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Turvey misses out on United Autosports ELMS seat

The European Le Mans Series seat with United Autosports earmarked for Formula E driver Oliver Turvey has been taken by fellow Briton Wayne Boyd. 

Oliver Turvey, NIO Formula E Team

Oliver Turvey, NIO Formula E Team

Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

Oliver Turvey, NIO Formula E Team
#32 United Autosports Ligier LMP2, P: Phil Hanson, Alex Brundle, Paul di Resta
Oliver Turvey, NIO Formula E Team
#3 United Autosports, Ligier JS P3 - Nissan: Mark Patterson, Wayne Boyd, Christian England
Press Conference: #3 United Autosports, Ligier JS P3 - Nissan:Wayne Boyd
#32 United Autosports Ligier LMP2, P: Phil Hanson, Alex Brundle, Paul di Resta

Scheduling commitments with his FE campaign with NIO and his test and simulator role with the McLaren Formula 1 team meant Turvey had to rule himself out of the drive in one of the team's LMP2 Ligier JS P217s.

The winner of the LMP2 class at the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours emerged as a candidate for the seat when United gave him a try-out aboard a JS P217 at Aragon earlier this month. 

Boyd, 27, has now been given the seat alongside Hugo de Sadeleer and Will Owen after two seasons driving LMP3 machinery for United. 

United team co-owner Richard Dean told Motorsport.com: "When we looked closely at the schedules there were too many clashes with Oliver's commitments in FE and with McLaren." 

Dean said that sometime British Formula 3 driver Boyd had put himself in line for promotion to the LMP2 squad with his performances in LMP3. 

"Every time we have put him in the car for qualifying, he has delivered," said Dean of Boyd, who finished third in the ELMS LMP3 standings in 2017. 

"Hugo came in last year from Formula Renault and was very impressive, but it's less of a jump for Wayne coming from LMP3 and because he knows the team, the circuits and the ELMS weekend."

Teaming Boyd with de Sadeleer and Owen will give United a driver line-up comprised entirely of silver-rated drivers. 

Dean explained that this would offer the team more strategic flexibility, because it will not be governed by the driving time regulations that affect line-ups with platinum and gold-rated drivers. 

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