Taylor heading to Australia on Supercars drive search

The American will visit the inaugural Newcastle 500 to meet with Supercars teams, the trip inspired by his former race engineer Charlie Ping, who now works with Brad Jones Racing and Team 18 through his consultancy role with Pratt & Miller.

Taylor's hope is to lock down an enduro driver for next year's long-distance races at Sandown, Bathurst, and the Gold Coast.

“Charlie’s convinced me to make the 22-hour trip out there, so I’m really excited to make my first trip back to Australia since I was a kid to watch my first Supercars race,” Taylor said.

“Most people in Australia probably don’t know me as I do most of my racing in the US, being there in person is the best way to get my name and face around the paddock.

“I’ve been watching Supercars for as long as I can remember and I love it.

“The formula with these cars creates such close, hard racing, which most of the world is missing out on. Combine that with the high-level teams and drivers, and you have an incredible championship.

“I have a sportscar background, so I’d love to get involved with the endurance rounds as a co-driver, if possible.”

Taylor already has a pre-existing relationship with Team 18 owner Charlie Schwerkolt, and is also set to meet Triple Eight boss Roland Dane during the Newcastle weekend, leveraging his ties with GM through the Cadillac programme in the US and his Corvette drive at Le Mans. 

“I met Charlie during my race at the Detroit Grand Prix in June, so Team 18 will probably be my first stop in Newcastle,” Taylor added.

“Holden’s motorsport guys have also organized for me to meet Roland Dane and visit with the factory Red Bull Holden Racing Team, which I’m really looking forward to – they’ve been the series benchmark for so long.

“I’m excited about seeing the Supercars live and catching up with a few of the drivers I’ve crossed paths with. Hopefully, I can get some things in the works for the future."

Taylor is coming off the back of a bumper IMSA season, he and brother Ricky Taylor winning the first five races of the season – including long-distance classics at Daytona and Sebring – to set up their title-winning tilt.