From Open-Wheel to Prototypes: Sting Ray Robb Crosses Over to United Autosports for Asian Le Mans Series Debut

By Motorsport News Desk
Published November 2024

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Main Facts: A High-Profile Pivot to Endurance Racing

After four seasons of cutting his teeth in the hyper-competitive waters of the NTT IndyCar Series, American driver Sting Ray Robb is officially making the switch to sports car racing. The 25-year-old open-wheel stalwart has signed with championship-winning powerhouse United Autosports to make his long-awaited sports car racing debut this winter.

Robb’s new venture will see him contest the upcoming Asian Le Mans Series, where he will pilot the #22 ORECA 07 Gibson LMP2 prototype. He will share driving duties with a formidable and well-balanced driver lineup: rising star Ian Aguilera and series veteran Giorgio Roda.

Co-owned by motorsport entrepreneur Zak Brown and racing veteran Richard Dean, United Autosports enters the campaign with a target on its back. The Anglo-American squad is eager to reclaim the glory that saw them crowned series champions during the 2018–19 season. However, logistics dictate a unique path for the upcoming championship: due to ongoing geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, the entire three-event calendar will be held on European circuits, kicking off at the historic Circuit Paul Ricard on November 14–15.

Robb’s move follows a thorough evaluation of his motorsport career path after securing two top-10 finishes during his tenure in IndyCar. Though he initially explored various opportunities within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the 2027 season, the alliance with United Autosports provides an immediate international LMP2 trajectory. It also opens the door for potential multi-series expansions within the broader United Autosports stable.

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Chronology: The Journey from Open-Wheel Stardom to Sports Car Paddock

To understand the weight of Sting Ray Robb’s transition, one must look back at the trajectory that brought him to the doorstep of international endurance racing.

• The Junior Formula Years: Rising through the junior formulae in the United States, Robb established himself as a gritty competitor. His journey culminated in a stellar 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires campaign, where he secured the title and stamped his passport to the upper echelons of American single-seater racing.
• The IndyCar Era (2021–2024): Robb spent four seasons navigating the grueling, high-speed ovals, temporary street circuits, and permanent road courses of the IndyCar Series. While competing against some of the best drivers in the world, he accumulated invaluable racecraft experience, highlighted by a pair of top-10 finishes.
• Post-IndyCar Evaluation (Late 2024): As the 2024 IndyCar season concluded, Robb evaluated his future in professional motorsport. While initial talks gravitated toward domestic endurance opportunities in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for 2027, the global appeal and high-level competition of the European-hosted Asian Le Mans Series presented a more immediate, dynamic challenge.
• The United Autosports Agreement (Winter 2024): Finalizing terms with Zak Brown and Richard Dean’s organization, Robb committed to the #22 ORECA 07 Gibson program.
• Upcoming Winter Campaign (November 2024 – Onward): The trio of Robb, Aguilera, and Roda will hit the tarmac for the season opener at Circuit Paul Ricard on November 14–15, marking Robb’s official baptism into multi-class sports car racing.

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Supporting Data: Inside the #22 United Autosports Lineup

Success in prototype endurance racing rarely rests on the shoulders of a single individual. United Autosports has curated a meticulous blend of youthful exuberance, single-seater pedigree, and seasoned sports car mastery for the #22 ORECA 07 Gibson.

The #22 Crew Breakdown:

• Sting Ray Robb (USA): Brings four seasons of premier open-wheel racing experience. Known for his adaptability, Robb must quickly master closed-cockpit aerodynamics, traffic management, and fuel-saving strategies inherent to prototype racing.
• Ian Aguilera (Mexico/International): A rising star who arrives fresh off a compelling European Le Mans Series (ELMS) campaign with CLX Motorsport. Aguilera finished ninth in the ELMS points standings and made waves earlier this year as part of the youngest-ever driver lineup to start the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. His recent LMP2 mileage will serve as a vital anchor for the team.
• Giorgio Roda (Italy): A known commodity within the United Autosports ecosystem. Roda brings stability, institutional knowledge, and profound sports car savvy, having driven near the front of the ELMS LMP2 Pro-Am class and previously piloting a United machine in last season’s Asian series.

