WTR “Much Closer” to AXR With New Cadillac Approach

Photo: Jamey Price/WTR

Wayne Taylor Racing’s interaction with Action Express Racing is “much closer” than back in the previous Cadillac DPi era according to Ricky Taylor, who has been impressed with the manufacturer’s ‘one-team’ approach.

WTR has made the off-season return to the GM luxury brand, which is now under a factory program in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP competition compared to a works-supported operation back in the DPi years.

“It’s very different,” Ricky told Sportscar365. “Back then, it was like the teams’ programs. Action Express had a team, Wayne Taylor Racing had a team and they just happened to buy cars from GM.

“Now everything is Cadillac. We play by their rules where they tell us that everyone works together.

“We’re much closer with them now. Each team has a representative driver that works together. All the drivers are involved in the same meetings and we all have one voice back to GM.

“So if the WTR drivers want something, the Action drivers have to agree to make that change, as far as controls and systems and things like that.

“The direction of the program has to be determined by all three teams.

“We work just as closely with JOTA as we do with Action. Obviously we want to win but Cadillac winning is the most important thing.

“It’s their program at the end of the day, which is the big difference.”

The once bitter rivalry between the two teams is now over according to the second-generation driver.

“It’s been nice,” said Taylor. “Action is a great team. The last time we raced against them [with same machinery], it was always really hard fought.

“They can teach us a lot and hopefully we can bring a lot as well.

“It’s been different for sure. Just Cadillac itself is so different from the last time [we worked with them].

“The way HRC transformed since GTP is sort of the direction Cadillac is going [in understanding] that these cars require a bit of a different structure.

“Starting from the F1 side and trickling over to our side, it makes sense that we have some of those people involved.”

Cadillac has expanded its LMDh efforts in both the WeatherTech Championship and WEC this year, adding a car to both championships that will now see a combined five V-Series.Rs competing full-time globally.

With both series adhering to strict testing limitations, Taylor feels Cadillac’s increased presence will only play to their benefit.

“Track testing is so limited,” he said. “Since year one [of the car’s homologation], the days just get less and less and less.

“I don’t know how all of the days are all split but you get manufacturer [test] days, car [test] days, team [test] days, you get all these different days.

“So having more cars helps. The total amount of time we’re on track is still better. Even if it’s the third year of the program, I think there’s a lot [to learn].

“We saw last year with going to two cars wasn’t necessarily easier. It requires a lot of logistics but testing-wise and learning-wise it’s good.”

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