Boyd revved up for glory bid after switch to Le Mans Cup

WAYNE Boyd is staying with the United Autosports team for a third season but will move to the Michelin Le Mans Cup series.

The former British Formula Ford champion has driven for the Anglo-American team in the European Le Mans championship for the past two years, piloting an LMP3 Ligier-Nissan to several podium finishes and victory at Portimao in Portugal at the end of last season.

But now he will switch to the Le Mans Cup which runs alongside the ELMS championship and will partner experienced amateur racer Richard Meins for the six round series which features LMP3 and GT3 cars.

Boyd will continue to drive a prototype LMP3 Ligier and sees the move to the Le Mans Cup as having benefits.

“I followed the Le Mans Cup races closely last year and although it’s a really competitive series I’m confident we will be pushing for the championship,” he said.

“I get on really well with Richard and he’s a great driver so I’m looking forward to working with him.

“One of the benefits of the move is we will be challenging for outright race wins and won’t have to be looking over our shoulders for the faster LMP2 cars like in the ELMS races.

“There will also be the opportunity to drive at Le Mans, not in the main 24-hour race but in the build-up event on the Saturday morning. Maybe I’ll get the chance to drive in the big race sometime in the future.”

The Cup races last two hours and will take place at Monza (Italy), Red Bull Ring (Austria), Le Castellet (France), Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) and Portimao (Portugal).

Meanwhile Boyd’s fellow Ulsterman Richard Lyons will continue with his long distance commute from Lisburn to the Far East to race in the Super GT championship in Japan.

The former Formula Nippon and Japanese GT500 champion is staying with the Hitostsuyama team for a fourth season driving a GT300 Audi R8 but will have a new partner, Ryuichiro Tomit.