Mark Patterson and Matt Bell will return to United Autosports for the team’s debut in the European Le Mans Series next year. South African-born Patterson and UK-based Bell will race one of the team’s two Ligier JS P3 cars in the six-event series, alongside an as yet unsigned silver-graded driver.

Both drivers have strong sportscar racing pedigree, both with United Autosports and elsewhere. Patterson and Bell drove for the Anglo-American team from 2010-’14, in a range of different cars and driver pairings. Their partnership included numerous podiums and a second place championship finish in the 2013 British GT Championship, in an Audi R8 LMS ultra. Patterson also contested the majority of the team’s overseas races, including the Spa 24 Hours, Gulf 12 Hours, Dubai 24 Hours and Bathurst 12 Hours, while Bell achieved the team’s first ever win at the 2011 British GT round at Snetterton in the Audi.

Patterson is no stranger to prototype racing, having entered the Le Mans 24 Hours three times and entering the European Le Mans Series, too. He also has five years experience racing a Daytona prototype in the Grand Am series. In 2015, he finished fifth in the Le Mans 24 Hours LMP2 class, while Bell continued his British GT campaign in a TF Sport-run Aston Martin, winning the final round at Donington Park.

“Having Mark and Matt back with the team is great news,” said team boss Zak Brown. “They are a great pairing and feel like part of the United family. I can’t wait to see them back within the team. We are determined to sign the very best drivers available for our debut season in ELMS.”

The 2016 ELMS season kicks off at Paul Ricard for the official two-day test on 22-23 March.