Join JDC-Miller MotorSports in Supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® DONATE NOW

Hexagon Announces Strategic Collaboration with JDC-Miller MotorSports to Enhance Performance and Compliance for 2025 IMSA Season

Katie Church on January 21, 2025

With advanced metrology devices from Hexagon, JDC-Miller MotorSports can fine-tune vehicles before races and gather on-site insights in near real-time, providing a competitive edge on the track

January 21, 2025

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division today announced a strategic collaboration with JDC-Miller MotorSports, a Minnesota-based racing team renowned for competing in various IMSA series with vehicles from Porsche, Audi, Oreca, Duqueine, and more. This partnership will push the boundaries of precision and performance in motorsports engineering for the 2025 IMSA racing season.

JDC-Miller MotorSports, known for using the state-of-the-art Porsche Hybrid 963 GTP race car in IMSA’s top-tier Prototype class, will utilize Hexagon’s cutting-edge metrology devices to fine-tune the Porsche 963 ahead of races. This collaboration highlights the critical role of metrology technology in maintaining a competitive edge in motorsports, where every detail can determine victory or a loss.

Advancing Precision with Hexagon’s Metrology Technology

At the center of this collaboration is Hexagon’s advanced metrology solutions, including its patented MARVELSCAN scanning device, which will enable JDC-Miller MotorSports to generate highly accurate 3D scans of vehicles before each race, ensuring they are consistently in compliance.

Benefits and key features of the MARVELSCAN include:
● Advanced Technology for Precise Scanning: Features like Hole Flash Capture, edge detection, and photogrammetry enable MARVELSCAN to handle complex geometries with incredible accuracy, with less cleanup required before processing.

● Scan Large Parts Faster Without Targets: MARVELSCAN raises the bar for 3D scanning productivity, as its unique built-in photogrammetry delivers targetless scanning functionality. This enables full vehicle measurements without the need to place targets or stickers on the vehicle, saving significant time while enhancing scanning accuracy.

● Streamlined Processes: High-speed data capture reduces technical inspection time and minimizes post-processing, enabling faster compliance and enhanced efficiency.

● Flexibility to Diverse Surface Types: Designed to perform on reflective, glossy, or dark surfaces like car finishes, MARVELSCAN ensures reliable performance in challenging inspection environments.

● Portable and Versatile Design: Lightweight and compact, MARVELSCAN is tailored for industries like motorsports, offering unparalleled flexibility and ease of use.

MARVELSCAN will be used alongside other metrology technologies, including the Hexagon Absolute Arm, a Portable Coordinate Measurement Machine (PCMM) known for its best-in-class accuracy and compliance with recognized ISO standards. All of Hexagon’s devices and technologies are designed to work seamlessly in concert within the same ecosystem, helping to eliminate silos and improve ease of data sharing. This enables JDC-Miller MotorSports to effortlessly expand and adopt additional technology as their challenges and priorities evolve.

“We at JDC-Miller MotorSports are excited about the many ways we can utilize Hexagon’s technology,” said John Church, Managing Partner, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963. “In the IMSA WeatherTech Championship series, it is essential for our car to be in compliance at all times. Utilizing the Hexagon tools allows us to arrive at the track and breeze through technical inspection. The Porsche 963 is a precision instrument just like the advanced equipment Hexagon produces, it only makes sense to use the best. We believe Hexagon is a natural partner in the high-tech environment of the GTP class within the IMSA WeatherTech Championship.”

On-Site Support for Instant Insights

Through Hexagon’s collaboration with Productivity Quality, Inc., JDC-Miller MotorSports will also receive on-site technical support, enabling pre- and post-race analysis in near real-time. This hands-on support will allow drivers, engineers and their extended teams to rapidly review and adjust based on the data, maximizing their performance.

“As the regional partner for Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, Productivity Quality, Inc. will be providing on-site scanning services to JDC-Miller MotorSports using the latest Hexagon metrology technology for data acquisition and analysis,” said Keith Summers, CEO, Productivity Quality, Inc. “Our analysis will include CAD-to-Part comparisons to ensure optimal compliance to design specifications, where a few thousandths of an inch can affect conformance and performance in the very competitive motorsports arena.”

