Ricky Taylor revved up for LMP2 guest-starring role at CTMP

For the first time since the unified era of IMSA began in 2014, Ricky Taylor will drive something other than a premier class prototype in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship this weekend.

The older of the Taylor brothers will drive for Bryan Herta Autosport with PR1/Mathiasen in the LMP2 class at this weekend’s Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Taylor was one of many replacement drivers announced for this weekend, where IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship overlap on opposite sides of the American continent.

“I am very excited to join BHA/PR1 for the CTMP round,” said Taylor, who shares the No. 52 ORECA 07-Gibson with co-driver Misha Goikhberg.

Both of Goikhberg’s regular co-drivers, Harry Tincknell and Parker Thompson, are racing at Interlagos this weekend, site of the WEC 6 Hours of São Paulo. With GTP not taking part at CTMP, Taylor takes up their place.

“I have always been a fan of PR1 since I raced in F2000, so I will do my best to fill in for Harry while he is away,” Taylor said. “Teaming up with Misha will be a great pairing; we actually shared the front row at CTMP in 2017 and had a great race.”

Goikhberg feels the BHA PR1//Mathiasen squad is hitting its stride just in time to get the chance for an overall win. Jake Galstad/Lumen via Getty Images

Taylor won at the circuit formerly known as Mosport in 2015 alongside his younger brother Jordan, and finished second in 2023, in the last race to date at the track which featured the premier GTP class.

Despite the fact that he’s never driven an LMP2 car in IMSA until this weekend, Taylor has the unique distinction of being the only driver to have raced in three different brands of current-generation LMP2 cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Taylor drove the Riley Mk.30 in 2017, the first year of the current LMP2 formula – in what was to be the car’s only Le Mans appearance as it quickly fell out of favor with customers. He then returned to Le Mans in 2018 and ’19 driving for Jackie Chan DC Racing, in two different cars prepared by different outfits: A Ligier JS P217 run by OAK Racing in ’18, and an ORECA 07 run by JOTA Sport in ’19.

Goikhberg, the LMP2 pole-sitter at Sebring this year, is also excited about the team's prospects with his temporary teammate.

“At Watkins Glen, we were the most competitive we’ve been so far and had the pace to fight for a podium, but unfortunately it was not meant to be," he said. “It’s a home race for me, and the track is very fast and high-commitment. Ricky and I raced each other here in the past, and we both feel like we let a win slip away from us, so it would be a nice way to cap it off and win.

"It’s also exciting to be competing for an overall win. We had a very good test, and we feel ready for the challenge. Navigating traffic is also going to be an interesting endeavor.”