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Ricky Taylor
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Ricky Scott Taylor (born August 3, 1989) is an American professional racing driver, most notably in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. His career highlights include an IMSA Series Championship in 2017, as well as marquee wins at the Daytona 24, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans.
Key Information
In 2017, he, along with his brother Jordan, won the 2017 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the Prototype class with five wins[1].
In 2018, Taylor left his father's team, Wayne Taylor Racing, to join the new Acura Team Penske Prototype squad in 2018 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, partnering with Hélio Castroneves for the full season. In 2020 he and codriver Castroneves won the 2020 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. He returned to his father's team in 2021.
Taylor was also runner-up in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class in 2010 and 2011. Within that category, he earned seven wins and 20 podiums. He was also second in the 2014 24 Hours of Daytona and fifth in 2008, 2011, and 2013.
Early years
[edit]Taylor's father, Wayne, was a driver in the IMSA GT Championship in the 1990s, so Ricky and brother Jordan grew up in Florida. After competing in karting, Ricky was series champion of single seaters' school Skip Barber Southern in 2006 and runner-up of Skip Barber National in 2007.

In 2008, Taylor debuted in the 24 Hours of Daytona for the Grand-Am series with a Riley-Pontiac in the Daytona Prototype class for Wayne Taylor Racing, resulting fifth with Max Angelelli, Michael Valiante, and his father Wayne Taylor. Months later, contested the Virginia round with the Beyer team, accompanied by Andy Wallace and Jared Beyer. Later, Taylor joined Doran's team to participate in the final six races of the season with a Dallara-Ford, earning a fifth-place finish with Burt Frisselle.
Taylor became a regular driver for Beyer in the 2009 season of the Grand-Am series, using first a Riley-Pontiac and then a Riley-Chevrolet. He earned a fourth, an eighth, and a ninth-place finish in the last three races to finish 18th in the drivers' championship in the Daytona Prototype class.

WTR and Spirit of Daytona
[edit]Wayne Taylor hired Ricky to contest the 2010 Rolex Sports Car Series with a Dallara-Ford. Accompanied by Max Angelelli, he captured one win and seven podiums and sixth place in the 24 Hours of Daytona. He finished second in the drivers' championships and teams in the DP class, behind Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas and his nine victories.
In the 2011 Rolex Sports Car Series season, Taylor was behind the wheel of a Dallara-Chevrolet. He scored three victories (one of them in the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen) and eight podium finishes, and a fifth place in the 24 Hours of Daytona. As a result, he finished as runner-up in the DP class behind Pruett and Rojas again.
Adopting new Chevrolet Corvette DP in 2012, Taylor recorded three wins and seven top-fives in 12 appearances. He finished seventh in the driver standings and fifth among the teams in the DP class. Later, he contested the Gold Coast 600 of V8 Supercars in a Holden Commodore from Garry Rogers Motorsport alongside Greg Ritter; however, he had a frightening rollover several hundred metres after the start whilst trying to avoid two stricken cars.
Taylor became a driver in the Spirit of Daytona Racing for the 2013 Rolex Sports Car Series season, teaming with Richard Westbrook. He earned a third place, three fifths, and a sixth, finishing 11th in the drivers championship and eighth among teams in the DP. He also obtained a fifth place in the GTE-Am class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving a Chevrolet Corvette in the Larbre Competition.

