WAYNE Boyd’s Michelin Le Mans Cup campaign with new team Nielsen Racing and team-mate Tony Wells officially gets underway on Saturday with a 110-minute sprint at Spain’s Circuit de Catalunya.
They make up a 38-strong grid, the look of which will be determined after midday UK time on Saturday when the times from qualifying are rubber stamped ahead of the main race at 4.40pm.
Boyd, from Templepatrick, and Wells from Middlesborough, are proven race winners and both are being strongly tipped to challenge for race victories – and the title – over the six-round campaign.
They will co-drive a Ligier JS P320, with their number seven machine wrapped in a one-off livery created by LA’s Andy Werner that celebrates a decade of the Northants squad racing prototypes.
The 33-year-old says he is acutely aware of how important a strong start is going to be as there is a full complement of Le Mans Prototype 3 cars, including that of reigning champions Team Virage.
Also lining up for another shot at success is last year’s Vice Champions Team Thor who return with an unchanged partnership of Audunn Gudmundsson and the 2021 Drivers’ Champion Colin Noble.
COOL Racing and ANS Motorsport, Rinaldi Racing, MV2S Racing, CD Sport, Bretton Racing, Steller Motorsport, Inter Europol Competition and Irish outfit Murphy Prototypes have also registered.
“We had a really good run during the test this week, it was a good start to the season, explained Boyd.
“It is always nice to meet everyone in the team and it gave us the opportunity to see where we are at.
“We learnt a lot – both inside and outside the car.
“There are a lot of positives we can take into this weekend, and everyone in the team is super professional, so that certainly helps build confidence.”
“As a line-up, to be winning every race, that is what I am aiming for with Tony, especially with the package that we have.
“I don’t see why we should think differently.
“For us, coming away with a podium, that would be a decent start – but we are very much aiming for the top step together.”
Boyd was forced to swap garages over the winter break following the decision by former employer United Autosports to turn its back on LMP3 despite enjoying considerable success.
He first signed for them back in 2016 before enjoying success in the European and Asian Le Mans Series in 2020, and being handed his Le Mans 24 Hours debut the following year.