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Comptech/Honda-Powered Daytona Prototype to Debut at Verizon Festival of Speed


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DAYTONA BEACH, May 8, 2009: A Comptech/Honda-powered Daytona Prototype is set to make its Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 competition debut in the May 17 Verizon Festival of Speed presented by Speedcom Communications at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Jordan Taylor and Jared Beyer are entered in the No. 5 Beyer Racing Lennox Comptech/Honda Riley in the race, which will be televised live on SPEED at 4 p.m. ET. "We did a shakedown run at Infineon Raceway, where we did about 30 laps to make sure everything was running," said Taylor, 17-year-old son of two-time Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Wayne Taylor. "We didn't have any problems with the shakedown, so we're looking forward to getting back out there at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and getting more laps in it."

Taylor is graduating from high school at Lake Highland near his home in Apopka, Fla., this month, and will matriculate to the University of Central Florida this fall, where he will major in mechanical engineering. He and Beyer made their Daytona Prototype debut in the 2008 Brumos Porsche 250 at Daytona International Speedway, co-driving to a 15th-place finish. Taylor finished 10th in this year's Rolex 24 At Daytona, co-driving with his brother Ricky Taylor and Beyer.

Beyer Racing will also race the No. 13 Lennox Pontiac Riley for Ricky Taylor and Mike Forest. Taylor drove the car in all three races this season, finishing in the top 12 each time. Forest will be making his debut with the team. The 27-year old native of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada has nine starts in the Rolex Series GT class, with his best finish fourth in the 2008 finale at Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City, Utah.

Team owner Jeff Beyer hopes to run the Comptech/Honda-powered Daytona Prototype in eight races this season.

"We're looking at the future," said Beyer. "This is only the start of our program. Bill Margraf has helped with the Comptech/Honda engine, and we are looking forward to making the car competitive."