Team Penske
[edit]Beginning with the 2018 Roar Before the 24, Taylor partnered with Helio Castroneves in one of two new Acura ARX-05s fielded by Roger Penske. Taylor and Castroneves won the 2020 WeatherTech SportsCar DPi Drivers' Championship, after finishing eighth at the season finale at the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Other competition
[edit]In 2012, Taylor was selected by Garry Rogers Motorsport to participate in the 2012 Armor All Gold Coast 600 event for V8 Supercars as an "international" co-driver.[2] In his first-ever standing start, he managed only 200m before he rolled over a car that had stalled on the grid, totalling his No. 33 Holden VE Commodore and resigning himself and team-mate Greg Ritter to the sidelines for the rest of the weekend.[3][4]
Racing record
[edit]Career summary
[edit]
Complete Rolex Sports Car Series results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Rank | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | SunTrust Racing | DP | Riley Mk. XI | Pontiac 5.0L V8 | DAY 5 |
MIA |
MEX |
25th | 173 | [5] | |||||||||||
| Beyer Racing | Crawford DP03 | Ford 5.0L V8 | VIR 4 |
LGA |
WGL |
||||||||||||||||
| Doran Racing | Dallara DP01 | Ford 5.0L V8 | LEX 7 |
DAY 11 |
BAR 5 |
MON 9 |
WGL 17 |
SON 10 |
NJ |
MIL | |||||||||||
| 2009 | Beyer Racing | DP | Riley Mk. XI | Pontiac/Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | R24 10 |
VIR 14 |
NJ 10 |
LAG 14 |
S6H 10 |
LEX 12 |
DAY 12 |
BAR 12 |
WGI 10 |
MON 4 |
MIL 8 |
HOM 9 |
11th | 248 | [6] | ||
| 2010 | SunTrust Racing | DP | Dallara DP08 | Ford 5.0L V8 | R24 6 |
HOM 6 |
BIR 12 |
VIR 3 |
LRP 1 |
S6H 2 |
LEX 9 |
DAY 9 |
NJ 3 |
WAT 2 |
MON 3 |
SLK 3 |
2nd | 332 | [7] | ||
| 2011 | SunTrust Racing | DP | Dallara Corvette DP | Chevrolet 5.5L V8 | R24 5 |
HOM 3 |
BIR 11 |
VIR 4 |
LIM 1 |
S6H 1 |
ELK 3 |
LAG 3 |
NJ 2 |
WAT 1 |
MON 2 |
LEX 11 |
2nd | 353 | [8] | ||
| 2012 | SunTrust Racing | DP | Corvette DP (Dallara DP01) | Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | R24 14 |
BIR 5 |
HOM 1 |
NJ 1 |
BEL 20 |
LEX 9 |
ELK 7 |
S6H 11 |
IMS 3 |
WAT 4 |
MON 5 |
LGA 7 |
LIM 1 |
6th | 343 | [9] | |
| 2013 | Spirit of Daytona Racing | DP | Corvette DP (Coyote) | Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | R24 5 |
TXS 11 |
BIR 3 |
ATL 5 |
BEL 5 |
LEX 9 |
S6H 9 |
IMS 6 |
ELK 13 |
KAN 12 |
LGA 8 |
LIM 9 |
7th | 279 | [10] |
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
[edit]Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
[edit](key)(Races in bold indicate pole position)
* Season still in progress.
Complete European Le Mans Series results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | DragonSpeed USA | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | CAT Ret |
RBR | LEC | MNZ | SPA | ALG | 36th | 0 |
| Source:[11] | ||||||||||||
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Larbre Compétition | LMGTE Am | Chevrolet Corvette C6.R | Chevrolet 5.5 L V8 | SIL | SPA | LMS 6 |
SÃO | COA | FUJ | SHA | BHR | 20th | 24 | |
| 2014 | Larbre Compétition | LMP2 | Morgan LMP2 | Judd HK 3.6 L V8 | SIL | SPA | LMS 9 |
NC | 0 | ||||||
| Corvette Racing | LMGTE Pro | Chevrolet Corvette C7.R | Chevrolet LT5.5 5.5 L V8 | COA 12 |
FUJ | SHA | BHR | SÃO | |||||||
| 2016 | Corvette Racing – GM | LMGTE Pro | Chevrolet Corvette C7.R | Chevrolet LT5.5 5.5 L V8 | SIL | SPA | LMS 7 |
NÜR | 25th | 3.5 | |||||
| LMGTE Am | MEX Ret |
COA 3 |
FUJ 6 |
SHA 5 |
BHR 5 |
10th | 43 | ||||||||
| 2017 | Keating Motorsport | LMP2 | Riley Mk. 30 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | SIL | SPA | LMS 20 |
NÜR | MEX | COA | FUJ | SHA | BHR | NC | 0 |
| 2018-19 | Jackie Chan DC Racing | LMP2 | Ligier JS P217 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | SPA | LMS Ret |
SIL | FUJ | SHA | SEB | SPA | LMS Ret |
23rd | 0 | |
| 2021 | High Class Racing | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | SPA | ALG | MNZ | LMS 8 |
BHR | BHR | 24th | 8 | |||
| 2022 | Cool Racing | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | SEB | SPA | LMS 7 |
MNZ | FUJ | BHR | NC | 0 | |||
| Sources:[11][24] | |||||||||||||||
References
[edit]- ^ Kilbey, Stephen (2017-10-08). "IMSA Champions Crowned In Petit Le Mans Finale". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ Dale, William (September 14, 2012). "Garry Rogers Motorsport has named Ricky Taylor as their other international for the Gold Coast 600". Fox Sports Australia. Archived from the original on January 21, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- ^ Phelps, James (October 21, 2012). "American driver Ricky Taylor escapes serious injury after flip at Gold Coast 600". news.com.au. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- ^ Pavey, James (October 18, 2013). "Saturday Sleuthing: Ricky's GC600 Roll Over". Supercar. Archived from the original on January 21, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2008 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2010 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2011 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2012 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2013 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Ricky Taylor Results". motorsportstats.com. