Brothers Ricky and Jordan Taylor, who officials say are on the precipice of winning the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Prototype class, will visit the new Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer facility, the Education Advancement Center in Chattanooga, on Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 9-11 a.m.
The EAC focuses on diagnosing and treating educational and functional deficits associated with pediatric cancer and its life-saving treatments. The center’s programs include industrial arts and driving simulation along with school tutorial programs, neuro-cognitive testing and remediation and other specialty programs designed to optimize recovery from cancer by both patients and their families. The center is also building a “Hot Rodders” program modeled after the popular Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge national competition.
"The Taylor brothers, who have dominated the IMSA season co-driving the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R, have a sizable 29-point lead in both the driver and team point standings going into the Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on Saturday, Oct. 7. To clinch the 2017 driver title, one of the Taylors need only spend 45 minutes behind the wheel. Merely taking the green flag will clinch the team title," officials said.
Prior to the Petit Le Mans, the Taylors will try to re-apply their racing expertise on the two new SimCraft simulators now at the EAC. The Austin Hatcher Foundation was named the official charity of SimCraft, which supplies motion technology solutions in motorsports, aviation, driver education, gaming, home theater applications and more. SimCraft is based in Marietta, Ga.
In addition to testing their skills on the simulators, the Taylor Brothers will meet with young cancer patients at the EAC.