Ricky Taylor

Ricky Taylor Bio

Ricky Scott Taylor, born on August 3, 1989, is an American professional racing driver known for his success in endurance sports car racing. He competes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, one of North America’s premier sports car series, and drives the No. 10 Acura AR35TT for Wayne Taylor Racing. Taylor has built a reputation as a prototype specialist, winning the 2017 IMSA Series Championship and adding a second title in 2020.

Across his career, Taylor has captured major endurance victories, including the Daytona 24, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and Petit Le Mans. He has spent much of his professional life competing in the Daytona Prototype category, first in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and later in the unified IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Early Life and Background

Ricky Taylor was born in Surrey, England, on August 3, 1989, and grew up in Florida, where his family settled during his childhood. His father, Wayne Taylor, was a professional driver who competed in the IMSA GT Championship during the 1990s, giving Ricky an early connection to motorsports. Growing up alongside his brother Jordan, Taylor was surrounded by racing from a young age.

Before moving into cars, Taylor competed in karting and quickly advanced into junior single-seater racing. In 2006, he won the Skip Barber Southern championship, a respected entry-level series for aspiring North American drivers. The following year, he finished as runner-up in the Skip Barber National championship, signaling his readiness for prototype competition.

Path to NASCAR

Ricky Taylor’s professional path has centered on sports car racing rather than stock car competition, and he has not pursued a NASCAR career. His development followed the Grand-Am ladder, beginning with Daytona Prototype outings in 2008 and progressing into full-time prototype seats over the following seasons. That route led him to the unified IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, where he has built the majority of his résumé.

Ricky Taylor Career

Early Career (2008–2013)

Taylor made his endurance debut at the 2008 24 Hours of Daytona for Wayne Taylor Racing in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class, finishing fifth alongside his father Wayne, Max Angelelli, and Michael Valiante. Later that season, he gained experience with Doran Racing in a Dallara-Ford, and by 2009 he was a regular driver with the Beyer team in Riley machinery.

In 2010, Wayne Taylor Racing hired Ricky to contest the Rolex Sports Car Series full-time in a Dallara-Ford. He captured one win and seven podium finishes and ended the year as runner-up in the Daytona Prototype championship, trailing only Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas. He repeated as runner-up in 2011, adding three wins including a victory at the Six Hours of Watkins Glen.

IMSA SportsCar Breakthrough (2012–2017)

Taylor moved to a Corvette DP-powered entry in 2012, recording three wins and seven top-five finishes while also contesting the Gold Coast 600 V8 Supercars round with Garry Rogers Motorsport in Australia. He transitioned to Spirit of Daytona Racing in 2013, where he teamed with Richard Westbrook and added a class podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Larbre Competition in GTE-Am.

Returning to Wayne Taylor Racing in 2014, Taylor emerged as a championship contender in the newly unified IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. In 2017, he and his brother Jordan won the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the Prototype class with five victories, giving the Taylor family its biggest title to date.

Acura Team Penske Era (2018–2020)

Beginning with the 2018 Roar Before the 24, Taylor partnered with Hélio Castroneves in one of two new Acura ARX-05 prototypes fielded by Acura Team Penske. The move placed him in a high-profile factory program operated by Roger Penske, expanding his visibility across international sports car racing.

In 2020, Taylor and Castroneves secured the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Drivers’ title in the Daytona Prototype international (DPi) class, sealing the championship after finishing eighth at the season-ending 12 Hours of Sebring.

Wayne Taylor Racing Era (2021–Present)

Taylor returned to his father’s team, Wayne Taylor Racing, in 2021 and has remained with the program since. The team fields the No. 10 Acura AR35TT in the GTP class, and Taylor continues to anchor the driver lineup alongside co-driver Filipe Albuquerque.

As one of the senior figures in the Wayne Taylor Racing garage, Taylor has helped the team compete at the front of the IMSA field and chase additional endurance crowns jewel wins.

Driving Style and Strengths

Taylor is known for his consistency and race craft across long stints, a quality that suits the demands of multi-hour endurance events. His partnership with co-drivers and engineers has produced strong strategic results, and his familiarity with Acura prototype machinery has made him a reference point for setup and tire management within the Wayne Taylor Racing program.

Notable Races and Milestones

Daytona International Speedway, Sebring International Raceway, and Road Atlanta have produced some of Taylor’s defining moments. His victories at the Daytona 24, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and Petit Le Mans rank among the most prestigious achievements in North American sports car racing.

Ricky Taylor Career Wins

Ricky Taylor has built a deep résumé of prototype and endurance victories, including two IMSA Series Championships and wins at the Daytona 24, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and Petit Le Mans. He reached seven Rolex Sports Car Series wins in the Daytona Prototype class, with 20 podium finishes, before transitioning to the unified IMSA era.

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Highlights

Within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Taylor secured the Prototype Drivers’ Championship in 2017 with five wins alongside his brother Jordan, and added a second DPi title in 2020 with Hélio Castroneves. His major endurance wins at Daytona, Sebring, and Petit Le Mans underscore his pedigree across the season’s biggest events.

Other Wins and Performances

In the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class, Taylor captured seven wins and 20 podium finishes and finished runner-up in 2010 and 2011. He also scored a class podium in GTE-Am at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Larbre Competition in 2013.

Ricky Taylor Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Taylor comes from one of the most recognized racing families in North American sports car competition. His father, Wayne Taylor, was a successful driver in the IMSA GT Championship in the 1990s before founding Wayne Taylor Racing, the team Ricky drives for today. His brother, Jordan Taylor, is also a professional racing driver and was Ricky’s co-champion in 2017.

Personal Life

Taylor has spent much of his life based in the United States, and his professional identity remains closely tied to the Wayne Taylor Racing program his father built.

2025 Season Performance

Ricky Taylor enters 2025 as a mainstay of Wayne Taylor Racing’s GTP program in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, driving the No. 10 Acura AR35TT alongside co-driver Filipe Albuquerque. The team continues to chase another championship and additional endurance crown jewel wins after the introduction of the GTP rules package.

Through the early rounds of the 2025 season, Taylor has been part of a competitive Acura effort against rival manufacturers in the GTP class, with the Daytona 24, Sebring 12 Hours, and Petit Le Mans serving as the marquee checkpoints on the calendar. His experience and continuity within Wayne Taylor Racing give the team a strong foundation for title contention.

Looking ahead, Taylor’s priorities remain consistent: contend for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Drivers’ title, add to his collection of endurance wins, and help Acura compete for the manufacturers’ championship.