IMSA champions link up in United WEC squad
IMSA Sportscar Championship title winners Tom Blomqvist and Oliver Jarvis will continue their partnership in the World Endurance Championship next year. The Meyer Shank Racing Acura (right) team-mates this season will join forces in one of United Autosports’ LMP2 ORECAS in 2023.
Blomqvist comes into the line-up of the #23 United ORECA-GIBSON 07 alongside Jarvis and 16-year-old American Josh Pierson in place of Alex Lynn, who will be racing for the Ganassi Cadillac squad in the WEC. The deal brings the 28-year-old Brit back to the WEC a year on from his second-place finish in the P2 points with Jota.
“United Autosports have proven themselves as one of the top teams in the world of endurance racing and I’m thrilled to be working with all of the team,” said Blomqvist. “I had a successful year with Olly, winning the IMSA championship together, so teaming up with him and Josh makes for a really exciting line-up! It’s great to be back in the WEC paddock, returning to the Le Mans 24 Hours and in the ultra-competitive LMP2 category.”
Jarvis described Blomqvist as “a great addition” to the team and that it will be “great to continue with him in WEC”.
Team boss Richard Dean added: “We are delighted to welcome Tom to our team for WEC 2023, and to have Olly stay with us for a second season cements a super-strong line-up alongside Josh for next year.”
Blomqvist will dovetail his WEC campaign with remaining at Shank for next year. This means he is set to miss the Algarve round, which clashes with the Long Beach IMSA weekend. Jarvis has yet to be confirmed with the American team for 2023.
Long-term team-mates and 2019-20
WEC P2 title winners Filipe Albuquerque and Phil Hanson will drive United’s second ORECA P2 car in the 2023
WEC. The team has yet to name the third driver for the line-up.