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2014 Tudor United SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2015 Tudor United SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2016 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2017 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2018 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2019 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2020 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2021 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2022 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2023 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor – 2024 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ "Ricky Taylor". FIA World Endurance Championship. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
External links
[edit]- Ricky Taylor driver statistics at Racing-Reference
- Ricky Taylor career summary at DriverDB.com
- Ricky Taylor in Race Database
Ricky Taylor
View on GrokipediaEarly years
Family and background
Ricky Taylor was born on August 3, 1989, in Surrey, England.[8] His family relocated to the Orlando area of Florida when he was an infant, where he was raised in a motorsport-centric environment.[9] Taylor grew up in a prominent racing family; his father, Wayne Taylor, is a former professional driver who competed successfully in the IMSA GT Championship and other sports car series before founding Wayne Taylor Racing (WTR) in 2004 as a multi-class sports car team.[10] Wayne Taylor's career highlights included two overall victories at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1996 and 2005. He has a younger brother, Jordan Taylor, who is also a professional racer competing in IMSA and other series alongside him at WTR. From an early age, Ricky Taylor was exposed to the racing world through family attendance at events, behind-the-scenes access at tracks, and regular conversations about strategy and performance in motorsport.[11] This immersion in his father's racing endeavors directly influenced Taylor's entry into karting as a junior.[11]Karting and junior series
Taylor began his racing career in karting around age 8 in Florida, competing in local and regional events throughout the early 2000s. Influenced by his family's racing legacy—particularly his father Wayne Taylor's successes in endurance racing—he honed his skills in competitive karting circuits, achieving a fifth-place finish in the ICA class of the Florida Winter Tour.[1][12] In 2006, Taylor earned the Skip Barber Karting Shootout Scholarship, securing a fully paid entry into the Skip Barber Race Series and marking a key individual milestone in his progression toward single-seater racing.[13] Transitioning to formula cars, he debuted in the Skip Barber Southern Regional Series in late 2005 at age 15, winning the Rookie of the Race award in his first automobile event at Daytona International Speedway.[14][15] That season, he recorded multiple victories, including a pole position and win at Moroso Motorsports Park as well as another triumph at Homestead-Miami Speedway, demonstrating rapid adaptation to open-wheel competition.[16][17] Building on this momentum, Taylor captured the Skip Barber Southern Regional Series championship in 2007 with six wins and eleven podium finishes across the season.[18][19] He also finished runner-up in the Skip Barber National Championship that year, with additional wins and poles underscoring his consistency.[1][20] Concurrently, he ventured into the Star Mazda Championship, making his debut in September 2006 at Road America where he qualified sixth in his first outing on the unfamiliar track.[1] In 2007, Taylor expanded his Star Mazda campaign to fourteen races, securing two victories, five podiums, and four pole positions, which solidified his reputation as an emerging talent primed for professional sports car opportunities.[1]Early professional career
Key achievements (2008–2009)
In 2008, Ricky Taylor entered the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series on a partial schedule with SunTrust Racing, debuting at the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona in the No. 10 Riley-Pontiac Daytona Prototype. Co-driving with his father Wayne Taylor, Max Angelelli, and Michael Valiante, the team navigated electrical issues, brake problems, and overheating to secure a fifth-place overall finish after 687 laps, Taylor's first major endurance result at age 18.[21] He later competed in additional events, including a seventh-place finish at Mid-Ohio with Doran Racing in the No. 47 Dallara-Ford amid torrential rain, contributing to a season total of eight starts, 173 points, and 25th in the Daytona Prototype driver standings.[22][1] Building on this experience, Taylor raced a fuller 2009 schedule with Beyer Racing in the No. 11 Riley-Pontiac (switching to Chevrolet mid-season), participating in 12 events and earning 248 points for 18th in the DP standings. At the Rolex 24 at Daytona, he shared the No. 13 entry with Jared Beyer, David Martinez, and brother Jordan Taylor, completing 662 laps for 20th overall despite mechanical challenges.[23][1] These outings emphasized his growing proficiency in prolonged stints, including night driving and team strategy, positioning him as a promising prototype specialist.Wayne Taylor Racing tenure
