Taylors agree Penske-Acura ride is “opportunity of a lifetime”
Ricky Taylor says that only the combination of Team Penske and Acura could have lured him away from his father’s Wayne Taylor Racing team, while Wayne and Ricky's brother Jordan agree he had to grab the offer when it came.
Photo by: Richard Dole / Motorsport Images
Ricky Taylor was confirmed this morning as Helio Castroneves’ teammate in one of Penske’s new Acura ARX-05s in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar championship, while IndyCar aces Simon Pagenaud and Graham Rahal were revealed as the extra drivers for the endurance races.
Ricky and Jordan Taylor together won the IMSA Prototype championship this year with their father's team, Wayne Taylor Racing and the Cadillac DPi-V.R.
Said Taylor: “First of all, this was a dream season with Wayne Taylor Racing, but to get the call and the offer to come drive for Acura Team Penske this year… I think there's not a bad time to take the call. [It] is an opportunity of a lifetime for me.
“I can't lie. Nobody could have taken me away from driving with my brother and everything that my dad had built there, besides an opportunity like this with Team Penske coming back to sportscar racing, and Acura after their great season in GT this year with the NSX.
“It doesn't look like it's just a flash-in-the-pan sort of deal. It seems like it's something that is really exciting. The series is growing.
It was a hard decision after such a good year and so much momentum was built over there. But I think this is a new challenge and an amazing opportunity. I'm excited to take it. Jordan and my dad would have said I was stupid not to.”
Wayne Taylor said: “No matter which way I look at it, professionally and personally, it is a father’s dream to have his son called upon by Roger Penske. So I’m incredibly proud of Ricky and excited for him, and I think, honestly, the entire team has been supportive of this move, as well as everyone at General Motors and Cadillac.”
Jordan Taylor added: “The last four years have been great with Ricky. We won lots of races together, including all the big ones – the Rolex 24, Sebring, Petit Le Mans – and now the championship. So we couldn’t have asked for any more than that.
“For Ricky, having the chance to go to Penske is a huge opportunity for him. As a brother, I couldn’t be more proud of him. As a teammate, it makes me sad. But it’s just an unbelievable opportunity to drive for Roger Penske.
“We’ll just have to look forward to racing against him, now.”
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