Albuquerque: “We came to Laguna Seca with a sense of duty”

Reigning vice-champion team, Wayne Taylor Racing had still not found the path to victory in this 2022 financial year. It is now done with a first success obtained on the hilly track of Laguna Seca. On a circuit favoring Acuras and where they had already won in 2021, Ricky Taylor first showed how comfortable the No. 10 of the WTR was on this track, setting a new lap record in qualifying . After a perfect start in the race, the American handed over the wheel to Filipe Albuquerque. The Portuguese had to resist the other Acura DPi in the field, the No. 60 of Meyer Shank Racing driven in the second part of the race by Tom Blomqvist, to take the checkered flag as the winner. 

“I am both happy and relieved, said Filipe Albuquerque after the race. We came to Laguna Seca with a sense of duty. It's our best circuit and it's the one that suits our car best. We needed as many points as possible. It's always easy to say, but knowing we have this responsibility and doing it is a different thing. There was a lot of pressure on us. I was just happy that Ricky did an incredible job in qualifying, securing pole by eight hundredths of a second. At first it seemed like we were in control, but every time I pulled away (by Tom Blomqvist. Editor’s note), the traffic slowed me down. I was frustrated for a good part of the race. »

“I was really angry”

Victory even seemed to elude the Portuguese when Blomqvist stole the lead of the race after an early stop, but Albuquerque managed to use the traffic to regain the lead and never relinquish it until the checkered flag. “ When I found myself P2, I was really angry, explains the WTR pilot. I could not believe it. I'm glad I found a little space to recover the position. Again, I was running the race with Meyer Shank Racing in my mirrors, but he never had an opportunity. I'm glad these laps are over, but the car was great and the team did an incredible job. »

Albuquerque and Taylor leave Monterey at the top of the championship before the next meeting of the season, at Mid-Ohio (May 13 to 15).

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