James Cottingham is preparing to make his debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship this season. He has signed with United Autosports and will be driving one of their McLaren 720S GT3 EVOs in the LMGT3 class. The 40-year-old racer had a successful campaign in the 2023 British GT Championship, winning three races and finishing on the podium twice with 2 Seas Motorsport, a Mercedes customer team.
Cottingham expressed his excitement about working with McLaren Automotive and United Autosports, both of which have a strong track record at Le Mans. He mentioned that it has been his dream since childhood to race at Le Mans and compete in a world championship. Despite only having two and a half years of experience in modern motorsport, Cottingham is ready for this new challenge. He has participated in various events, including the British GT, Gulf 12 Hours, Spa 24 Hours, and Dubai 24 Hours, and is fully committed to the FIA World Endurance Championship this year.
Richard Dean, the CEO of United Autosports, believes that Cottingham is a valuable addition to their LMGT3 lineup. He has made a name for himself in the British GT series, which is familiar to the United Autosports team. Dean is looking forward to Cottingham’s WEC debut in the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo and is confident in the team’s efforts to ensure a successful first race in Qatar.
Cottingham will be driving the No. 59 McLaren, alongside former F2 driver Gregoire Saucy. The team is expected to announce a third driver soon. Prior to the season, the team will have a final pre-season test at the Dubai Autodrome, where they will share the circuit with Corvette customer team TF Sport.
