Wayne Taylor on his IMSA legacy and Le Mans goals

Many outstanding names in racing have graced the IMSA paddocks because the collection’ inception in 1969, however few of the legends have been a presence so constantly, for therefore lengthy — and so good at profitable — as Wayne Taylor.

“Mark Raffauf, who works for IMSA [as its Senior Director of Race Operations], jogged my memory that he and I are the one two those that have truly been to each single sportscar race because the finish of ‘89,” Taylor says. “However in these days, it was nearly driving, and I couldn’t consider anything.”

If you recognize IMSA, you recognize Wayne Taylor’s identify and the success related to it. There’s the legendary No. 10 Konica Minolta automotive and its extremely IMSA run with him on the wheel. His group, Wayne Taylor Racing, boasts two IMSA driver championships, back-to-back Michelin Endurance Cup Championships, and wins at crown jewel occasions just like the Rolex 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, and Petit Le Mans. His legacy contains two sons, Ricky and Jordan, who’ve stored the Taylor identify on the rostrum. 

And that legacy continues. This weekend’s Rolex 24 kicks off Wayne Taylor’s thirty seventh season within the American sports activities automotive collection, and whereas his thoughts is now not consumed with driving (he doesn’t miss it, both), racing could be very a lot nonetheless his life.

However Stateside racing wasn’t the life he had initially supposed for himself. The truth is, his arrival in IMSA’s paddock was someplace between a pivot and a coincidence. One which’s become a everlasting residence, with no indicators of slowing.

“All the things right here simply works”

Again in late 1986, Wayne Taylor was a 30-year-old South African contemporary off profitable the South African Formulation 2 championship. He had one goal in his sights: making his solution to Formulation 1. So he did what each F1 hopeful knew to do again then, and relocated to England along with his spouse.

Then, actuality set in.

“It was going to require huge quantities of cash [to get to F1] and there was no manner I used to be going to have the ability to elevate it,” Taylor says. “However I used to be by no means going to surrender — I [was] going to be a racing driver for the remainder of my life.”

Wanting round for a fallback, he observed sports activities automotive racing’s recognition, significantly in Europe, the place the late ‘80s performed host to the Group C World Championship. Boxy, wedge-shaped prototypes with imposing wings, just like the Porsche 956, dominated the endurance collection. Taylor figured it will be a straightforward leap.

“Not solely may you alter from Formulation 1 to sports activities vehicles, however sports activities vehicles have an extended shelf life for drivers,” Taylor mentioned. “In Formulation 1, once you’re finished by the tip of your thirties, you’re kind of finished. Whereas, guys are actually racing till… effectively, I used to be racing till I used to be 51.”

It was a straightforward pivot for Taylor: he took 4th within the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1987, then shifted to the World SportsCar Championship, shifting up the ranks in Group C. On the time, IMSA-sanctioned vehicles may take part, so Taylor jumped on the alternative and took on a couple of races throughout the pond. His now-37-season streak with IMSA started at Tampa, Summit Level, and Del Mar late in 1989. In Del Mar, he put the Chevrolet Spice automotive on pole, and Taylor says that is when the calls began coming for him to drive for different groups. However time and assets dwindled in Europe, and with out a definitive drive, his small household returned to South Africa.

The U.S. got here calling once more quickly, with Jim Miller bringing Wayne on for a full season — 10 races — within the 1990 IMSA season. “All the things occurred. All the things right here simply works,” Taylor says of the USA. “, it doesn’t matter what you need, you may get.” Taylor wished to compete, and so he and his household moved Stateside to turn into a mainstay within the IMSA paddock.

“We actually didn’t have any cash, and it was an actual battle after we first acquired right here,” remembers Taylor. “However I spotted a few issues: that in America, everyone loves winners, so I wanted to win a championship — and did that with Jim Downing.”

That first IMSA title got here in 1994. The wins stored coming: Taylor took three extra Exxon World SportsCar Championships, two wins at Daytona within the Rolex 24, and a win at Sebring. In 1998, he clinched a Prototype-class win at Le Mans with a Ferrari and grew to become the primary driver to win at Petit Le Mans in its inaugural race.

The primary half of the brand new millennium noticed Taylor break up his time between IMSA and dealing carefully with Cadillac in its Le Mans effort (till it pulled out of the competitors). His final huge podium got here in 2005, when he received his second Rolex 24.

Wayne Taylor along with his group members in Victory Lane within the 2005 Rolex 24

Photograph by: F. Peirce Williams / Motorsport Pictures

Wayne Taylor hung up his helmet after the 2006 season. However his story solely turned a brand new web page: Taylor joined along with his longtime driving accomplice, Max Angelelli, to steer the Wayne Taylor Racing group. And shortly racing grew to become a household affair.

Wayne Taylor & Sons, Inc.

In keeping with their dad, Ricky and Jordan Taylor — Wayne’s sons — did not a lot take care of racing as youngsters. He would take them go-karting, although, if solely to get them away from the tv. He may see their expertise, however wasn’t going to stress them into the game if their coronary heart wasn’t in it. That every one modified when Ricky and Jordan watched their father win on the Rolex 24 in 2005.

“It was like a lightswitch,” Taylor says. “And that’s all they wished to be, was racing drivers.”

