Philip Hanson (racing driver)

Philip Hanson (born 5 July 1999) is a British racing driver who currently competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series with United Autosports. He started his racing career when he won the Whilton Mill Club Championship in 2014, and has since gone on to claim the Super One British X30 Junior Karting Championship, the 2016–17 Asian Le Mans Series LMP3 Title, Dunlop Endurance Championship in 2016 (alongside an event win at the British LMP3 Cup), before becoming the youngest ever top-10 finisher at the famous Le Mans 24 Hour race (9th in LMP2 class). Phil secured a drive with United Autosports for the 2018 season, with his first competitive race at the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona alongside two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso, and current McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris. He won the 2018–19 Asian Le Mans Series title outright with Paul di Resta in an LMP2 Ligier entered by United Autosports, setting the standard as the youngest-ever overall champion in the series.

Philip Hanson
Hanson in 2020
Nationality British
Born (1999-07-05) 5 July 1999
Sunningdale, Berkshire, United Kingdom
European Le Mans Series, Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, North American Endurance Cup, Le Mans 24 Hours career
Debut season2014
Current teamUnited Autosports
Car number22
Former teamsTockwith Motorsports
Wins18
Podiums29
Poles4
Best finish1 in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020
Previous series
2019-20
2019
2018-19
2018
2017
2016-17
2016
FIA WEC LMP2
European Le Mans Series
Asian Le Mans Series
European Le Mans Series
European Le Mans Series
Asian Le Mans Series
Dunlop Endurance Championship
Championship titles
2019-20

2020
2018-19
2016-17
2016
FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Drivers
European Le Mans Series
Asian LMS
Asian LMS LMP3
Britcar Endurance Championship

In September 2020 Phil followed this with victory in the LMP2 class in the delayed Le Mans 24 Hours,[1] thereby securing the LMP2 title with a race in hand. By doing so, he became the first driver to win the FIA World Endurance Championship (LMP2), European Le Mans Series and the Le Mans 24 Hours (LMP2) all in the same year.[2] He is also the youngest driver ever to win a WEC title and the youngest British driver to win LMP2 at Le Mans.[3]

Racing career

Born in Sunningdale, Berkshire,[4] Phil Hanson won his first championship at the age of 15, winning the Whilton Mill Club Championship with the BKC Racing team.

Subsequently, he went on to win the Super One British X30 Junior Karting Championship, again with BKC Racing, in 2015, registering multiple wins and podium positions.

2016 saw Phil, aged 17 at the time, race in his inaugural endurance racing season, joining the Tockwith Motorsports team for the Asian Le Mans Series. Alongside driver Nigel Moore, the pair were the only consistent two-driver crew of the season, resulting in the duo claiming the Driver’s Championship in the LMP3 class, driving in the #26 Ligier JSP3.[5]

Again teaming up for the Dunlop Endurance Championship, Phil and Nigel clinched the title in the final stage at Brands Hatch, with a second place finish enough to win the Championship although tied on 170 points with Jacob Mathiassen and Steve Fresle but clinching it due to their amount of class victories.[6]

Phil capped off his 2016 season with a win in a British LMP3 Cup event at Snetterton, the first event of its kind in the UK.[7] Hanson and Moore combined to achieve a pole position, which was converted into the win for Tockwith Motosport.

In June 2017, Phil become the youngest overall finisher in his Le Mans 24 Hour debut, finishing 9th in the LMP2 class and 11th overall in the twice-around-the-clock race. Phil was partnered by Nigel Moore and Karun Chandhok, racing a Ligier-Gibson JSP217.[8]

Phil’s 2017 schedule continued with 3 appearances in the FIA World Endurance Championship races: Spa; Le Mans and the Nürburgring, plus 3 more races in the European Le Mans Series at: Silverstone; Monza and Red Bull Ring.[9]

Phil Hanson and co-driver Filipe Albuquerque raced the United Autosports Ligier JSP217 to victory in Round 5 of the ELMS at Spa Francorchamps, 23 September 2018

