Taylor: LMP2 Car More Physical to Drive Than GTP

Photo: PR1 Motorsports

Ricky Taylor admitted that an IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship-spec LMP2 car is more physical to drive than a GTP machine around a track like Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

The Cadillac factory driver is making his first-ever IMSA LMP2 start in this weekend’s Chevrolet Grand Prix at CTMP, subbing for the FIA World Endurance Championship-bound Harry Tincknell in Bryan Herta Autosport with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports’ Oreca 07 Gibson.

While Taylor holds six previous LMP2 starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, including four outings with the Oreca, this weekend marks only the second time he’s been in the car’s high downforce configuration.

“It’s a lot like DPi but a little bit more agile feeling with the Gibson engine,” Taylor told Sportscar365 after topping Friday’s one-and-only practice session.

“It’s so physical in comparison because it’s so much commitment. The GTP, you don’t feel g-forces that much anymore.

“The [GTP] cars are really impressive and do a lot of really cool things but it’s all mental energy that you spend as the driver where this is all physical and you’re really muscling the car around the track.

“That’s what I’ve kind of missed.”

Taylor said the previous-generation DPi cars, which were based on LMP2 chassis, is the “closest reference” to his extensive experience of prototype racing in IMSA.

“Obviously it’s different and it’s been a while, but the Acura was the closest,” he said of the ARX-05 DPi. “The seating position is very similar and all of that.

“Just the way the car behaves. It kind of does everything similarly, it’s just the rules are so much more tight around this formula.

“Driving-wise, I can still use my notes and it’s quite applicable. It’s like anything. You get that muscle memory and it takes a little while to come back.”

While posting the quickest time on Friday, Taylor downplayed that it’s any significant indicator of how the rest of the weekend could unfold, in what’s become known as one of the most competitive LMP2 classes in sports car racing globally.

A total of nine entries are taking part in this weekend in the third running of what’s now become the traditional LMP2 headline race at CTMP.

“We’ll take it with a grain of salt because we were here testing,” Taylor said. “I wouldn’t get too carried away yet. Misha looks really strong; he’s doing really, really well and he loves this track.”

Taylor, however, believes his co-pilot, FIA Bronze-rated driver Misha Goikhberg, who calls Canada home, could put them at an advantage.

“I’ve been so impressed; he’s been flying all weekend,” he said of Goikhberg.

“FP1, it was nice to see all the Bronzes out there together. They were on the track at the same time and he was doing a really good job.

“The pressure’s on me to do my end of the bargain but I think he’s going to be really good himself.

“It’s hard to pass here. With a smooth race without issues, I think we have a chance.”

John Dagys

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