The LMP3 Cup Championship (previously known as the Prototype Cup ) is a British-based sports car racing endurance series, endorsed by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The championship is designed as an initial step on the ladder to the 24 Hours of Le Mans , as well as providing further opportunities for teams to run the increasingly popular LMP3 specification cars .
14-508: An initial race was held at Snetterton Circuit on 8/9 October 2016, ahead of a 12-race season in 2017, featuring five rounds in the United Kingdom and one at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium . Following the low turn out of cars for the previous seasons, it was decided by Championship Organisers Bute Motorsport that they would shift its focus to its more successful sister championship,
28-510: A value of over €45,000. The prize included an entry in the Road to Le Mans race, which takes place hours before the famous 24-hour race. Scottish pairing Alasdair McCaig and Colin Noble secured the inaugural championship at the season's tenth race, at Snetterton Circuit. The 2018 calendar was revealed on 8 November 2017, with the series visiting the same circuits as before, but in a different order, with
42-793: The British Formula Three Championship for T-Sport and won a race at Donington Park . He started that race outside the Top 10 and in the rain raced his way to the win on slicks. At the Macau GP, Boyd walked away from an incredible crash - surviving after landing upside down and will be remembered as a great escape. He finished 12th in points overall. He was again nominated as BRDC Superstars and British MSA Race Elite Driver. In 2010, financial constraints only allowed him to make two one-off races Hockenheimring for Sino Vision Racing in British F3,
56-654: The VK50VE V8 engines. The championship regulations initially stated that one of the drivers must be of Bronze designation, as specified by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile , though this was changed mid-season to allow Silver/Silver pairings, in an attempt to open up the number of competitors in the series. Each round follows the same format: Saturday: Practice (60 minutes), Qualifying (10 minutes), Race (60 minutes). Sunday: Qualifying (10 minutes), Race (60 minutes). The Bronze-rated driver must qualify
70-576: The Championship points behind Petri Suvanto and Spencer Pigot. In 2012, Boyd raced two event weekends for Belardi Auto Racing at Baltimore and Virginia International Raceway posting a third- and second-place finish at VIR. Early years: Boyd starting karting in September 2001 in the cadet class (Zip kart) finishing in the Top 10 in his first year in the Northern Irish Championship. Contested
84-773: The Five Nations Championship at Nutts Corner finishing 5th. His first championships were in 2004 winning the Ulster Championship at Nutts Corner, the Five Nations Championship (NC Plate Winner). He raced for Maranello in 2005 placing 1st in the Ulster Cup and second in the Northern Ireland Karting Association. In 2006, he stepped up to Intrepid Karts and continued placing 1st and 2nd in Ulster championships. In 2007, Boyd raced Formula Ford 1600 and won
98-465: The GT Cup for 2019. However, it was noted that Bute Motorsport would continue to assess its viability, and would consider bringing it back, should it become viable once more. The championship is open to LMP3 cars which are Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO)-homologated, each carrying an ACO-issued technical passport to ensure all cars meet the correct specifications. Engines are supplied by Nissan , utilising
112-597: The car and start the race, which contains a mandatory pit stop of prescribed length. Points are scored as follows: A one-off race was held at Snetterton Circuit on 8/9 October 2016, to showcase the new Prototype Cup Championship ahead of a full-season in 2017. Eight cars entered the event, which was won by Phil Hanson and Nigel Moore for Tockwith Motorsport. The 2017 season was announced on 4 November 2016, and would take in 12 races at six rounds, including an overseas trip to Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in June. The calendar
126-415: The early pace in qualifying, setting a quick lap around three seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Christian England and Colin Noble followed up for Team West-Tec , 0.8s behind, with Shaun Lynn third for United Autosports . After a brief delay to allow light rain to clear the circuit, Philip Hanson led from pole, from Christian England, who switched to the sister Team West-Tec car after problems with
140-547: The one he and Noble qualified. The lead two cars would remain unchallenged through the race, even after the pit stops, with Jay Palmer and Wayne Boyd 's United Autosports Ligier JS P3 coming home in third. Wayne Boyd Wayne Boyd (born 25 October 1990) is a British racing driver from County Antrim, Northern Ireland . Boyd won the British Formula Ford Championship in 2008 with Jamun Racing . He won 13 out of 25 championship races. Sat on
154-685: The pole for 15 races and was on the podium 20 times out of 25 races. In the same year he won the Formula Ford Festival Duratec class. His dominate performance earned him named as one of British Racing Driver Club Superstars and nominated for the BRDC McLaren Autosport Award. Boyd also won the Walter Hayes Trophy in 2014 and won the Formula Ford Festival for a second time in 2015. In 2009 he raced full-time in
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#1732855157832168-595: The season ending at Silverstone in October. 2016 British LMP3 Cup The 2016 Prototype Cup (later renamed the LMP3 Cup Championship) was the inaugural event for the British LMP3 Cup . The series debuted at Snetterton Circuit on 8/9 October 2016, with a single race to launch the championship, which was won by Tockwith Motorsport's Philip Hanson and Nigel Moore . Philip Hanson and Nigel Moore set
182-574: The second was the F3 Masters event at Zandvoort in which he started 24th on the grid and finished 8th in poor weather conditions. In 2011 Boyd signed to race for Belardi Auto Racing in the U.S. F2000 National Championship in America. The deal came together days before the start of the season. He captured two wins, including one on the oval at the Milwaukee Mile, six podiums in total and finished third in
196-772: Was amended on 7 December 2016 due to the British Grand Prix date changing. On 6 January 2017, it was announced that the Prototype Cup would be renamed the LMP3 Cup Championship after agreement from the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . As part of this agreement, it was also announced that the Driver Champion of the 2017 LMP3 Cup Championship would receive a complimentary entry into the 2018 Michelin Le Mans Cup , with
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