Jordan Taylor and Max Angelelli have claimed the Daytona Prototype title after the last race of the season of the Rolex Series, behind the wheel of the n°10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette DP. Lime Rock was also the last race of the Series, before the unified Series next year, the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.
Jordan and Max have been kind enough to answer some questions for Endurance-Info. This interview had been done before the announcement of Jordan and Ricky’s partnership next year.
Jordan, you have been runner-up in the GT standings of the Rolex Series, and now you are the DP champion, the youngest champion ever in the Series? What are your feelings about this title?
“After finishing second in the GT championship, I knew how bad it felt to go through an entire championship and come up just short of winning. So now, having won the DP championship, I am incredibly happy. It is a sense of accomplishment, but also a bit of a relief to get a major championship.”
Max, what are your feelings about this second title? Was it more difficult than the first one?
“A championship win is always a result of teamwork. This year, more than any other year in the past, we have seen and experienced what that really means. In 2005, the series was very different. Team preparation was important but not predominant. In those years since 2005, things changed. They went very extreme and team members now are equally important to the drivers. Pit stops and race strategy can make a driver look great or horrible, depending on what kind of track position the team is able to gain or lose for him.”
Max, you have already been DP Champion in 2005 with Wayne Taylor, you have been racing with Ricky, Wayne’s older son and you have now claimed a second title, with Jordan, Wayne’s younger son. So, what can you say of the Taylor family?
“Being with the family since 1999, I guess I can say a lot of things but there is one thing that stands above everything I can say, and that is honesty. In the racing world, this word is rare and precious. I’ve been asked so many times, who is the faster, the nicer, the easiest to work with, etc. People are interested in comparisons and picking one on top of the other. We are all different and we are all unique. We all have different skills. The kids, Wayne, they all are winners. They all meet in the center of a very special circle and that is the winner circle. They only used different ways to meet there.”
Jordan, may you speak of your teammate Max Angelelli, in a few words ?
“I have known Max for almost my entire life. I grew up with him around my family, so he is basically like another brother to me. He has been a major part of my growth in racing, having basically mentored me through my career and teaching me all the little nuances of our sport. Not only on the track, but off the track, as well.”
What do you like best in him? What do you like less?
“Most people just see the Max that is in the car. The side that I get to see is the best side, the fun, playful personality. He likes to joke around and have fun, but then at the same time he can switch over and become very serious when he needs to. That is my favorite part about it. I do not care for his choice in clothing … it must be an Italian thing!”
What is Max’s main quality? His main defect, if any?
“Max is very experienced in this form of racing, and that experience came into play a lot this year. His understanding of the technical side of the sport is a huge help, not only for himself, but he can help the team as well when we are having issues. Combining that with his will to win in the car, that is why we had so much success this year.”
Max, what can you say about Jordan Taylor, in a few words
“Commitment, desire to excel without losing the freshness of his young age. Quick, competitive and humble.”
What do you like best in him? What do you like less?
“He is funny and makes fun of people. He has no sense of humor when people make fun of him.”
Jordan, what are your favourite tracks? Those that you don’t like too much?
“My favorite tracks are the ones that have the history, tracks like Daytona, Le Mans, Road Atlanta, Watkins Glen, Sebring. When you go to these tracks, you feel the history, and they still have old style layouts with very nice, high-speed sections, but also very technical. There are a few tracks that I don’t enjoy driving, tracks that weren’t necessarily designed for racing, but more to fit into the new ‘mold’ for racetracks.”
Max, what are your favourite tracks? Those that you don’t like too much?
“I like fast, long tracks with fourth- and fifth-gear corners. Macau, Watkins Glen, Laguna Seca. I can’t stand racetracks where you only have first-gear corners and it is impossible to make passes. Because of my lack of patience, sometimes, I have the tendency to crash on those tracks unless I’m leading the race.”
Jordan, what are your expectations for next year in the TUDOR USCC?
“I think the new series is very exciting. It is definitely something that should bring a lot of attention to sports car racing in America, but I think it may take a few years to get it all sorted into the proper series that it can be.”
Max, what are your expectations for next year in the TUDOR USCC?
“To have a fair, well-balanced competition within all different types of prototype cars. I’m expecting USCC to act fairly and react quickly.”
Jordan, has it been quite special to race against your brother Ricky?
“We didn’t know what to expect going into the year because we had never raced against each other before. It was actually a lot of fun. I had some of my best battles of my entire career with him this year. I was happy with the way we raced with each other this year. It was a lot of fun.”
Jordan, you have been racing at Le Mans the last two seasons. What can you say about this event? About the Corvette?
“Le Mans was the event that I wanted to do growing up. It was the race that meant the most to my dad, and I think that is why it intrigued me so much. The history of the event and the track are so special, and to go there with an American car like the Corvette was just perfect. We haven’t had the results that we wanted, but it is a very unique event where everything needs to be right.”
Max, you have raced four times at Le Mans. Would you like to come back to Le Mans?
“Oh yes, of course, anytime!!!! I guess 26 or 27 wins in GRAND-AM wins in my career are not enough to find a seat for me at Le Mans!”
We do thank you very Mucj Max and Jordan and we wish them the best for next year.