Scoring their first ever win at Road America, Wayne Taylor Racing took the championship lead after a hard-fought battle. When Wayne Taylor Racing entered the IMSA Race today, they trailed their Acura factory team member Meyer Shank Racing by a few positions. They continued in this position for the first two rainy stints. Once the track dried, the race changed for Wayne Taylor Racing.
Fighting for Everything
Felipe Albuquerque, the driver for Wayne Taylor Racing, took a pass on the inside of Oliver Jarvis and blocked Earl Bamber. This newly fierce competition showed signs that Albuquerque planned to duke it out with everything he had. Once the two Cadillacs cleared, Albuquerque and Jarvis stood neck and neck. The two Acuras were trading blows. With the remaining eight minutes on the clock, Albuquerque left Jarvis behind to fight Bamber.
The Brutal Crash That Decided the Race
During the battle with Bamber, Jarvis blocked Bamber's attempt to pass. However, this block left him in a poor position during a fast corner. Albuquerque took off toward the outside corner, sending him spinning off and hitting the wall head first. It was a nasty crash, but Albuquerque would rise unharmed. The race finished, and Albuquerque took fourth place with a car that suffered heavy damage and a deflating left tire. Wayne Taylor Racing would take the championship lead and continue on to the Petit Le Mans this upcoming October.
Just One Race Remains
In 2022, with one race remaining, Acura has unofficially clinched the 2022 IMSA DPi Manufacturer's Championship. They will formally take the title when the field takes the green flag at this upcoming race in October. Meanwhile, we will see the drivers battle it out for titles at Road Atlanta. The biggest contenders include Wayne Taylor Racing and Meyer Shank Racing. The others were mathematically eliminated at the Road America race.
Conclusion
Felipe Albuquerque says that while the race ended well for them, it could've gone another direction with them finishing in last place because of the rain. Some of the other racers took a gamble on rain tires to deal with the slickness better, whereas Wayne Taylor Racing took the risk. If you enjoyed this piece and would like to learn more about the races, why not come check out our dealership? We can show you around the lot to see some of the available cars that we have and answer questions.
