Deletraz, WTR Shoot For The Top Step At Road America
(Photo courtesy of IMSA/Jake Galstad/Lumen Digital Agency)
By Dennis Krause
Coming off a season-best runner-up finish at Watkins Glen International, Louis Deletraz and co-driver Jordan Taylor look to make the top step of the podium at this weekend’s Motul Sports Car Grand Prix at Elkhart Lake’s Road America.
For the driver of the No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R there would be no better place to do it than at Road America.
“Road America has always been great. It's an awesome track; so fast. Obviously, it will be the first time with the Cadillac. It’s still a new car to us, but we just came off a great event at Watkins with our first podium, our first double podium for the team. We want to build momentum from that, so let's try and do that. We think the tarmac has lost some grip compared to last year, so we'll have to work with that and obviously looking forward to it.”
Deletraz says the double podium finish for WTR at The Glen gives the team both confidence and motivation going into this weekend.
“For sure. It’s not been the easiest start of the year, clearly. And to finally get a podium, which we worked hard for, at Watkins is good. To share it with the 10 car was fantastic. It's the first time since we have had two cars at Wayne Taylor Racing. We want more, we want to win. Yes, we got a little help from the Safety Car at Watkins at the end of the race, but we still would have finished fourth with a good strategy and good calls from the team. So, I think we can do well at Road America and go get that first win and catch back some points in the championship.”
(Photo courtesy of IMSA/Jake Galstad/Lumen Digital Agency)
Currently 9th in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) point standings, Deletraz and Taylor are not even thinking championship at this point of the season with three events remaining.
“Honestly, no, we're not looking at a championship,” said Deletraz. “We've had such a rough start to the year that we're too far to catch up. But, never say never. We will go for wins. If we can win all three last races, we will and see where we end up.
“At the end, we're a team. If the 10 car has a shot at it, we will help them, or any Cadillacs. It's one big team here, so we're here to help each other.”
The Cadillac program is new for Wayne Taylor Racing in 2025, having previously fielded the Acura ARX-06. According to the 28-year-old Swiss driver, it’s been a year of adjustment for the team.
“We've learned a lot. Daytona was the first one. Obviously, everything was new, so much learning for the team side, for the drivers, all the engineers. Also, getting to know each other between the Cadillac guys and Wayne Taylor Racing took some time. You see rewards from teams who have been with the same manufacturers for three years and there's no way to skip that.
“But every race we’ve improved, every race we learned. And I think everyone on the team feels more comfortable. I think we also understand where the car wants to live in terms of setup for different tracks -- for bumpy tracks and high-speed tracks -- we've seen through now with Watkins. So, Road America, I think is definitely the race we're most ready for, and where we have the most data and the most experience. So, I’m really looking forward to see how we get on there.”
(Photo courtesy of IMSA/Jake Galstad/LAT)
When he’s not racing in IMSA, Deletraz competes in the European Le Mans Series for AO by TF in Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2). Switching between the GTP car of IMSA and the LMP2 in ELMS takes a little bit of getting used to.
“The first three, four laps, it always feels like you have to go back on something and adapt. But, overall, I think it's an advantage to be able to race all the cars around, especially LMP2. It's not a prototype, it's more racing, more traffic, and more chance to fight for victories, which is always the goal. And I think you arrive to the next event just warmed up. I think it's different drivers to drivers, but I really like racing other cars at the same time.”
Sunday’s 2-hour, 40-minute race is the final sprint race of the season for the GTP class. Next year, Road America will host a 6-hour endurance race, essentially trading race formats with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the 2026 schedule.
According to Deletraz, the approach to a sprint race is different from a 6-hour endurance event.
“For sure, the approach changes. In sprint races, you need to run at the front. There won't be so many pit stops to try and gain positions, so track position is always what you want, which means more risk straight away. Also, qualifying matters more. When Road America will become a six-hour race, it will change. You want to survive, you want to cycle through the first three hours and then get to the front, I would say. So, the approach changes a little bit.
“But, overall, I think from a driver perspective to have six hours at Road America, I'm really excited about it. Such a great track. Is bigger, so for all those cars it's easier with traffic and I'm looking forward to it. No offense to Indy, I like the track too, but Road America will be exciting.”
(Photo courtesy of IMSA/Brandon Badraoui/Lumen Digital Agency)
In Friday’s lone 90-minute practice session, Deletraz was tenth fastest, touring the 4.048-mile, 14-turn circuit in 1-minute, 52.349-seconds, less a than second behind the No. 10 Acura ARX-06 of Tom Blomqvist.
What Deletraz likes best about Road America, is all the challenges the circuit presents, comparable to one of the most revered tracks in Europe.
“The whole track is a bit like Spa. If you compare, it has a lot of elevation, high grip, pretty smooth. So, there's a lot of nice corners like the Carousel. It's a good mix between technical, low speed, and high speed. It is a challenge to put a big lap in. It's always rewarding when you see a good lap time and you’re up front to have made a lap there. It's just a track you get on and you enjoy, and that's something that you can only describe if you’re in the car.”
Deletraz hopes the reward this weekend at Road America will be the top step of the podium.
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute. Follow him on X @DennisKrause500 or motorsportsminute.bluesky.social or motorsportsminute on Threads or MotorsportsMinute+ on Facebook.