Ricky Taylor has amassed championships and race wins in the top level of sports car racing. Currently driving for Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti in the Acura ARX-06 GTP car, he scored a victory at the 2024 Detroit Grand Prix and a podium with his co-driver Felipe Albuquerque at Road America. We met up with Ricky at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach Media Day where he was kind enough to give me a few hot laps in the Acura Integra Type S DE5 race car.

Being a Fast Lane instructor, I’m always learning something whenever I get on the racetrack either as a driver or sitting right seat. In this instance, I learned that this top level professional driver is human after all and can make a mistake. I asked him about it, and he admitted it and gave the reason why and what happened. He is a true professional, humble, polite and extremely talented. His “debrief” of this session is fascinating and he explains how he’s learning a new race car on a race track that’s only used once a year. A real insider’s look into a track session debrief. Enjoy!

NOTE: Ricky Taylor and his teammate will be going for victory in the Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on October 12, 2024.

By Larry Mason

Copyright © 2024 Larry Mason

Ricky Taylor is an accomplished and consummate professional racer. Here he takes a moment to smile for the camera at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach Media Day.

Ricky Taylor in front of the new Acura Integra Type S DE5 race car. This race car scored a podium finish the first time at a race track!

(video courtesy of HRC – edited for brevity)

Here’s a short in-car video segment that shows Ricky Taylor modifying the ABS settings as he’s hammer down on Seaside Way while Mason looks on to see what’s happening.

After giving Mason a thrill ride around the streets of Long Beach, Mason gives Taylor a fist bump to say “well done” on his driving.

(image courtesy of HRC)

Taylor is shown here rocketing down Shoreline Drive. You can see the teardrop shape of the cockpit as well as the aerodynamic cleanliness of the rear of the ARX-06 as the air has a place to split the rear fenders.

Apex perfect through the fountain, Ricky Taylor puts his Acura through the tight confines of this section of the track. Note the large carbon fiber front splitter and “dive planes” that generate additional downforce from the built-in front wing.

Interview and photos Copyright © by Larry Mason (unless otherwise noted)