Fast Finish Makes Westbrook, Spirit of Daytona, Contenders for 2013 Rolex DP Title

Many would have believed, watching Richard Westbrook slice and dice his No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Corvette DP through the field at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Lime Rock Park, that the Englishman was about to capture the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series championship. Unfortunately, two races don’t make a season – but for Westbrook and his team finishing strong, first and second, is the best way to head into the winter break. Spirit of Daytona finished third in team standings, the highest-placed Corvette DP running race team.

“Good results show just how far we’ve come,” said Westbrook during recent testing at Daytona International Speedway. “Clearly, we’ve got a lot more confidence.”

And, clearly, Westbrook and company arguably possessed the fastest car at the conclusion of the 2012 campaign.

That, in itself, didn’t make up for three consecutive races – Indianapolis, Watkins Glen and Montreal – in which the team suffered spins, broken axles and suspension damage. Westbrook and the team scored zero points in two straight races with the No. 90 a DNF after a single lap.

Westbrook, paired with several different co-drivers, finished 10th in points. He won at Barber Motorsports Park and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with Spaniard Antonio Garcia. Michael Valiante shared the cockpit with him in his win at Mid-Ohio.

That will change in 2013 with the signing of Ricky Taylor, beginning with January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona and continuing through the Lime Rock Park finale.

“I anticipate some great results and learning a lot from all the guys including Richard, who I have watched race for many years,” said Taylor, who spent the past three seasons with the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette DP team – his father’s team – and co-driver Max Angelelli.

Theoretically, that should make Spirit of Daytona a solid championship contender – especially with a season’s worth of engineering on what was a brand-new Corvette DP that made its debut this past season.

Last season was the first in which the 36-year-old Westbrook competed full time in GRAND-AM. He admits there was a learning curve.

“I enjoyed it but it took some getting used to on the restarts,” said the former FIA GT2 and Porsche Supercup champion. “The intensity of the competition is so much more than I’d been used to. We’ll be a lot stronger in 2013.”