“We’re honored to collaborate with JDC-Miller MotorSports, providing them with metrology solutions that ensure the technologically advanced vehicles they drive meet the rigorous demands that come with competitive racing,” said Brian Winters, Product Manager Articulated Arms & Handheld Scanners, Hexagon. “Using Hexagon’s metrology solutions alongside on-site scanning services through our partnership with Productivity Quality, Inc., JDC-Miller MotorSports can optimize their vehicles, giving their drivers a critical advantage on the racetrack.”

Hexagon’s Ongoing Support of American Motorsports

This collaboration with JDC-Miller MotorSports further cements Hexagon’s reputation as a trusted provider of cutting-edge technology for motorsports. Hexagon has a longstanding commitment in advancing motorsports through partnerships with leading automotive racing teams that compete in both NASCAR and Formula One.

Hexagon is the global leader in precision technologies at any scale. Our digital twins, robotics and AI solutions are transforming the industries that shape our reality.  Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division provides solutions that use data from design and engineering, production and metrology to make manufacturing smarter. For more information, visit hexagon.com/mi.

Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 24,500 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 5.4bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB.

Bryce Aron joins JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 for the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona

Katie Church on January 10, 2025

Savage, MN

January 9, 2025

JDC-Miller MotorSports is very pleased to announce that American driver Bryce Aron will be joining the team for the 2025 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. He fills out the driver line-up in the team’s Porsche 963 GTP of full-season drivers Tijmen van der Helm, and Gianmaria Bruni, as well as Formula E World Champion Pascal Wehrlein.

Aron is joining JDC-Miller MotorSports after a successful rookie season with the Andretti
team in the Indy NXT series. In 14 starts, he achieved 2 podiums and 8 top-10 finishes
in the highly competitive NXT series. The 21-year-old suburban Chicago native has
enjoyed success in BRDC British F3, Euroformula Open F3, Formula Regional Oceania,
and Formula Ford. He raced in British Formula Ford as part of the Team USA
Scholarship program, the highlight of which being a podium in the prestigious Walter
Hayes Trophy race. He brings a strong record of winning races to the team.

Quotes:

John Church, Managing Partner, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963

“We are very excited to welcome Bryce to the JDC-Miller MotorSports team. He is a
highly talented young driver with a bright future, and we believe he will be an excellent
addition to our team. His diverse experience makes him a perfect fit for us. I am very
excited about the caliber of drivers we have for our 2025 Rolex effort.”

Bryce Aron, Driver, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963

“I am thrilled to join JDC-Miller MotorSports and have the opportunity to race the
Porsche 963 at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. Competing at this level is truly a dream
come true, and I am grateful for the chance to work with such a professional and
successful team. I am eager to get started and contribute to the team’s success.”

Tijmen van der Helm to Continue Driving the JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship

Katie Church on January 10, 2025

Savage, MN

January, 9 2025

JDC-Miller MotorSports is very pleased to announce the signing of Tijmen van der Helm to their driver lineup for the full IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.

Van der Helm has become an integral part of the team. The young Dutch driver has
competed in the team’s Porsche 963 in every IMSA WeatherTech Championship race
since the car made its debut at Laguna Seca in May 2023. His impressive performance
and dedication have solidified his position within the organization. He has shown
consistent speed and race craft, proving to be a valuable asset to the JDC-Miller
MotorSports GTP program. He will be joined by Gianmaria Bruni as they aspire to win
the GTP class Championship.

Despite his youth, van der Helm possesses significant experience, having begun his
career in karting before progressing through the open-wheel categories in Europe and
eventually transitioning to Prototypes. He has two starts at Le Mans. The JDC-Miller
MotorSports team is pleased to welcome Tijmen back for another season in the IMSA
WeatherTech Championship, reflecting their confidence in his abilities and contributions
to the team.

Tijmen hopes to celebrate his 21st birthday by receiving a Rolex wristwatch on the
podium at Daytona.