The Taylor boys joined the household enterprise for actual in 2007. “I acquired them began — however actually, really, they needed to earn the fitting to do what they’ve finished,” says Wayne Taylor. “And I feel they’ve finished that.”

Inside a decade of becoming a member of their father’s group, Ricky and Jordan would rejoice profitable their very own Rolex 24. “We had 2017 the place we had the entire household, Ricky and Jordan, along with Max [Angelelli] and Jeff Gordon at Daytona,” remembers their father. “We received out of the field. We received 5 races within the championship.”Jordan would ultimately transfer from Wayne Taylor Racing to the manufacturing unit Corvette GT program. Ricky left the nest to drive for Roger Penske and his Acura Workforce Penske prototype entry.

Race winner Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac DPi: Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor, Max Angelelli, Jeff Gordon on the 2017 Rolex 24

Photograph by: Alexander Trienitz

Get Wayne Taylor speaking about his sons, and he sounds extra pleased with them than what he is completed.

“Jordan has had an excellent profession. [He] received Le Mans. Gained many championships,” says Wayne Taylor. “Ricky’s had an unbelievable profession for Roger [Penske]: received championships, received the Rolex 24, received Sebring. They achieved all of this earlier than the age of 35, and I used to be doing this till 50. It’s been implausible.”

Taylor’s additionally conscious that in making racing a household affair, it in all probability hasn’t been simple for Ricky and Jordan.

“They in all probability hate driving for me,” Taylor says. “The truth is, I’m severe. They actually don’t like driving for me, I feel, as a result of they are saying I by no means go away them alone. I’m at all times on the telephone with them, and so it’s a continuing battle for them. I can’t even name them and say, ‘I feel you need to do that within the subsequent race.’ However I actually prefer it.”

After exploring IMSA life outdoors of the Taylor-family storage, Ricky and Jordan rejoined dad to race the No. 10 and No. 40 Acura GTP vehicles in 2024. This yr, they’ve one new addition to the group — though it is performed an enormous half in all of their careers: Common Motors. Particularly, Cadillac.

Profitable is not the whole lot…it is the one factor

Because the 2025 IMSA season kicks off on the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, Taylor talks about it like a household reunion.

“, with the brand new program approaching board with Cadillac, it’s like, I’m going again to my outdated household,” says Taylor. “I received the championship in 1996 in an Oldsmobile Aurora. I received the Grand Am championship with a Pontiac with Riley & Scott. After which got here the Corvettes. We received races in Corvettes. After which I went over to be group proprietor.”

As group proprietor, the GM, Cadillac partnership continued, main to 2 IMSA championships in Daytona Prototype Worldwide (DPi) competitors. Because the DPi and Prototype class was retired to make manner for the now-running Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class, Wayne Taylor Racing partnered with Acura for a quick stint, earlier than asserting on the finish of 2024 a return residence to Cadillac.

The #10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V- Collection.R at this yr’s Roar Earlier than the 24

Photograph by: James Gilbert – Motorsport Pictures

Their shared historical past has made the reunion a palpable second of pleasure on the 2025 Rolex 24. Sights are set for getting again into groove with Cadillac — and never simply right here within the States with IMSA. Each have their sights set on Europe and the potential for a win that neither Wayne, his household, nor Cadillac have managed to realize.

“One factor we haven’t finished is win Le Mans general,” says Taylor. “Each Jordan and I’ve received lessons — he’s received the GT class; I received the prototype class within the Ferrari. With the present guidelines and rules [Ed note: both IMSA and WEC GTP cars share the same cars and similar regulations], it’s attainable that we are going to get an invite.”

Bringing residence IMSA championships stays the day-to-day focus, Taylor explains. Including in a couple of WEC races, too. However getting that Le Mans invite — after which, ideally, general win — is the dream he and the remainder of the Wayne Taylor household (literal and in any other case) bear in mind.

Till then, Wayne Taylor will maintain doing what Wayne Taylor’s finished so effectively: racing.

“So long as I keep motivated, and I’ve the eagerness, and I’ve individuals specializing in this group and desirous to win, I’ll maintain doing it till at any time when, as a result of what else am I gonna do?” says Taylor “I don’t play golf. I don’t play tennis. I don’t play snooker. I don’t have girlfriends. I don’t have every other sports activities. I don’t know what I’d do, to be trustworthy.”

#10 Cadillac DPi, P: Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor, Wayne Taylor

Photograph by: Richard Dole / Motorsport Pictures

Since Wayne Taylor Racing’s IMSA Drivers’ Championship title in 2013, the group has racked up 25 wins — many on the nice endurance races, just like the Rolex 24, Sebring, and Petit Le Mans. When Taylor hears these numbers, the relentlessly profitable South African driver perks up. “Since 2013? 25 wins? Wow,” he says. “Yeah, I suppose we’ve finished okay.”

“I do want I might take pleasure in it greater than I do,” says Taylor. “My spouse, she at all times mentioned, and my youngsters, ‘Dad, you’re by no means completely happy. You’re by no means completely happy, Dad.” And I feel to myself, ‘ what? That’s bloody true.’ The one time I’m completely happy is after we’re profitable races. Outdoors of that, I don’t know the way the remainder of the world lives.”