Filipe Albuquerque has broken the victory drought for Wayne Taylor Racing after two years, at an event marked by intensity in the Motul SportsCar Endurance Grand Prix held at Road America. The race, which included a total of nine yellow flags, concluded with the Cadillac car driven by Albuquerque and his teammate Ricky Taylor in first position, standing out on a 4.048-mile track.
Albuquerque firmly defended his position until the finish, thus achieving the first victory of the GTP class for both him and the team since the Detroit competition in 2024. Ricky Taylor expressed excitement about the victory, sharing his pride in the team after a tough period.
The race took a dramatic turn when Kévin Estre and the championship leader Jack Aitken collided while battling for second place, forcing their retirement and ending the race early with another yellow flag.
After the incident, JDC-Miller MotorSports driver Laurin Heinrich, along with teammates Kaylen Frederick and Tijmen van der Helm, secured second place, while Louis Deletraz and Jordan Taylor completed the podium for Wayne Taylor Racing.
Race Development
The day began with a series of pit stops during a caution period due to an accident from Paul Miller Racing. After a brief stop, Tijmen van der Helm took the lead with his Porsche 963, followed by Jordan Taylor and Dries Vanthoor with their BMW M Hybrid V8.
With the return to competition, Taylor took the lead, but a penalty for improper driving elevated Ricky Taylor to second place, setting up a 1-2 for Wayne Taylor Racing. In the LMP2 class, Tom Dillmann was leading with his ORECA LMP2.
The Final Laps
As the race approached the final minutes, Albuquerque maintained a slight advantage. However, another accident interrupted the return, creating tension among the drivers. Upon returning to competition, Estre and Aitken collided, eliminating the former from contention. With only 10 minutes left, Albuquerque was still in the lead, facing pressure from Estre.
With the checkered flag in sight, Wayne Taylor Racing secured a victory as anticipated as it was celebrated, marking a new chapter in their history within the championship.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_815f3b6058fcf8109c3046297b3c0a38f114245c