Quotes:

John Church, Managing Partner, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963

“I’m very pleased we are able to bring Tijmen back to our GTP program. He has been
with us throughout this journey, so no one is more qualified to get behind the wheel.
Now in his third year with us, he knows the series, the team, and the car, which are all
invaluable to achieving success. We see Tijmen as very important to our program’s
development. Not just in 2025 but in future years as well, so we have entered into a
multi-year agreement with him. The entire JDC-Miller MotorSports team looks forward to
another year with Tijmen leading us to a championship.”

Tijmen van der Helm, Driver, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963

“I’m very happy to continue with JDC-Miller MotorSports. I have really enjoyed my time
with the team so far, and I’m excited to keep working with everyone as we strive to
achieve our goals with the Porsche 963. With two years of GTP experience under my
belt, I’ve learned a lot from my past teammates—first with Mike Rockenfeller during our
debut season, and then with Richard Westbrook in 2024. The team has made
significant changes for 2025, and with the driver lineup recently announced, we have all
the tools and potential needed to compete for race wins. I would like to thank John
Church and the Miller family for their faith and support in bringing me back.”

Gianmaria Bruni joins JDC-Miller MotorSports for the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech Championship Season

Katie Church on January 6, 2025

Monday, January 6, 2025

Savage, MN

JDC-Miller MotorSports is thrilled to announce the signing of accomplished Italian sports car driver Gianmaria Bruni to their driver lineup for the full 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. Bruni will pilot the team’s No. 85 Porsche 963 in the highly competitive GTP class. He joins Tijmen van der Helm, who returns for his third season with the team.

Bruni brings a wealth of experience and success to JDC-Miller MotorSports. The Italian driver has 4 class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 2 FIA World Endurance Championships, and a class win at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, to just highlight some of his many accomplishments. He comes to JDC-Miller MotorSports after long stints as a Ferrari factory driver and most recently as a Porsche factory driver. The past two seasons behind the wheel of a Porsche 963. All this experience makes him an extremely valuable asset to the team as they continue to develop and compete with their Porsche 963 in the top class in North American sportscar racing.

The addition of Bruni strengthens JDC-Miller MotorSports’ commitment to competing at the highest level of sports car racing in North America. The team is eager to begin the 2025 season later this month at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. Further driver announcements will be made in the coming days.

Quotes:

John Church, Managing Partner, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Gimmi to the JDC-Miller family.” His impressive track record and deep understanding of sports car racing speak for themselves. We believe his experience and skill will be instrumental in our pursuit of success in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. He and Tijmen are the pair of world-class drivers we need to compete for the championship.”

Gianmaria Bruni, Driver, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963

“I am very happy to be joining JDC-Miller MotorSports for the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech Championship season. I spent a few days with the team at the Daytona tests in November, and I can’t wait to work with them throughout the entire IMSA championship. I am very motivated and expect to see great results. I am looking forward to working with my new teammates at Daytona and through the entire WeatherTech season.”

Wehrlein to Make Daytona Debut with JDC-Miller

Katie Church on December 20, 2024

By Davey Euwema with Sportcar365.com

December 20, 2024

Pascal Wehrlein will make his Rolex 24 at Daytona debut in JDC-Miller Motorsports’ customer Porsche 963.

The reigning ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will team up with the previously confirmed Tijmen van der Helm and Bryce Aron aboard the No. 85 car for the Florida endurance classic.

Wehrlein previously tested with JDC-Miller at the IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona in November, after which he expressed a willingness to also join the team at the Rolex 24.

“I’ve always wanted to drive sports cars – that’s one of my goals as a racing driver,” said Wehrlein.

“Now I have the opportunity to prove myself there too. I’m very happy about that!

“The test drives with JDC-Miller Motorsports in mid-November went well.

“The Porsche 963 reminded me of the DTM cars of my time – I felt comfortable.

“I’m currently recovering from my accident in São Paulo. But I want to get back to full speed in January.”

The 30-year-old, who won his first Formula E title as a Porsche factory driver last season, also boasts previous experience in both Formula 1 and DTM, notably winning the championship in the latter in 2015.

Wehrlein also took part in a 36-hour endurance test with Porsche Penske Motorsport in 2022, although that at the time did not lead to any further opportunities with the factory squad.

