Wayne Boyd drove to round four of the European Le Mans Series at Monza this weekend, buoyed by the news that he will make his debut in the big race himself in August.
The European and Asian LMP3 champion from Templepatrick will be part of a nine-person United Autosports driver team for the 24-hour endurance classic at Le Mans from August 20th to 21st.
He will share an LMP2 Oreca with ex Scottish F1 driver Paul di Resta and Englishman Alex Lynn. Two more United LMP2 Orecas are driven by the World Endurance Championship trio Phil Hanson, Filipe Albuquerque and Fabio Scherer as well as Nico Jamin, Jonathan Aberdein and Manuel Maldonado.
Boyd, who has won two LMP3 championships and eight races, has 12 pole positions and 27 podiums, drove an LMP2 Oreca in the IMSA Sports Car Championship in America this season, scored two podiums and responded at the last minute call, joining Hanson and Albuquerque in the WEC round in Portugal when Scherer tested positive for Covid and helped them finish third.
Richard Dean, who co-owns the Anglo American United Team with McLaren F1 boss Zak Brown, said: “Wayne really deserves to make his Le Mans 24 Hours debut this year. He’s a real talent and one of United’s most successful and adaptable drivers since we started with sports cars.
“The fact that Wayne stayed with the team for so long – he joined in 2016” – meant that it was an easy decision for us to make. I know the entire team is delighted that he gets this chance and we have complete confidence in him to deliver on the biggest stage. “
The busy Boyd is back in action this weekend, shares an LMP3 league with Edouard Cauhaupe and Rob Wheldon in the four-hour race in Monza and will take part in the Michelin Le Mans Cup alongside the American John Schauerman. Charlie Eastwood also drives in Monza with Salih Yuloc and the American Logan Sargeant in Racing Team Turkey LMP2 Oreca.
Although he has never competed in the big Le Mans race, Boyd has some experience of the Le Sarthe circuit and says that it is one of his favorite circuits.
“I’ve driven a fair amount on the track at the Le Mans Cup in the last two years,” he said. “We were on pole position with seven tenths in the LMP3 last year, so I’m confident that I’ll be up to speed quickly.
“I’m incredibly excited to be making my Le Mans debut with such a mega-line-up as Paul di Resta and Alex Lynn. And a huge thank you to Zak, Richard and United for giving me such an opportunity. “
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