Larbre signs Taylor to three-race deal

Ricky Taylor

France's Larbre Competition has inked IMSA star Ricky Taylor to replace Paulo Ruberti for the next three rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The former Grand-Am Rolex Series champion, who drove for Larbre in 2013-'14 and joined the factory Corvette Racing team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, will drive the No. 50 Corvette C7.R alongside Pierre Ragues and Yutaka Yamagishi in Mexico, at the IMSA/WEC double-header in Texas, and close his stint with the team in Japan.

"I am very excited to join Larbre for these three rounds of the WEC championship," Taylor said. "The team has proven its great pace this season by clinching good results. I am looking forward to supporting the squad to more success and to do my part to contribute to some points for the championship for Pierre, Yutaka and the team. I have enjoyed my other experiences with the outfit so it will be a nice experience to be back."

Team principal Jack Leconte has high expectations for Taylor as part of the No. 50 Corvette driver rotation in GTE-Am.

"As the FIA WEC is heading for overseas rounds, Larbre Competition is delighted to welcome back Ricky Taylor," he said. "If we made him discover the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2013 and 2014, roles will be reversed on the other side of the Atlantic thanks to his experience and knowledge of American racing.

"I am convinced that Ricky will fit very quickly with this teammates, especially as he and Pierre got on extremely well when they raced together in La Sarthe two years ago. Yutaka will help us with his experience of the Fuji circuit during the Japanese round. With three podiums out of four races, and a solid display at the Le Mans 24 Hours, we want to continue on the same trend to confirm our top three position in the championship."

Locked in a battle for the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship title in the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette DP, Taylor will race both cars at Circuit of The Americas and will have an easier time at the conflict-free Mexico and Japan WEC rounds. racer.com