Notably, Wehrlein’s Porsche Formula E teammate Antonio Felix da Costa will also be on the grid at Daytona, having joined Inter Europol Competition’s LMP2 lineup.

Unitronic JDC-Miller Motorsport Step Up to GS with Porsche for 2025

Katie Church on November 13, 2024

November 13, 2024

After five successful years campaigning Audi equipment, 2024 IMSA Michelin Pilot TCR Driver
and Team’s Champions Unitronic JDC-Miller Motorsports step up to the top class with a Porsche
718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport for 2025 and beyond.

A remarkable 11 victories, 17 podium finishes, and 9 pole positions highlight an extremely successful 5-year stint for Unitronic in partnership with JDC-Miller Motorsports and Audi, all culminating in clinching the 2024 championship, and finally bringing an end to Hyundai’s dominance in IMSA TCR over the past 5 seasons.

TCR Championship Win Fuels Ambitious 2025 Vision

A leading force behind the program, Unitronic’s John Staffi said proudly “Looking back, we’ve
had a lot of success in a relatively short period of time with Audi on the racing side. We’re
grateful for Audi Sport and the RS 3 LMS TCR machines, but we’ve achieved what we set out to
do [in motorsports] securing the 2024 TCR championship title—and we’ll absolutely continue to
drive innovation and set the bar higher on the Unitronic corporate side, delivering
industry-leading performance software and hardware solutions for Audi and Volkswagen road
cars. But always looking ahead, we’re excited to expand our reach in 2025, setting new
goals and driving the iconic Unitronic brand to new levels in business, in symphony with
our passion in motorsports.”

Stepping It Up with Porsche GT4 Entry

With momentum on their side the #17 team has decided to take things to the next level in
partnership with fellow Volkswagen Audi Group brand, Porsche Motorsport and their globally
successful GT4 platform. Fitted with a naturally aspirated 6-cylinder boxer engine in mid-engine
layout and a chassis known for its lightweight, well-balanced performance, Porsche finished the
2024 IMSA GS manufacturer in second position a mere 40 points adrift.

“We consider ourselves a family at Porsche. So, it feels right to have the No. 17
Unitronic/JDC-Miller MotorSports team grow into a GS program with the Porsche 718 Cayman
GT4 RS Clubsport. As champions in the TCR class, we know they have the skill and the
experience that, when joined with the expertise and Porsche knowledge of its big brother, the
No. 85 Porsche 963, will make them a contender in the GS class very quickly. This is a perfect
example of what Porsche can offer and we are very excited to welcome another championship
winning program to the GT4 paddock.” said Volker Holzmeyer, President and CEO, Porsche
Motorsport North America.

Drivers Ready to Bring the Fight to GS class

“It’s bittersweet leaving Audi who we’ve had so many great memories with but I couldn’t be more
excited about our new Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport! Together with all our partners and crew
members I think we have built a fantastic operation, and we want to take things to the next level
and compete at the highest level we can. GS will be very different to TCR, the way the races
develop is very different and there will be a lot of learning, but we have a great driver lineup, the
best crew, the best partners and together with Porsche Motorsport North America we believe we
can do something great!” said South African born Mikey Taylor, who will continue into his 6th
year with the Minnesota based team.

Taylor’s co-driver of four years and IMSA veteran Chris Miller was upbeat about the continuity.
“To be able to continue on with most of the same people and partners that we have had so
much success with makes this move particularly special. We’ve proven that we have a
championship-winning combination and I’m excited to see what we can do in the
ultra-competitive GS class. I’ve always dreamt of racing a Porsche and I know it will be a
very special feeling when I drive the car for the first time. I’m very grateful for all the people
who worked hard to make this happen and couldn’t be more excited to get the season started in
a couple months!”

