Jerez and Portimão. The unusual calendar will create a different environment from previous ALMS seasons, with winter conditions in France, Spain and Portugal adding another variable across the three double-header weekends.
The championship retains its familiar six-race structure despite the geographical change, with each venue hosting two four-hour contests. That condensed format places added emphasis on consistency, as a difficult opening race can quickly influence the championship before teams return to action again during the same weekend.
McElrea brings growing LMP2 experience
McElrea will continue alongside Fayer after spending the full 2026 IMSA campaign as his regular co-driver. The IndyCar reserve driver has built an increasingly strong sports car record over the past three seasons, collecting seven podium finishes and five class victories.
His successes include two wins at Indianapolis and two at Road Atlanta, while the Sebring victory alongside Fayer and Jensen added another major endurance result to his résumé. That experience should prove particularly useful in an ALMS field that will again feature significant depth throughout LMP2.
McElrea’s pace also gives United a strong professional reference within the #23 crew as the team targets another championship challenge. His familiarity with Fayer provides additional stability during a campaign in which the pair will need to adapt quickly to three European circuits within the double-header format.
Jensen returns for fifth ALMS campaign
Jensen completes the line-up and brings the most ALMS experience of the three drivers. The McLaren Hypercar Programme driver has previously competed in the championship four times across GT and prototype machinery, giving the #23 crew an experienced reference for the characteristics of the series.
His most recent appearance came during the 2025/26 campaign alongside Grégoire Saucy and Giorgio Roda. Jensen now returns with an established IMSA combination rather than a newly assembled crew, which should help United settle quickly when the season begins at Paul Ricard.
The Dane’s broader prototype experience will also be important as United targets the overall LMP2 championship. With the trio already accustomed to working together in IMSA, the team can concentrate more heavily on adapting its Oreca to the circuits and conditions rather than building a new driver partnership from the beginning.
Dean welcomes continuity from IMSA programme
United Autosports CEO and Team Principal Richard Dean believes retaining the IMSA trio gives the team an important level of continuity heading into the winter.
“Having Phil, Hunter and Mikkel continue with United Autosports into the 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series is fantastic news for the team,” Dean said. “They’ve each made a strong impression during our IMSA programme, both on and off the track, and have become an important part of the United Autosports family.”
Dean expects the established relationship to help United carry its 2026 momentum into ALMS, where the squad will again face a competitive LMP2 field.
“The Asian Le Mans Series is a highly competitive championship and provides a great opportunity for us to continue that momentum together. We’re looking forward to seeing what this trio can achieve and, hopefully, adding more success to what has already been a very positive relationship.”
Second United Autosports ALMS entry still to be confirmed
United will run a second LMP2 alongside the Fayer, McElrea and Jensen entry, but has not yet announced its drivers. The team has attracted interest from several potential candidates and remains in discussions as it finalises the programme ahead of November.
The two-car effort gives United additional opportunities to compete for the LMP2 title while also increasing the amount of information available across practice and qualifying. That could become particularly useful during an unusual ALMS season in which none of the three venues formed part of the championship’s recent Middle Eastern format.
The team’s additional line-up is expected to be confirmed as preparations continue for Paul Ricard, adding another piece to United’s programme before the opening two races.
United enters ALMS after ELMS title challenge
Before turning its full attention towards ALMS, United Autosports still has championship business to complete in the European Le Mans Series. The team heads into the 2026 ELMS finale at Portimão holding a 13-point advantage in the outright LMP2 standings.
Grégoire Saucy, Griffin Peebles and Ben Hanley lead the championship in the #22 Oreca after a consistently strong season, leaving United in the strongest position as all four ELMS titles are decided at Portimão.
Once that campaign concludes, United will face a short turnaround before ALMS begins at Paul Ricard. The opening double-header therefore starts another important winter programme for the team, with Fayer, McElrea and Jensen carrying their established IMSA partnership into a different championship environment.
With one line-up confirmed and another still to follow, United Autosports is building a substantial LMP2 effort for the 2026/27 ALMS season as it targets further success across its expanding prototype programme.