Establishment and Grand-Am era (2010–2016)
In 2010, Ricky Taylor joined his family's Wayne Taylor Racing team full-time, co-driving the No. 10 SunTrust Racing Dallara-Ford Daytona Prototype in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series DP class alongside veteran Max Angelelli.[24][25] The pairing yielded immediate success, including a victory at Lime Rock Park's Memorial Day Classic, where they led 153 of 183 laps to secure Taylor's first Grand-Am DP win.[26] Taylor and Angelelli finished runner-up in the 2010 DP drivers' championship, with five podium finishes highlighting the team's competitive integration.[27] The duo continued their strong form into 2011, achieving runner-up status in the DP class once more while securing multiple victories, including at Lime Rock Park and Watkins Glen International.[28] Taylor's experience from his earlier years at Spirit of Daytona prepared him for the heightened expectations within the family operation, where he contributed to strategic decisions on setup and race tactics alongside team owner and father Wayne Taylor.[29] Consistent podiums in 2012, such as at Lime Rock Park, further solidified WTR's presence in the DP ranks, though Taylor briefly raced with Spirit of Daytona in select events that year.[30] Following a one-year stint primarily with Spirit of Daytona in 2013, Taylor returned to WTR in 2014, now partnering with his brother Jordan in the No. 10 Konica Minolta Chevrolet Corvette DP as the series merged with the American Le Mans Series to form the United SportsCar Racing (later IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship).[31] The brothers' collaboration emphasized family dynamics in race strategy, with Ricky often handling qualifying and early stints to build leads. They notched wins at Detroit and [Petit Le Mans](/page/Petit Le Mans) en route to second place in the Prototype standings.[32][5] Through 2015 and 2016, the Taylor brothers adapted to the unified series' technical regulations, achieving top-five finishes in the Prototype class each year without securing an individual driver title. Key results included a 2015 victory at Long Beach and 2016 triumphs at Long Beach, Detroit, and Circuit of the Americas, where their shared insights on car balance and pit strategy proved instrumental.[33][34][35] This era underscored the family's collaborative approach, blending Ricky's qualifying prowess with Jordan's endurance focus to elevate WTR's competitiveness.[36]2017 IMSA championship season
In 2017, Ricky Taylor competed full-time in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's Prototype class for Wayne Taylor Racing, driving the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R alongside his brother Jordan Taylor and veteran co-driver Max Angelelli.[5] The Cadillac DPi-V.R, introduced as part of IMSA's new Daytona Prototype international (DPi) regulations, featured a 6.2-liter V8 engine producing over 600 horsepower, providing significant advantages in straight-line speed and overall balance compared to competitors like the Acura ARX-05, Mazda RT24-P, Nissan Onroak LMP1, and Ligier JS P217. This technical edge, combined with the Taylor brothers' familial synergy and Angelelli's extensive endurance racing experience from prior Grand-Am successes, enabled a dominant campaign that built on Wayne Taylor Racing's established team dynamics.[37] The season began with a victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, marking Wayne Taylor Racing's first overall win in the IMSA WeatherTech series after years of prominence in the preceding Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.[38] Ricky Taylor led the final stint, overtaking the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R with less than six minutes remaining to secure the win by 0.671 seconds over the same car, despite a controversial contact incident.[39] This triumph was followed by another endurance classic win at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, where Taylor again closed out the race for a 13.614-second margin over the No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R, showcasing the team's pit strategy and the Cadillac's reliability under Sebring's demanding conditions.[40] The early momentum continued with sprint race victories at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), and the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, completing an unprecedented five consecutive Prototype class wins to open the season.[5] Mid-season challenges, including retirements at Watkins Glen and mechanical issues at Mosport, tested the team's consistency, but strong recoveries at Road America and a second-place finish at VIR kept them atop the standings.