(Watkins Glen, NY.) June 20, 2023 – After a long break in the schedule, the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 and Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport (WTRAndretti) returns in action this weekend at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen. The six-hour endurance event at Watkins Glen International is the third race out of four in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Championship. The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 returns to the classic, 3.4-mile road course as defending winners and have their sights set on returning to victory lane.
As Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque handle the full season co-driving duties, the pair will be joined by IMSA Michelin Endurance Championship driver teammate, Louis Deletraz, to complete the WTRAndretti lineup. In the last three events at Watkins Glen, the blue and black stable has started on the front row, featuring two pole positions in 2021, as well as finishing on the podium – including last year’s win. Marking just near the halfway point in the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen proves to be a pivotal race not just on the schedule, but in championship points.
“Watkins Glen was a turning point in our season last year and we are looking for a similar momentum shift this year when we head there,” said Ricky Taylor, full time co-driver of the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06. “Acura has given us an amazing car to fight for GTP victories, and we are prepared and ready to clinch a victory this weekend.”
“For me, Watkins Glen always marks the halfway point of the championship,” said Filipe Albuquerque, full time co-driver of the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06. “We will have Louis and happy to have him back. We’ve been happy at Watkins Glen in the past – we won last year, with an epic ending. We need to learn about everybody, and which manufacturers can do better on such a smooth track now. There is no reason why for us to not go for the win. We’ll keep pushing and get that win that’s been eluding us.”
“I’m really excited to be going to Watkins Glen with WTRAndretti,” said Louis Deletraz, endurance co-driver for the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06. “I haven’t been racing in the Acura ARX-06 since Sebring three months ago so it’s good to be back. Watkins Glen is an important event for us. We have shown that we are fast and are always in contention to win races and we intend to keep doing that. On the driving side, Watkins Glen is a very high-speed track with no runoff areas, mistakes are always punished and that’s a challenge for all drivers but also why we love it. In testing there, the car felt great and we are ready to fight on track.”
“Watkins Glen is a big race and is one of the longest running sportscar races in America,” said Wayne Taylor. “From a team standpoint, it’s one race that we’ve only won once. This year has been tough, but we’ve been competitive at every race, but we’ve had incidents. Now we need to start concentrating on finishing races, certainly in the top three, to start gaining points in this championship. Obviously, we’re third – 60 points behind – but things can change so quickly. Everybody is going into this race with the attitude of ‘Okay, guys, we need to have a good race here, good strategy and we need to get a good result.’ Daytona was really our only good result this year. The other two races should have been good results, but we crashed out right at the end of both races and then Laguna Seca, we finished fourth which was disappointing considering we had won two in a row before. We had a good test at Watkins Glen and so we are looking forward to this weekend. Although, I’ve been checking the weather and its rain. Rain is always an equalizer so will see what happens, but really looking forward to this race.”
The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen weekend begins with practice on Friday, June 23 at 4:30 p.m. ET on IMSA.TV and qualifying will be held on Saturday June 24 starting at 2:10 p.m. ET, live on Pea**** TV. All six hours of flag-to-flag coverage of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen on Sunday, June 25, will be broadcast live on Pea**** TV and USA Network broadcast will begin at 2 p.m. ET through the checkered flag.
ABOUT KONICA MINOLTA
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is reshaping and revolutionizing the workplace to achieve true connectivity through the Intelligent Connected Workplace. The company guides and supports its clients’ digital transformation through its expansive office technology portfolio, including IT Services (All Covered), intelligent information management, managed print services and industrial and commercial print solutions. Konica Minolta has been included on CRN’s MSP 500 list nine times and The World Technology Awards named the company a finalist in the IT Software category. Konica Minolta has been recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys for fifteen consecutive years, and is proud to be ranked on the Forbes 2021 America’s Best-in-State employers list. The company received Keypoint Intelligence’s BLI 2021 A3 Line of The Year Award and BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand Award for its bizhub i-Series. Konica Minolta, Inc. has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for nine consecutive years and has spent four years on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list. The company recognizes 150 years in global business in 2023. Konica Minolta partners with its clients to give shape to ideas and works to bring value to our society. For more information, please visit us online and follow Konica Minolta on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter.
The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 effort and Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport is supported by an outstanding lineup of partners including Harrison Contracting Company, Acura Motorsports, Honda Performance Development and Hammer Nutrition .
