Wayne Taylor
Encyclopedia
Wayne Taylor is a South African sports car
racer. He won the 1996 and 2005 24 Hours of Daytona
, and the 2005 Rolex Series. He co-drives for SunTrust Racing
with Max Angelelli
. He co-drove in the 2006 International Race of Champions
in the United States
with Angelelli.
. In 1987 he finished fourth in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
. He moved to the FIA World Sportscar Championship
. He competed in the C2 class in 1988, and moved to the C1 class in 1989. He also competed in the IMSA
GT Camel series
in 1989, 1990, and 1991. He moved to IMSA's Camel Lights series in 1992, and the Camel GTP series in 1993.
He won the IMSA WSC class
in 1994, with second place finishes in the 24 Hours of Daytona
and the 12 Hours of Sebring
.
He was once more IMSA WSC champion in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. In 1998 he won the Petit Le Mans
and the prototype class in the 24 Hours of Daytona.
He competed in the American Le Mans Series
in 1999. From 2000 to 2002, he was a central part of the Cadillac
Le Mans effort. It was handled by his long-time technical partner in 2000 Bill Riley
before the chassis program was moved in England and an updated car was built for 2001, followed by a completely new car, the LMP-02, in 2002. Unfortunately, it was not successful against Audi's R8 and even privately-entered LMPs, so GM discontinued the program at the end of the year. Taylor tried to secure funding to run a privateer effort with the car, but instead eventually continued with Cadillac in the Speed World Challenge
CTS-V effort.
With Max Angelelli, he was co-champion in the Daytona Prototype category of the 2005 Grand American Road Racing Association
Rolex Sports Car Series
, and the pair also took the overall win in the 24 Hours of Daytona.
In 2006
, Wayne and his Grand-Am teammate, Max Angelelli
made IROC Series history becoming the first tandem of drivers to compete in one car during an IROC season. They each raced two races and points were combined for their tally as they are in the sportscar series.
In mid 2006, Taylor announced a split with car builder Bill Riley and formed Wayne Taylor Racing for the 2007 season with continued backing from SunTrust, and Angelelli as co-driver. The team is based in Indianapolis. Early in 07', Taylor stepped away from full time driving and used a host of fill in drivers before naming Michael Valiante to team up with Angelelli full time in 08'. Taylor continues to drive in the long distance events. The team continued to field Riley Chassis in 07' before switching to the new Dallara chassis after the 08' 24 Hours of Daytona. In May 08',the team's transporter caught fire and destroyed it,the new Dallara and all of their equipment. The team fielded their old Riley with borrowed equipment until a new Dallara could be built and shipped to the US. On August 23, the team scored their first win of the year and the first for Dallara in Grand AM at Infinion Raceway California.
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
racer. He won the 1996 and 2005 24 Hours of Daytona
24 Hours of Daytona
The 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
, and the 2005 Rolex Series. He co-drives for SunTrust Racing
SunTrust Racing
SunTrust Racing is a professional sports car racing team competing in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class. The team campaigns the No...
with Max Angelelli
Max Angelelli
Massimiliano Angelelli is an Italian race car driver.His career begun in Italian Formula Alfa Boxer in 1987 and continued for 15 years. His only championship win as the 1992 Italian Formula Three title...
. He co-drove in the 2006 International Race of Champions
International Race of Champions
International Race of Champions, better known as IROC, was a North American auto racing competition, promoted as an equivalent of an American All-Star Game or The Masters...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with Angelelli.
Racing career
He won the 1986 South African National Drivers ChampionshipSouth African National Drivers Championship
-Champions:...
. In 1987 he finished fourth in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
. He moved to the FIA World Sportscar Championship
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
. He competed in the C2 class in 1988, and moved to the C1 class in 1989. He also competed in the IMSA
International Motor Sports Association
The International Motor Sports Association is an American sports car auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton, Georgia. It was started by John Bishop, a former employee of SCCA , and his wife Peggy in 1969 with help from Bill France, Sr...
GT Camel series
IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States and occasionally in Canada.-History:...
in 1989, 1990, and 1991. He moved to IMSA's Camel Lights series in 1992, and the Camel GTP series in 1993.
He won the IMSA WSC class
IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States and occasionally in Canada.-History:...
in 1994, with second place finishes in the 24 Hours of Daytona
24 Hours of Daytona
The 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
and the 12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
.
He was once more IMSA WSC champion in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. In 1998 he won the Petit Le Mans
Petit Le Mans
The Petit Le Mans is a sports car endurance race held annually at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, USA. It uses the rules established for the 24 hours of Le Mans by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest , which are slightly modified if necessary, mainly to allow additional cars to compete.The race was...
and the prototype class in the 24 Hours of Daytona.
He competed in the American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
in 1999. From 2000 to 2002, he was a central part of the Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
Le Mans effort. It was handled by his long-time technical partner in 2000 Bill Riley
Bill Riley
William James "Bill" Riley is a retired Canadian ice hockey player, and was the third black player in the National Hockey League....
before the chassis program was moved in England and an updated car was built for 2001, followed by a completely new car, the LMP-02, in 2002. Unfortunately, it was not successful against Audi's R8 and even privately-entered LMPs, so GM discontinued the program at the end of the year. Taylor tried to secure funding to run a privateer effort with the car, but instead eventually continued with Cadillac in the Speed World Challenge
SPEED World Challenge
The Pirelli World Challenge is a North American auto racing series that is sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America . Founded in 1985, it consists of four classes: grand touring, touring car, a "GTS" class since 2010, and a "touring car B-spec" since 2012...
CTS-V effort.
With Max Angelelli, he was co-champion in the Daytona Prototype category of the 2005 Grand American Road Racing Association
Grand American Road Racing Association
GRAND-AM Road Racing or GRAND-AM is an auto racing sanctioning body that was established in 1999 to organize road racing competitions in North America...
Rolex Sports Car Series
Rolex Sports Car Series
The Rolex Sports Car Series is the premier series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. It is a North American-based sports car series that was founded in 2000 under the name Grand American Road Racing Championship to replace the failed United States Road Racing Championship...
, and the pair also took the overall win in the 24 Hours of Daytona.
In 2006
IROC XXX
The 30th and final season of the Crown Royal International Race of Champions began on Friday, February 17, 2006 at Daytona International Speedway. The all-star roster included thirteen drivers from seven premier racing series. Tony Stewart consistently ran up front and won two races and finished...
, Wayne and his Grand-Am teammate, Max Angelelli
Max Angelelli
Massimiliano Angelelli is an Italian race car driver.His career begun in Italian Formula Alfa Boxer in 1987 and continued for 15 years. His only championship win as the 1992 Italian Formula Three title...
made IROC Series history becoming the first tandem of drivers to compete in one car during an IROC season. They each raced two races and points were combined for their tally as they are in the sportscar series.
In mid 2006, Taylor announced a split with car builder Bill Riley and formed Wayne Taylor Racing for the 2007 season with continued backing from SunTrust, and Angelelli as co-driver. The team is based in Indianapolis. Early in 07', Taylor stepped away from full time driving and used a host of fill in drivers before naming Michael Valiante to team up with Angelelli full time in 08'. Taylor continues to drive in the long distance events. The team continued to field Riley Chassis in 07' before switching to the new Dallara chassis after the 08' 24 Hours of Daytona. In May 08',the team's transporter caught fire and destroyed it,the new Dallara and all of their equipment. The team fielded their old Riley with borrowed equipment until a new Dallara could be built and shipped to the US. On August 23, the team scored their first win of the year and the first for Dallara in Grand AM at Infinion Raceway California.