WTR Andretti ‘Back in Rhythm’ After Taking GTP Points Lead

Photo: WTR Andretti

Ricky Taylor believes that Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport is “back in our rhythm” after a second consecutive podium finish has propelled Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque to the GTP points lead.

Taylor and Albuquerque recorded a third place result in Sunday’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship round at Road America, building on the duo’s runner-up finish last month at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

With the No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac V-Series.R of Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims finishing sixth, rebounding from an significant accident in warmup, thew WTR Andretti duo now head the GTP standings by 14 points over the Cadillac pairing heading into the final two races of the season.

Taylor nursed the his Acura ARX-06 to the finish after managing an undisclosed mechanical issue in the second half of the two-hour and 40-minute contest.

“I think we should be really happy with today,” he said. “We’re continuing our momentum.

“We’ve got Acura back in the lead of the championship and it’s really nice to be in the championship lead.

“We had an issue with the car today about halfway through the race, so happy that we could survive with such good points and still maintain such good pace, I kind of let the 60 go up and fight for the lead.

“It’s really good to have this momentum back after the first half of the year was so difficult.

“I feel like we are back in our rhythm.

“Now, we can go to Indy with the lead and have that first pit stall on pit lane and start to control things for the last two races of the year.”

Albuquerque, who started third, dropped back a few positions early after struggling on cold tires before setting the fastest lap of the race.

“Unfortunately, those initial laps were a bit tricky for us,” the Portuguese driver said.

“Again, it was about managing the championship as well and all the contenders were behind us, so it was a solid day for us.

“We are now the championship leaders, so it’s exactly where we want to be and it’s hard to not think about it going into the closing races of the championship.”

Fellow Acura squad Meyer Shank Racing recorded a second place result with Colin Braun and Tom Blomqvist, who closed a nearly 15-second gap to No. 7 Penske Porsche 963 of Matt Campbell through traffic.

The No. 60 Acura lost ground to the eventual race-winning Porsche after getting caught up behind the No. 01 Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac of Renger van der Zande, although managed to pass the Dutchman on Lap 41.

“Even if we’d caught the back of them, it’s quite hard to pass here if you don’t get lucky with traffic,” Blomqvist said.

“We had a great race though. The start put us in a good position and the team did great pit stops.

“We had some good stints. I think ultimately if we’d get caught behind the 01 car for that long, maybe that would have made it closer at the end.”

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