[41] The No. 10 Cadillac's aerodynamic efficiency and power delivery proved particularly effective on road courses with long straights, allowing the drivers to capitalize on clean air and precise handling.[42] Entering the season finale at the Motul Petit Le Mans with 288 points, the Taylor brothers and Angelelli needed only a podium to secure the title; they achieved third place behind the winning No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R and the second-place No. 31 Action Express entry, clinching the Prototype drivers' championship with 310 points—19 ahead of João Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi, and Filipe Albuquerque.[37][41] This championship victory highlighted the seamless collaboration among the co-drivers, with the brothers' shared instincts complementing Angelelli's strategic acumen in endurance stints.[42]Post-2017 IMSA seasons (2018–2021)
Returning to Wayne Taylor Racing for 2021 in the No. 10 Acura ARX-05 alongside Filipe Albuquerque, Taylor pursued an endurance-focused campaign, finishing second in the DPi drivers' standings with three victories.[5] The pair started strong by winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona for Taylor's fourth career triumph there, followed by successes at Mid-Ohio and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where Albuquerque's defensive drive preserved a narrow margin.[5] Consistent top-five results across the 12-race slate, including a second at Sebring and fourth at Petit Le Mans, positioned the team as contenders for the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup while chasing the "triple crown" of major U.S. endurance events. This period saw DPi reach peak maturity, with team improvements in data analytics and crew efficiency enabling WTR's seamless integration of Acura power, setting the stage for the class's transition to LMDh-based GTP in 2023.[43]Acura ARX-06 era (2022–2024)
In 2022, Wayne Taylor Racing continued its partnership with Acura in the final season of the Daytona Prototype International (DPi) class, fielding the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 for full-season drivers Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque. The team achieved consistent results, including a runner-up finish at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, where Taylor and Albuquerque were joined by endurance co-drivers Will Stevens and Alexander Rossi, marking Acura's second-place sweep with Meyer Shank Racing.[44] Additional podiums followed at the 12 Hours of Sebring (second place) and the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix (second place), while victories at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Road America highlighted the team's competitiveness in sprint races.[45][46] These efforts contributed to a third-place finish in the DPi drivers' and teams' standings, setting the stage for the transition to the new Le Mans Daytona hybrid (LMDh)-inspired GTP regulations. The shift to the Acura ARX-06 GTP prototype was announced in August 2022, introducing a hybrid powertrain combining a 2.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with a standardized Bosch-supplied energy recovery system, designed to level competition across manufacturers under IMSA's GTP rules. Taylor and Albuquerque remained the core lineup for the No. 10 entry, adapting to the car's carbon-fiber ORECA chassis, Acura-specific aerodynamics, and the complexities of hybrid deployment strategies during the 2023 debut season. Endurance races featured co-drivers Louis Delétraz and Brendon Hartley, bringing Formula 1 and endurance expertise to manage the added layer of energy management.[47] Despite challenges like reliability issues and learning the hybrid system's balance of performance, the team secured a second-place finish at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, contributing to Acura's 1-2 sweep. The 2023 campaign was marked by inconsistency but strong showings in select events, including a breakthrough victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, where Taylor and Albuquerque capitalized on strategic pit stops to claim their first GTP win. Podium results at Road America (third) and other tracks helped the duo finish fourth in the GTP drivers' standings, while the team placed third overall.[48][49] Adaptation to GTP regulations emphasized tire management and hybrid energy use, with Taylor noting the car's improved handling but the need for refined setup to counter rivals like Porsche and Cadillac.[50] Entering 2024, Wayne Taylor Racing expanded to a two-car Acura program through a deepened partnership with Andretti Global, adding the No. 40 ARX-06 shared by Jordan Taylor and Louis Delétraz as a full-season entry. Ricky Taylor and Albuquerque continued in the No. 10, focusing on optimizing hybrid deployment amid evolving Balance of Performance adjustments. The season began promisingly with a third-place at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, followed by a victory at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix—Taylor's bold pass on the No. 6 Porsche securing the win after a 664-day drought for the entry.[51] Additional podiums, including third at Road America, propelled the No. 10 to second in the GTP drivers' and teams' standings. Co-driver dynamics shifted with Delétraz's promotion to full-time status, enhancing endurance race synergy across both cars.[52] In June 2024, Wayne Taylor Racing announced the conclusion of its Acura tenure, transitioning to Cadillac for 2025 while reflecting on the ARX-06 era's role in advancing hybrid prototype racing.[53]2025 Cadillac switch and season
