Wayne Taylor Racing secured its first win in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship’s GTP category at the six‑hour Motul SportsCar Grand Prix on the Road America circuit, delivering a long‑awaited victory for both the team and Cadillac.
Dominant performance by Albuquerque and Taylor
Drivers Filipe Albuquerque and Ricky Taylor took command of the race during the final 85 minutes, pulling ahead after a series of cautions and penalties shuffled the field. Their No. 10 Cadillac V-Series.R reclaimed the lead on a restart following the sixth caution, and the pair held the position until the checkered flag.
Team manager Ricky Taylor described the effort as “torture” after a season of struggling to match the pace of the championship‑leading Action Express Cadillac. “It’s been hard. But thanks to Cadillac for sticking behind us, they’ve been so supportive,” he said, noting a recent dinner with the manufacturer that reinforced the partnership.
Race incidents and penalty cascade
Early on, Roman De Angelis forced Tom Blomqvist’s Acura off at Turn 1, earning a penalty that knocked the THOR Aston Martin Valkyrie off the podium. A subsequent restart saw points leader Jack Aitken collide with the Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 of Keven Estre, sending both cars into the barriers.
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Later, the JDC‑Miller Motorsports duo of Laurin Heinrich and his co‑driver climbed to second place after working through penalties and contact that damaged their car’s nose and forced a drive‑through for Tijmen van der Helm.
Despite the chaos, the WTR Cadillacs maintained strong pace. Even after being undercut on pit stops and dealing with the race’s fifth caution, the team’s overall speed allowed them to recover and stay ahead of the competition.
Penalty enforcement was a recurring theme. Louis Deletraz received a 60‑second sanction for exceeding the speed limit under yellow at Turn 8, while Felipe Nasr was similarly penalized after leaving the track near the same area. Their No. 40 car managed to finish third despite the setbacks.
Mid‑race analysis
For the drivers and crews directly affected, the win shows how consistency and strategic pit work can outweigh raw speed on a circuit where weather and traffic often dictate outcomes. Albuquerque’s ability to restart cleanly after cautions gave the team a key edge, translating into a tangible result after two years without a victory.
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Supporting categories and other highlights
In the LMP2 class, Tom Dillmann led Inter Europol Competition to a dominant win, while the GTD Pro battle saw the up‑and‑coming JDC‑Miller team keeping pressure on the championship leaders.
Wayne Taylor Racing’s victory marks a milestone for Cadillac’s GTP program, confirming the brand’s competitive potential after a challenging start to the season. The result also reshapes the points picture as the championship heads toward its final events, with several teams still within striking distance of the title.
The podium was crowded.