The boss of the Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti IMSA SportsCar Championship squad, who has won Daytona twice as a driver and four times as a team owner, purchased the 1978 Wolf-Cosworth WR4 last year to fulfil the twin ambitions of racing an F1 car and of competing at Monaco.
A full restoration has been undertaken ahead of South African-born Taylor’s race return after a 10-year absence on the streets of Monte Carlo on 11-12 May.
“When I set out as a racing driver, my ambition was to get to F1,” said Taylor whose single-seater career peaked with victory in the 1986 South African Formula 2 Championship.
“Over time you adjust your targets, but this kind of closes the book: I still wanted to drive an F1 car and thought I’d like to own one, and then go to Monaco.”
Taylor, 67, described a Wolf driven by Scheckter as his “perfect car” because he grew up next door to the 1979 F1 world champion’s elder brother, Ian, who also competed in F1.
“I remember before the 1977 season, when Jody joined Wolf, he and [team owner] Walter Wolf came over to Ian’s house for a barbecue,” he said.
“I was climbing up the fence to peak a look at them.”
The car has been restored by Hudson Historics in New York State and was given a first shakedown by Taylor at Putnam Park in Indiana in February before a first proper test this week at Daytona.
Source: Autosport