In September 2024, Wayne Taylor Racing announced its return to Cadillac Racing after a four-year partnership with Acura, with Ricky Taylor set to drive the No. 10 Cadillac V-Series.R GTP entry full-time alongside Filipe Albuquerque; Will Stevens joined as an endurance co-driver for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, and Motul Petit Le Mans.[7][54] The team introduced a refreshed blue-and-white livery for the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, unveiled in January, emphasizing Cadillac's V-Series branding while preparing to challenge rivals including Porsche Penske Motorsports, BMW M Team WRT, Acura Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti, and Ferrari AF Corse in the hyper-competitive GTP class.[55][56] Taylor and Albuquerque secured three podium finishes during the season: second place at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix after a late-race duel with the winning Acura ARX-06, third at the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen, and second at the Battle on the Bricks in Indianapolis, where a caution period in the final hour preserved their position.[57][58][59] The duo faced setbacks, including a seventh-place finish at the Sebring 12 Hours marred by traffic and strategy challenges, and encountered occasional reliability concerns with the V-Series.R powertrain amid tight racing against Porsche and BMW entries.[60][61] The season concluded with a sixth-place result for Taylor, Albuquerque, and Stevens at the Motul Petit Le Mans, contributing to an overall sixth-place finish in the GTP drivers' standings with 2,626 points and no victories but consistent late-season momentum.[62] Taylor reflected on the switch as a homecoming to Cadillac, where he had previously won the 2017 IMSA championship, noting the V-Series.R's potential despite the Acura era's familiarity, and expressed optimism about building on the 2025 foundation.[58][63] As of November 2025, Taylor and Albuquerque were reconfirmed for the No. 10 Cadillac in 2026, signaling continuity for the program amid Cadillac's expanded GTP efforts across IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship.[58]Other racing activities
Team Penske appearances
Ricky Taylor joined Acura Team Penske for the full 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, partnering with Hélio Castroneves in the No. 7 Acura ARX-05 DPi to mark his first multi-year stint outside Wayne Taylor Racing.[64] This move allowed Taylor to experience Penske's renowned engineering and operational precision, contributing to the team's adaptation to the new Acura prototype program while fostering stronger industry connections without a long-term shift from his family-based primary team.[65] In his debut season, Taylor and Castroneves secured the program's first victory at Road America, finishing seventh overall in the Prototype standings.[5] The partnership continued successfully in 2019, with Taylor earning multiple pole positions, including a track record at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and achieving three wins alongside Castroneves at Road America, Virginia International Raceway, and the 12 Hours of Sebring.[66] These results helped the duo secure third in the Prototype points, highlighting Taylor's quick adaptation to Penske's data-driven setups and strategic depth.[5] In 2020, Taylor and Castroneves elevated their performance to claim the IMSA Prototype drivers' championship, recording four victories at Detroit, Road America, Laguna Seca, and Sebring, along with a runner-up finish at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.[67] Taylor's consistent qualifying prowess, including several front-row starts, underscored his synergy with Penske's engineering, though the team prioritized endurance reliability over aggressive experimentation.[5] Following the championship, Taylor returned to Wayne Taylor Racing in 2021, with no additional appearances for Penske thereafter.[68]International endurance racing