Team Context and Sister Entry

United Autosports is running a formidable multi-car operation for the winter series. The #22 car will share team hospitality and data streams with a previously confirmed sister entry—a powerhouse lineup featuring endurance stalwart Mikkel Jensen, rising open-wheel convert Hunter McElrea, and amateur racer Phil Fayer.

Furthermore, the championship’s structural pivot to European venues removes the logistical hurdles of Middle Eastern travel, allowing teams to optimize vehicle setups rapidly across familiar circuits like Circuit Paul Ricard.

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Official Responses: What the Principals Are Saying

The announcement has generated significant buzz across the paddock, with both the driver and team management expressing high expectations for the upcoming winter campaign.

Sting Ray Robb Speaks on the New Challenge:

"I’m incredibly excited to be joining United Autosports for the Asian Le Mans Series," Robb stated. "After four seasons competing in IndyCar, I’ve had the opportunity to race against some of the best drivers in the world, and I’m excited to bring that experience into a completely new challenge."

Elaborating on what drew him to the Anglo-American squad, Robb highlighted the team’s winning culture:

"One of the biggest things that attracted me to United was the winning culture they’ve built. This is an organization that knows how to compete for victories and championships, and that’s exactly the kind of environment I want to be in. Endurance racing brings a different set of challenges, but the goal is the same: to fight at the front and win races.

"I’m looking forward to working with Giorgio, Ian, and the entire United Autosports team. We all bring different experiences to the car, and I think that’s going to be one of our strengths. I’m excited to get to work, contribute to the team’s success, and hopefully add a few more trophies to the collection!"

Richard Dean Welcomes the Cross-Discipline Talent:

United Autosports CEO Richard Dean underscored the value of blending different racing backgrounds into a single prototype package:

"It’s always exciting to see drivers from different disciplines stepping into endurance racing, and we’re looking forward to supporting them through this transition," Dean remarked.

"Giorgio showed exceptional pace with us last season and knows exactly what it takes to be competitive in this championship, while Ian is a promising young talent who has already gained valuable experience in LMP2 and at Le Mans, not to mention the experience that Sting Ray will bring from IndyCar. It’s a really exciting combination of drivers, and we have every intention of fighting for race wins and the championship."

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Implications: What This Means for Robb and United Autosports

Sting Ray Robb’s transition from IndyCar to prototype sports car racing carries significant implications for his professional career and the broader motorsport landscape.

1. Diversification of Driver Profiles: In modern motorsport, the rigid divide between open-wheel specialists and sports car racers is rapidly dissolving. Drivers like Robb realize that adding LMP2 prototype experience to their resume makes them infinitely more marketable in a global racing ecosystem dominated by the booming World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA.
2. A Stepping Stone to WEC and Le Mans: While the Asian Le Mans Series serves as a compact winter championship, success in a United Autosports ORECA 07 Gibson is often viewed by manufacturers and team principals as a direct audition for plum seats in the premier Hypercar or full-season LMP2/LMGT3 classes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
3. United Autosports’ Championship Ambitions: For United, fielding a lineup that marries Roda’s familiarity, Aguilera’s fresh LMP2 data, and Robb’s raw open-wheel speed signals an uncompromising approach to the winter title chase. Zak Brown’s organization has built its reputation on meticulous preparation and executing race-winning strategies; adding a driver eager to prove himself on the international stage only strengthens their arsenal.

As the transporter doors open at Circuit Paul Ricard on November 14, all eyes will be on the #22 ORECA. For Sting Ray Robb, the deserts of the Middle East may have been replaced by the technical sweepers of European road courses, but the destination remains unchanged: the top step of the podium.