The 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans, held 10–11 June at the Circuit de la Sarthe, was the 100th anniversary edition of the race — a milestone that lent every class result an extra layer of historical weight. Among them, the LMP2 runner-up finish for United Autosports' No. 23 entry stands as one of the team's most significant results, delivered by a carefully balanced Pro-Am crew against the full factory-backed LMP2 field.
The Oreca 07 Gibson: the Benchmark LMP2 Prototype
Introduced in 2017 to comply with the ACO and FIA's revised LMP2 technical regulations, the Oreca 07 rapidly became — and remained through 2023 — the dominant chassis in the class. Its power unit, the Gibson GK428, is a 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 producing around 420 bhp and is the sole homologated LMP2 engine under ACO regulations from 2017 onwards. The combination of a stiff carbon structure, precise aerodynamics and a single-make powertrain levelled the grid and raised the competitive standard across every LMP2 round worldwide.
LMP2 Class Runner-Up at the 100th Anniversary Le Mans
United Autosports, the Leeds-based team co-owned by Zak Brown and Richard Dean, entered No. 23 with a dark navy and yellow livery that had become one of the most recognisable in prototype racing. The crew brought together Oliver Jarvis — a driver whose CV spans LMP1 and DPi campaigns with multiple Le Mans starts — Tom Blomqvist, and Bronze-rated American Jackie Pierson, whose inclusion reflected the Pro-Am structure central to LMP2 regulations. Together they delivered a clean, measured run over 24 hours to finish second in the LMP2 class at the centenary edition of the world's most storied endurance race.
Spark Model's 1:43 Resin Rendition
This 1:43 scale model is produced by Spark Model, whose range of resin prototypes at this scale is the reference standard for endurance racing miniatures among serious collectors. Spark's 1:43 models are built with resin bodywork complemented by photo-etched and metal detail parts, and the livery is rendered through high-resolution tampo printing — the process that accurately reproduces the multi-layer sponsor graphics and team colour schemes essential on cars like the United Autosports entry. The result is a precise documentary record of the No. 23 car as it ran at Le Mans on 10–11 June 2023.
In the Display Cabinet
This model fits naturally into a broader Le Mans 2023 collection: Spark Model's S8700 series covers the full field from that centenary race, making it straightforward to build a complete LMP2 class set or a dedicated United Autosports shelf. It also pairs well with earlier LMP2 class winners from the Le Mans 2019–2023 period, or alongside other Oreca 07 Gibson entries from the FIA WEC season. For collectors focused on Oliver Jarvis or on the Pro-Am LMP2 era, No. 23 is the representative piece from the most historically charged edition of the race in a generation.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Who drove the No. 23 United Autosports Oreca 07 Gibson at Le Mans 2023?
Tom Blomqvist, Oliver Jarvis and Jackie Pierson shared the No. 23 entry. Jarvis is a veteran of multiple Le Mans campaigns including LMP1 outings; Pierson held a Bronze FIA driver rating, reflecting the Pro-Am regulations governing LMP2.
What result did the No. 23 car achieve at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans?
The No. 23 United Autosports Oreca 07 Gibson finished second in the LMP2 class at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 100th anniversary edition of the race held on 10–11 June 2023.
What engine does the Oreca 07 use?
The Oreca 07 is powered by the Gibson GK428, a 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 producing around 420 bhp. It has been the sole homologated LMP2 power unit under ACO regulations since 2017.
Who makes this scale model and what material is it made from?
The model is made by Spark Model at 1:43 scale. Spark builds its prototype models in resin, with photo-etched and metal detail parts and tampo-printed liveries.