In October 2017, Phil joined the United Autosports team for the 2018 season[10] and finished 5th in the final European Le Mans Series standings, having achieved three podiums, including wins at Spa and Portimão, in the six-race series. He also contested three of the four Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup races. Having raced with Fernando Alonso and Lando Norris in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship opener at Daytona,[11] Phil had ex-F1 drivers Paul Di Resta and Bruno Senna as his co-drivers in United's Ligier at Watkins Glen [12] having co-driven with Di Resta and Alex Brundle at Sebring.[13] Unfortunately, the Ligier that Phil Hanson was sharing with Albuquerque at Le Mans crashed while in the hands of Di Resta.[14]

Phil was the youngest Asian LMS champion, having been just 17 years of age when he won the LMP3 title in 2016-17 [15] as well as being the youngest driver yet to record an overall victory in the European Le Mans Series, having won the 4 Hours of Spa in September 2018 with Filipe Albuquerque.[16] He and Albuquerque went on to win the final race of the season, the Four Hours of Portimão on 28 October, and so finished 5th in the 2018 LMP2 ELMS Drivers' Trophy standings and establishing Hanson as the youngest-ever outright winner of an ELMS race.[17]

Hanson raced a United Autosports entered Ligier JS P2 with Paul Di Resta in the 2018-19 Asian Le Mans Series.[18] A 100% podium finishing record in the four-race series (1st Buriram, 2nd Shanghai, Fuji & Sepang), earned the British duo the overall title by 11-points.[19]

Phil graduated from BRDC Rising Star status to a BRDC SuperStar in February 2019,[20] and finished fourth in the 2019 ELMS driving with Filipe Albuquerque [21] for United Autosports. For the first three rounds, Phil and Filipe raced a Ligier JSP217 but switched to an Oreca 07 for the final three races, scoring a win and second place.

In 2020 Phil has contested the FIA World Endurance Championship [22] co-driving alongside Filipe Albuquerque and Paul di Resta, claiming victories at Bahrain, Austin, Spa-Francorchamps and Le Mans. Taking the win at Le Mans was also sufficient to secure the LMP2 title, making Hanson the youngest-ever WEC Champion.[23] He will continue with United Autosports throughout the remainder of 2020, once again partnered by Albuquerque, in the European Le Mans Series. With three podiums already secured, including wins at Le Castellet and Spa-Francorchamps, the pair already leads the series.

Racing record

Complete Britcar results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position in class – 1 point awarded just in first race; races in italics indicate fastest lap in class – 1 point awarded all races;-

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DC CP Points
2016 Tockwith Motorsport Audi R8 LMS 1 SILGP
1
SNE
12
DON
1
THR
1
CRO
1
SILINT
1
OUL
11
BRH
2
1st 1st 170

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2017 Tockwith Motorsports Nigel Moore
Karun Chandhok
Ligier JS P217-Gibson LMP2 351 11th 9th
2018 United Autosports Paul di Resta
Filipe Albuquerque
Ligier JS P217-Gibson LMP2 288 DNF DNF
2019 United Autosports Paul di Resta
Filipe Albuquerque
Ligier JS P217-Gibson LMP2 365 9th 4th
2020 United Autosports Paul di Resta
Filipe Albuquerque
Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 370 5th 1st

Complete Asian Le Mans Series results

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 Rank Points
2016-2017 Tockwith Motorsports LMP3 Ligier JS P3 Nissan VK50 5.0 L V8 ZIC
2
FUJ
1
CIC
1
SEP
1
1st 77
2018-2019 United Autosports LMP2 Ligier JS P2 Nissan VK45 4.5 L V8 SHA
2
FUJ
2
CIC
1
SEP
2
1st 80

Complete European Le Mans Series results

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rank Points
2016 Tockwith Motorsports LMP3 Ligier JS P3 Nissan VK50VE 5.0 L V8 SIL IMO RBR LEC
6
SPA
12
EST 21st 9.5
2017 Tockwith Motorsports LMP2 Ligier JS P217 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 SIL
5
MNZ
11
RBR
9
LEC SPA ALG 16th 12.5
2018 United Autosports LMP2 Ligier JS P217 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 LEC
12
MNZ
10
RBR
3
SIL
Ret
SPA
1‡
ALG
1
5th 54
2019 United Autosports LMP2 Ligier JS P217 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 LEC
6
MNZ
4
CAT
7
SIL
Ret
SPA
1
ALG
2
4th 71
2020 United Autosports LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 LEC
3
SPA
1
LEC
1
MNZ
1
ALG
3
1st 109

Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.

Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rank Points
2018 United Autosports P Ligier JS P217 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 DAY
13
SEB
5
LBH MDO DET WGL
5
MOS ELK LGA PET 28th 72

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

Year Entrant Class Car Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rank Points
2019–20 United Autosports LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 SIL
Ret
FUJ
3
SHA
3
BHR
1
COA
1
SPA
1
LMS
1
BHR
4
1st 190

References

  1. Jamie Klein (2020-09-21). "HHanson feared United Autosports had "thrown away" Le Mans 24 Hours LMP2 win". www.autosport.com. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  2. "Hanson aiming for historic Triple Crown in Sportscar Racing". www.sportscarracingnews.com. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  3. Graham Goodwin (2020-09-15). "2020 Le Mans Tales: Phil Hanson". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  4. "5 minutes with Le Mans winner Phil Hanson". www.berksandbuckslife.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
  5. "Celebrating the Champions of the 2016-2017 Season | Asian Le Mans Series". www.asianlemansseries.com. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  6. "Phil Hanson and Nigel Moore take title in Great Britain". Audi MediaCenter. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  7. "British Prototype Cup: Tockwith Wins Inaugural Meeting At Snetterton – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  8. "Teenager makes racing history in Le Mans". Bracknell News. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  9. "Philip Hanson - FIA World Endurance Championship". www.fiawec.com (in French). Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  10. www.unitedautosports.com, United Autosports -. "PHIL HANSON SIGNS FOR UNITED AUTOSPORTS IN 2018". United Autosports. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  11. "Alonso Confirmed For Rolex 24 With United Alongside Norris and Hanson". Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  12. "Phil Hanson: "Looking For A Win". Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  13. "Phil Hanson Talks Daytona, Sebring & His Upcoming ELMS Campaign". Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  14. Jamie Klien (2018-06-17). "Paul di Resta apologises for massive crash on Le Mans debut". Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  15. "Celebrating the Champions of the 2016-2017 Season". Asian Le Mans Series. 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
  16. "Phil Hanson's Spa reflexions". European Le Mans Series. 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
  17. Stephen Kilbey (2018-10-28). "United Wins, Titles Decided In 4H Portimao Thriller". DailySportscar. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
  18. Graham Goodwin (2018-10-16). "Hanson & di Resta Confirmed by United Autosports For 2018/19 Asian LMS". DailySportscar. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
  19. Rachit Thukral (2019-02-24). "Di Resta, Hanson seal Asian Le Mans title at Sepang". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  20. BRDC. "Six of the Best as BRDC Superstars Announces Class of 2019". British Racing Drivers Club. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  21. Graham Goodwin (2019-01-09). "United Autosports Confirms 2019/20 FIA WEC LMP2 Effort". DailySportscar. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  22. RNW Staff (2019-11-22). "Phil Hanson and Filipe Albuquerque return to United Autosports for 2020 European Le Mans Series". Racing News Worldwide. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
  23. "Hanson aiming for historic "Triple Crown" in Sportscar Racing". www.racingnewsworldwide.com. Retrieved 2020-10-05.


Sporting positions
Preceded by
David Mason
Calum Lockie
Britcar Endurance
Champion

2016
With: Nigel Moore
Succeeded by
Witt Gamski
Ross Wylie
Preceded by
Ho-Pin Tung
David Cheng
Asian Le Mans Series
LMP3 Champion

2016–17
With: Nigel Moore
Succeeded by
Guy Cosmo
Patrick Byrne
Preceded by
Harrison Newey
Stéphane Richelmi
Thomas Laurent
Asian Le Mans Series
LMP2 Champion

2018–19
With: Paul di Resta
Succeeded by
James French
Roman Rusinov
Léonard Hoogenboom
Preceded by
Memo Rojas
Paul-Loup Chatin
European Le Mans Series
LMP2 Champion

2020
With: Filipe Albuquerque
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Nicolas Lapierre
André Negrão
Pierre Thiriet
FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Drivers
2019-20
With: Filipe Albuquerque
Succeeded by
Incumbent
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