LIQUI MOLY Returns for New Racing Season

Continuing their successful technical partnership, LIQUI MOLY will once again be heavily
involved in the support of the team through motor oil and additive engineering, and highlighted
by two IMSA race events featuring the eye-catching LIQUI MOLY specific race livery. “We are
thrilled to continue our partnership with the JDC-Miller MotorSports team and Unitronic in 2025,”
said Eva Tran, Marketing Director at LIQUI MOLY . “Both LIQUI MOLY and Unitronic are
brands built on quality, innovation, and performance. Together, we bring that to the
racetrack, pushing our products to the limit in the most demanding conditions. What’s
exciting for us is that the same premium products we test on the track are available for everyone
to use off the track. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to excellence, and we
can’t wait to see what we achieve together in the coming season.”

Daytona Opener Just Months Away

The 10-round 2025 IMSA Michelin Pilot Championship kicks off with the official pre-season test,
The Roar Before The Rolex 24 on January 17-19 the first opportunity for teams to get their 2025
season preparations started at the World Center Of Racing, Daytona International Speedway.
The Roar is then directly followed a week later by the first race event of the year, the BMW M
Endurance Challenge at Daytona. A four-hour baptism of fire for the #17 Porsche 718
Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.

No. 17 JDC-Miller Audi Finished the Job This Year in TCR Title Drive

Katie Church on October 24, 2024

After Falling Just Shy in ’23, Drivers Miller and Taylor Led Determined Effort in ‘24

October 23, 2024

By David Phillips from IMSA Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – By almost any measure, the Unitronic/JDC-Miller Motorsports IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge campaign last year was a success. Which means this season’s championship-winning effort in the Touring Car (TCR) class must be ranked as the ultimate triumph. After a slow start to the 2023 season, drivers Chris Miller and Mikey Taylor steered the No. 17 Audi RS3 LMS TCR to a trio of victories and a pair of runner-up finishes. The only thing missing was the TCR championship itself. A mechanical issue coming to the green flag at the season finale ended the title bid and left the team with unfinished business to attend in 2024. 

Suffice to say, Miller, Taylor and the JDC-Miller crew took care of that business this season, and then some. They captured four wins and two more podiums in the 10 races and, thanks to a dash of ironic mechanical mayhem, clinched the driver and team titles by simply taking the green flag at the Fox Factory 120 on Oct. 11, almost a year to the day after the ’23 championship hardware slipped through their fingers.

“Given what happened last year, going to the last race with a chance of winning and being able to control our own destiny, that was disappointing,” said JDC-Miller founder John Church. “But everybody rallied. We worked hard in the off-season to clean up some things like pit stops so they wouldn’t be part of the equation, and that worked out well for us.” 

But it wasn’t quite as simple or easy as the statistics might suggest. For openers, JDC-Miller again campaigned a lone Audi against a veritable armada of Hyundai Elantra N TCRs, no fewer than four fielded by Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian in a bid to claim its sixth consecutive driver and team crowns. There was also another perennial contender, the No. 5 KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR, as well as emerging potential winners like the No. 93 Montreal Motorsport Group Honda Civic FL5 TCR and No. 99 Victor Gonzales Racing Team Hyundai.

Relishing the status as giant killer, the No. 17 Audi opened the season with four wins and a third place to open a massive 220-point championship lead halfway through the season. The competition never quit, however. Defending TCR champions Robert Wickens and Harry Gottsacker won in the No. 33 Herta Hyundai at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Tim Lewis and William Tally guided the No. 5 KMW Alfa Romeo to victory at Road America. Dai Yoshihara and Karl Wittmer did the same in the No. 93 MMG Honda at VIRginia International Raceway, even as Miller and Taylor rebounded from an early “off” to finish seventh in the No. 17 Audi.

Still, when Mark Wilkins and Mason Filippi coaxed their fuel-efficient No. 98 BHA Hyundai to the win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway just clear of teammates Wickens and Gottsacker, JDC-Miller headed to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for the finale with a 150-point lead looking to close the deal. 

Miller, though, crashed the No. 17 in qualifying, and when the BHA Hyundais qualified 1-2-3, JDC-Miller still had work to do, beginning with repairing the car. Needing only to finish 11th or better in class in the race, that was all but assured when the No. 73 Racers Edge Motorsports Honda Civic FK7 TCR withdrew after a mechanical issue in qualifying. It meant the No. 17 Audi needed only to be on the starting grid for Miller and Taylor to earn the drivers’ title and Unitronic/JDC-Miller to claim the team championship. This time, there would be no issues on the pace lap and Miller and Taylor duly came home a conservative but jubilant sixth in the race.

