Turvey’s Porsche LMP1 test call-up came "out of the blue"

The 28-year old, who serves as test and development driver for McLaren's Formula 1 squad, will drive at the two-day test on 10-11 November, along with Kevin Magnussen and Mitch Evans.

“To get the opportunity to test is hard and the contact came completely out of the blue when they approached me to go over to meet them at their base,” Turvey told Motorsport.com.

“Since I started in sportscars in 2013 it has been an aim to get in an LMP1 car and have a chance to show what I can do. I am just concentrating on the test to ensure I make the most of it. The rest we will have to wait and see.”

Turvey will drive one of the Porsche 919 Hybrid LMP1 cars which have won four of the six FIA WEC rounds so far this season, including the marque's first Le Mans victory since 1998.

“It will be phenomenal to test the Le Mans-winning car and one that is obviously the leading car this season,” expressed Turvey. “I’ve been mainly racing in LMP2 and Super GT over the last few years and I think this has given me a good base to make the most of any opportunity.

“I feel each year I have raced at Le Mans [2013-15] I have improved as a driver," he continued. “You pick up little things each time you drive there, especially dealing with the traffic. I’ve learnt a lot there and I think that is a big benefit if an opportunity comes to step-up to LMP1.”

Turvey has a hectic schedule over the coming weeks. The British driver has travelled from the Beijing Formula E race last weekend to the Autopolis Super GT round this weekend. He then heads to Putrajaya for another Formula E encounter before travelling back to Europe for the Porsche test, only to return to Japan to race in the Super GT finale at Motegi the weekend after.

McLaren supportive of LMP1 ambitions

Turvey’s LMP1 test with Porsche has been backed by McLaren Racing Director Eric Boullier who is known to highly rate the Briton.

“I have been at McLaren for six years now and I have a great relationship with them,” said Turvey. “The work I do on the simulator and as a test driver is flexible around my racing activities.

"Eric has been very supportive of me racing and I spoke with him specifically about LMP1 earlier this year so he was aware it was something I want to try and break in to. He was fine and supportive of me doing the test.”

Turvey will be joined at the test by Magnussen and Evans, two drivers he knows well from McLaren and JOTA respectively.

“I obviously know both Kevin and Mitch well as I have worked with them over the last two years,” said Turvey. “It will be good to have some familiar faces around when we do the test. I get on very well with both of them. I think it will be a very interesting test.”

Turvey, who won the LMP2 class with JOTA Sport at Le Mans in 2014 along with Harry Tincknell and Simon Dolan, also finished second this season.

No driver has ever won in both prototype classes at Le Mans.