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GRAND-AM
IN THE COCKPIT: Ricky Taylor, Daytona Test
After a very successful test at the Roar Before the Rolex 24, I am really looking forward to this year’s 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24-hour...
SunTrust Racing led the way in the Roar Before the Rolex 24 test. (Photo: John Dagys)
After a very successful test at the Roar Before the Rolex 24, I am really looking forward to this year’s 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24-hour. There was a lot of “funny business” going on at the test and I will let you in on what I saw and what it could all mean for the race this year.
It was a three-day test and, according to the schedule, there was plenty of track time, so our plan was to approach the test slowly and work methodically through our test plan. After a fog delay at the start, the test suddenly became quite a lot shorter and we started a little behind. We got through all three drivers and everyone was up to speed and ready to start some serious testing.
One of the most difficult things about this test was getting a clear lap. We had over 40 GT cars out there and the spread in the GT field, as far as driver ability, is massive. The difficult thing is the inconsistency between drivers. If you are coming up on a GT car, you try to commit to a pass and not hesitate with the move. If you are passing one of the quick guys, it is not a problem; you know more or less where they are going to brake, what line they will take, and where you will be able to safely execute a pass.
The difficulty comes when a slower driver either brakes in a strange place, takes a wide entry as if he is letting you by, then makes a late and aggressive turn in, or even tries too hard to get out of the way, which can block the line you had committed to take when overtaking him. I think this aspect of this year’s race could be one of the most crucial and determining factors of the race. We already saw Scott Pruett get caught out on Saturday night with a GT car, which could have ended their race had it happened during the Rolex 24.
With the new bodywork we are debuting this year, everyone is suspecting that many teams are sandbagging to get rules breaks with their bodywork. Each day of the test, all of the drivers, teams, and journalists eat lunch at Marion’s catering tent and I love listening to everyone speculating about who is and who isn’t sandbagging.
It is quite suspicious, however, that all of the new Rileys were over a second off of the pace, yet there was no urgency about them. So, although we were quickest at the test, it is slightly unnerving to think that they could have been playing games the entire time. When we get to the 24-hour race weekend, it will be very interesting to see how everyone shapes up in practice one, after all of the rules are set for the 24-hour.
We were very happy with our car at the test. We did many long runs and feel that tires are consistent and that we can run at least a full fuel load on a set of tires without dropping off too much. We also did a qualifying simulation on Sunday morning with Max, which put our Corvette on top of the timesheets for the weekend. Every drivers meeting, Mark Raffauf tells us we cannot win in practice, but it definitely feels good!
I cannot wait for this year’s Rolex 24. I think our car will be strong, quick, and reliable. The guys at the shop have spent an incredible amount of time making sure the car will last 24 hours. I think this will be our best shot, yet, and to win the 50th anniversary of such a historic and prestigious race would be unbelievable. Something special to me about this race is not only the history and past champions and the family connection to it, but the current difficulty of the race itself. The drivers are the best in the world, the teams are flawless and the best-prepared in the world, and the effort and performance needed to win it is that of near perfection.
~Ricky
Ricky Taylor, 22-year-old son of three-time sports car champion and team owner Wayne Taylor, embarks on his third full season co-driving with veteran Max Angelelli in the No. 10 SunTrust Corvette Dallara of Wayne Taylor Racing. Follow him on Twitter: @RickyTaylor10 or at http://www.suntrustracing.com
It was a three-day test and, according to the schedule, there was plenty of track time, so our plan was to approach the test slowly and work methodically through our test plan. After a fog delay at the start, the test suddenly became quite a lot shorter and we started a little behind. We got through all three drivers and everyone was up to speed and ready to start some serious testing.
One of the most difficult things about this test was getting a clear lap. We had over 40 GT cars out there and the spread in the GT field, as far as driver ability, is massive. The difficult thing is the inconsistency between drivers. If you are coming up on a GT car, you try to commit to a pass and not hesitate with the move. If you are passing one of the quick guys, it is not a problem; you know more or less where they are going to brake, what line they will take, and where you will be able to safely execute a pass.
The difficulty comes when a slower driver either brakes in a strange place, takes a wide entry as if he is letting you by, then makes a late and aggressive turn in, or even tries too hard to get out of the way, which can block the line you had committed to take when overtaking him. I think this aspect of this year’s race could be one of the most crucial and determining factors of the race. We already saw Scott Pruett get caught out on Saturday night with a GT car, which could have ended their race had it happened during the Rolex 24.
With the new bodywork we are debuting this year, everyone is suspecting that many teams are sandbagging to get rules breaks with their bodywork. Each day of the test, all of the drivers, teams, and journalists eat lunch at Marion’s catering tent and I love listening to everyone speculating about who is and who isn’t sandbagging.
It is quite suspicious, however, that all of the new Rileys were over a second off of the pace, yet there was no urgency about them. So, although we were quickest at the test, it is slightly unnerving to think that they could have been playing games the entire time. When we get to the 24-hour race weekend, it will be very interesting to see how everyone shapes up in practice one, after all of the rules are set for the 24-hour.
We were very happy with our car at the test. We did many long runs and feel that tires are consistent and that we can run at least a full fuel load on a set of tires without dropping off too much. We also did a qualifying simulation on Sunday morning with Max, which put our Corvette on top of the timesheets for the weekend. Every drivers meeting, Mark Raffauf tells us we cannot win in practice, but it definitely feels good!
I cannot wait for this year’s Rolex 24. I think our car will be strong, quick, and reliable. The guys at the shop have spent an incredible amount of time making sure the car will last 24 hours. I think this will be our best shot, yet, and to win the 50th anniversary of such a historic and prestigious race would be unbelievable. Something special to me about this race is not only the history and past champions and the family connection to it, but the current difficulty of the race itself. The drivers are the best in the world, the teams are flawless and the best-prepared in the world, and the effort and performance needed to win it is that of near perfection.
~Ricky
Ricky Taylor, 22-year-old son of three-time sports car champion and team owner Wayne Taylor, embarks on his third full season co-driving with veteran Max Angelelli in the No. 10 SunTrust Corvette Dallara of Wayne Taylor Racing. Follow him on Twitter: @RickyTaylor10 or at http://www.suntrustracing.com
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