Ricky Taylor's international endurance racing career has primarily revolved around the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he has made nine starts since his debut in 2013, supplemented by selected appearances in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and European Le Mans Series (ELMS). These efforts served as extensions of his American-based IMSA program, allowing him to gain experience under Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) regulations while balancing the demands of international travel and differing technical requirements from U.S. series.[69] Taylor's Le Mans debut came in 2013 in the LMGTE Am class with Larbre Competition, where he co-drove a Chevrolet Corvette C7.R to fifth in class alongside Pierre Ragues and Paolo Ruberti.[69] He returned in 2014, switching to the LMP2 category with the same team in a Morgan LMP2-Judd, finishing ninth in class with Ragues and Keiko Ihara after completing 373 laps.[70] In 2016, Taylor competed in LMGTE Pro with Corvette Racing's factory entry, co-driving a Chevrolet Corvette C7.R to seventh in class with Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia, starting from the rear of the grid due to qualifying issues.[71] Taylor continued his Le Mans appearances in LMP2, racing with Keating Motorsports in 2017 in a Riley Mk. 30 Gibson, but the car retired due to engine failure after 195 laps with co-drivers Ben Keating and Jeroen Bleekemolen.[70] The following year, he joined Jackie Chan DC Racing in a Ligier JS P217-Gibson, setting the fastest lap in LMP2 (3:29.466) but retiring after 195 laps due to mechanical issues with co-drivers Mathias Beche and David Cheng.[72] In 2019, Taylor returned to Jackie Chan DC Racing in an Oreca 07-Gibson, finishing 20th overall. In 2023, Taylor raced in LMP2 with Tower Motorsport in an Oreca 07-Gibson alongside René Rast and John Farano (later replaced by Steven Thomas due to injury), but crashed during the third hour, resulting in a DNF.[73] Taylor's WEC commitments included a partial 2016 season with Larbre Competition in LMGTE Am, where he achieved a podium finish (third in class) at the 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas with Ragues and Lars Viljoen in the Corvette C7.R, along with entries at Mexico City, Fuji, Shanghai, and Bahrain.[74] He made no full-season WEC commitment but used these outings to adapt to global endurance formats. Taylor also made a one-off ELMS appearance in 2021 with DragonSpeed USA at the Barcelona opener in an Oreca 07-Gibson, finishing fourth in LMP2 with Henrik Hedman and Juan Pablo Montoya.[75] As of November 2025, Taylor's most recent Le Mans start was in 2025, marking Wayne Taylor Racing's debut in the Hypercar class with a Cadillac V-Series.R. Starting 14th overall alongside Filipe Albuquerque and Jordan Taylor, the team retired after 173 laps due to a power loss on the Mulsanne Straight, classified 21st overall.[76] These international races highlighted the logistical challenges of ACO homologation and jet lag, yet provided valuable exposure to diverse tracks and hybrid powertrains beyond IMSA.Racing record
Career highlights summary
Ricky Taylor has amassed 32 wins in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as of the end of the 2025 season, establishing himself as one of the series' most accomplished prototype drivers.[51] His victories include five triumphs at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, in 2011, 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022, highlighting his endurance racing prowess in high-stakes events. These successes contributed to two IMSA Prototype/GTP drivers' championships, secured in 2017 alongside his brother Jordan Taylor with Wayne Taylor Racing and in 2020 with Hélio Castroneves for Acura Team Penske.[5] Beyond Daytona, Taylor's accolades encompass multiple wins at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in 2017 and 2020, as well as a victory at the Motul Petit Le Mans in 2017, rounding out an impressive record in IMSA's endurance triple crown.[5] Earlier in his career, he also claimed class wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona prior to 2011, building momentum in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.[1] Overall, Taylor has logged over 250 starts in IMSA competition, achieving 84 podium finishes and 28 pole positions.[77] Taylor's contributions have been recognized with the IMSA Most Popular Driver award in 2018, reflecting his appeal among fans, and induction into the Road Racing Drivers Club in 2021, honoring his impact on American road racing.[78]Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
Ricky Taylor's participation in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship spans from its inaugural 2014 season through 2025, during which he competed primarily in the top prototype class, transitioning from the Prototype (PC) class in early years to Daytona Prototype International (DPi) and later Grand Touring Prototype (GTP). The following table details his year-by-year performance, including team, car, primary co-driver, races entered, wins, pole positions, podium finishes, points, and final championship position in the relevant prototype drivers' standings. Co-drivers varied for endurance events, but the primary partner is noted. Data reflects class-specific results where applicable.| Year | Team | Car | Co-driver | Races | Wins | Poles | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Wayne Taylor Racing | Corvette DP | Jordan Taylor | 11 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 330 | 2nd |
