Boyd gets 2019 off to a flier with Thailand win
IT was the perfect start to 2019 for Wayne Boyd. Pole position, fastest lap and LMP3 victory in the third round of the Asian Le Mans prototype sportscar series in Thailand.
And there was success, too, for fellow Ulsterman Charlie Eastwood who led the Duel Motorsport team to a class win in the Dubai 24 Hour race.
Boyd played a starring role as his Anglo American United Autosports team swept the board at Buriram in Thailand. They won the four-hour race with Phil Hanson and Paul di Resta at the wheel of their LMP2 Ligier and Boyd combined with Chris Buncombe and Garrett Grist to take a first LMP3 victory.
After two earlier second places, Hanson and Di Resta lead the series going into the final round in Malaysia next month. The trio of Boyd, Buncombe and Grist are up to third in LMP3 after a disappointing fifth place in round two in Japan.
Boyd was fastest in qualifying and, driving the middle stint, he took over in second place but swept into the lead, setting fastest lap and building a 65 second gap before Buncombe took over.
They had a late scare when Buncombe incurred a drivethrough penalty for exceeding track limits but they still won comfortably.
“I’m over the moon with the win and much needed points to get our championship chances on track,” said Boyd. “And it was great to claim the additional point for pole position.
“It was a great event for me personally. Couldn’t get much better really!”
Meanwhile Eastwood played the anchor role alongside the three British-based Emirati Moutran brothers in the 24-hour Dubai race, helping to steer the Duel Racing team to victory in the Porsche Cup category.
Eastwood has been competing in the World Endurance Championship but this was his first success in a 24 hour race.