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Jordan Taylor Set to Replace Magnussen at Corvette

Jordan Taylor set to replace Jan Magnussen in Corvette Racing lineup…

Photo: John Dagys

Jordan Taylor is set to replace Jan Magnussen at Corvette Racing for the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, as the first major shakeup in the team’s lineup in nearly a decade.

Industry sources have confirmed to Sportscar365 that the 28-year-old will make the switch from his father’s Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac DPi operation to the Pratt & Miller-run factory squad, in a deal that’s believed to have been struck with GM late last month.

Taylor had previously driven for Corvette Racing in selected endurance races from 2012-17 although was not retained following the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2017.

That year, Jordan and brother Ricky claimed the IMSA Prototype championship in WTR’s Cadillac DPi-V.R, where he has remained focused at in recent years, highlighted by two overall Rolex 24 at Daytona wins.

The move, which is understood to have been a number of months in the making, has come at the expense of longtime Corvette driver Magnussen.

It’s unclear if the 46-year-old Dane, who has been with Corvette Racing since 2004, was forced out or elected to step down in a possible move towards retirement.

Magnussen’s contract with GM had been up at the end of this year.

When asked about the driver shakeup by Sportscar365, a Chevrolet spokesperson said: “Chevrolet won’t discuss speculation on personnel matters. Jan has been and continues to be a valuable part of Corvette Racing.”

No other changes are expected within the team’s lineup for 2020, with Tommy Milner, Oliver Gavin and Antonio Garcia all likely return with the new-for-2020 mid-engined Corvette C8.R, which will be formally unveiled at next month’s Motul Petit Le Mans.

Briscoe Linked to Wayne Taylor Racing Drive

Ford Chip Ganassi Racing’s Ryan Briscoe, meanwhile, could find refuge at WTR next year, which could feature an all-new lineup in the Konica Minolta-sponsored Cadillac DPi.

The Australian open-wheel turned sports car ace, who is managed by WTR co-owner Max Angelelli, is understood to be in contention for one of the full-season seats.

Renger van der Zande, who has been with the team since 2018, does not currently have a contract with the team for next year.

Wayne Taylor, meanwhile, told Sportscar365 that, as of today, Jordan Taylor and van der Zande are his full-season drivers for 2020.

Briscoe, along with fellow Ganassi drivers Richard Westbrook, Joey Hand and Dirk Mueller, have all been seeking new employment amid the end of the factory Ford GT program following next month’s season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans.

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John

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