| 2015 | Wayne Taylor Racing | Corvette DP | Jordan Taylor | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 292 | 5th |
| 2016 | Wayne Taylor Racing | Corvette DP | Jordan Taylor | 9 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 309 | 3rd |
| 2017 | Wayne Taylor Racing | Cadillac DPi-V.R | Jordan Taylor | 10 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 310 | 1st |
| 2018 | Acura Team Penske | Acura ARX-05 | Hélio Castroneves | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 243 | 7th |
| 2019 | Acura Team Penske | Acura ARX-05 | Hélio Castroneves | 10 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 284 | 3rd |
| 2020 | Acura Team Penske | Acura ARX-05 | Hélio Castroneves | 9 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 265 | 1st |
| 2021 | Wayne Taylor Racing | Acura ARX-05 | Filipe Albuquerque | 11 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 339 | 2nd |
| 2022 | Wayne Taylor Racing | Acura ARX-05 | Filipe Albuquerque | 10 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 334 | 2nd |
| 2023 | Wayne Taylor Racing | Acura ARX-06 | Filipe Albuquerque | 9 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 271 | 2nd |
| 2024 | Wayne Taylor Racing | Acura ARX-06 | Filipe Albuquerque | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2550 | 6th |
| 2025 | Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing | Cadillac V-Series.R | Filipe Albuquerque | 11 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2626 | 6th |
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
Ricky Taylor has competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans nine times between 2013 and 2025, spanning the LMGTE Am, LMP2, and Hypercar classes. His efforts have included competitive runs in LMP2, where he set the category's fastest lap in 2018 amid heavy rain that caused multiple red flags and retirements. Taylor has yet to secure a class victory at Le Mans but has demonstrated reliability and pace in endurance conditions, drawing on his IMSA experience for multi-stint driving. All participations ended without mechanical or accident-related retirements except in LMP2 entries from 2018 onward.[82]| Year | Team | Class | Car | Co-drivers | Grid Pos. | Finish Pos. (Class) | Laps | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Larbre Competition | LMGTE Am | Chevrolet Corvette C6.ZR1 (#50) | Patrick Bornhauser, Julien Canal | 32nd | 5th (29th overall) | 343 | Running |
| 2014 | Larbre Competition | LMP2 | Morgan LMP2 Judd (#50) | Keiko Ihara, Pierre Ragues | 29th | 9th (32nd overall) | 379 | Running |
| 2016 | Corvette Racing | LMGTE Pro | Chevrolet Corvette C7.R (#63) | Antonio García, Jan Magnussen | 29th | 7th (27th overall) | 343 | Running[71] |
| 2017 | Keating Motorsports | LMGTE Am | Riley Mk. XXX Gibson (#43) | Ben Keating, Jeroen Bleekemolen | 43rd | 12th (47th overall) | 299 | Running |
| 2018 | Jackie Chan DC Racing | LMP2 | Ligier JS P217 Gibson (#34) | David Heinemeier Hansson, Côme Ledogar | 26th | DNF (12th in class) | 195 | Accident (heavy rain conditions)[72] |
| 2019 | Jackie Chan DC Racing | LMP2 | Oreca 07 Gibson (#37) | David Heinemeier Hansson, Jordan King | 20th | DNF (15th in class) | 199 | Gearbox[70] |
| 2021 | High Class Racing | LMP2 | Oreca 07 Gibson (#18) | Dennis Andersen, Marco Sørensen | 20th | 4th (13th overall) | 353 | Running |
| 2023 | Tower Motorsports | LMP2 | Oreca 07 Gibson (#13) | René Rast, Steven Thomas | 23rd | DNF (19th in class) | 19 | Accident[84] |
| 2025 | Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing | Hypercar | Cadillac V-Series.R (#101) | Filipe Albuquerque, Jordan Taylor | 14th | DNF (21st overall) | ~220 (approx., after 12 hours) | Loss of power[76] |
Complete other series results
Ricky Taylor began his professional racing career in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class in 2007, competing primarily with SunTrust Racing before moving to Spirit of Daytona Racing in 2013. Over seven seasons, he achieved nine class wins, including the 2011 Rolex 24 at Daytona, and secured runner-up finishes in the DP drivers' championship in 2007 and 2011. His results demonstrated consistent podium contention, with 25 podiums across 83 starts.[1]| Year | Team | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Championship Position (DP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | SunTrust Racing | 14 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2nd |
| 2008 | SunTrust Racing / Beyer Racing | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25th (173 points) |
| 2009 | SunTrust Racing | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18th |
| 2010 | SunTrust Racing | 12 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 3rd |
| 2011 | SunTrust Racing | 12 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 2nd |
| 2012 | SunTrust Racing | 13 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4th |
| 2013 | Spirit of Daytona Racing | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7th (279 points) |
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