“Our guys started the season well and capitalized when they could,” Church said. “We had a couple of tough races through the year, but in the end, they did what they needed to do to finish out the year and championship. It was a whole team effort where everybody contributed, and I’m super proud of the effort everybody put in.”

All of which is not to say there was no drama in the season finale. After leading most of the last half of the two-hour race, Tyler Gonzalez was forced to bring the No. 99 Victor Gonzalez Hyundai to the pits for a splash of fuel as he was about to take the white flag. Thus, Wilkins, Filippi and the No. 98 BHA Hyundai took their second straight win to clinch the runner-up spots in the driver and team championships by just 10 points over Wickens, Gottsacker and the No. 33 Hyundai. It also put an exclamation point on Hyundai’s unprecedented fifth straight TCR manufacturer championship.

“A fifth manufacturers championship in a row here in IMSA,” Filippi said. “It just shows how hard Bryan Herta Autosport works and our Hyundai is really good at this championship, a really good car and reliability. We have a lot challengers here and it’s fun to compete in TCR, so it’s a big accomplishment.”  

Unitronic JDC-Miller Clinch 2024 IMSA TCR Championship

Katie Church on October 17, 2024

October 17, 2024 from getunitronic.com

After 10 thrilling rounds of heated IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge racing, the Unitronic JDC-Miller Motorsports team is thrilled to claim the title of 2024 IMSA TCR Champions! This season was marked by many intense battles and unforgettable moments on the track. Heading into the final race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, the team remained focused on its objective and all that hard work paid off in the best way possible.

Official Standings

As it Happened in Braselton, GA

Coming off a strong P3 finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a 150-point championship lead, the Unitronic JDC-Miller Motorsports team was in a good position to take it all but the relentless factory-backed Hyundai teams still remained within striking distance. Practice 1 and 2 allowed for final setup changes, but nothing could prepare the team for Thursday evening’s qualifying session incident.

As the sun was setting over turn 3 at Road Atlanta, visibility was dwindling fast and the #17 Audi lost control over a curb and collided with a safety barrier. Miraculously, Miller got the car moving again while avoiding a red flag and he would even go on to improve his qualifying time which was a true testament to the team’s “never give up” attitude. The Unitronic JDC-Miller Motorsports team would start Friday’s 2-hour Fox Factory 120 race from P7 but not before a long night of repairs.

On race day, only 11 teams made it to the starting grid instead of the anticipated 12 and with a 150-point differential between P1 and P11, the team would simply have to make it past the start line to clinch the championship win. Chris Miller and Mikey Taylor went on to finish the race without taking any unnecessary risks and ultimately crossed the line in P6 with their heads up high, surrounded by cheering fans, crew, family and friends.

Breaking the Hyundai Stronghold

“I am so proud to be able to finally get this championship! All the hard work over the last 5 years has led to this and there couldn’t be a more deserving group of people in the paddock. Everyone has worked so hard week in and week out so it’s nice to finally get this reward!

I don’t think people realize the level at which IMSA TCR is right now, you really have to piece everything together to have a shot at beating the factory supported Hyundai team who have great driver line ups and a fantastic program! To be the first team to break their stronghold on the TCR class means a lot to a little one-car team like us! We put everything we had into this one, and I’m so relieved it all worked out! A special thanks to all our partners who have been on this journey with us and stuck with us through the thick and thin!” said Mikey Taylor.

Miller Reflects on the Tough Racing Season

“Obviously it would have been great to end the season with a win but our goal with this program since we started years ago was to win a championship and it’s a massive achievement by everyone involved to be able to deliver that. I’m so grateful to everyone for their hard work this year. We faced a lot of adversity beginning at Daytona when we thought we may not start the race and then the second half of the season definitely didn’t go as smoothly as we wanted, but everyone showed great resilience.

I feel very lucky to have had such a great teammate, crew, group of engineers, partners and countless other supporters who I got to be a part of this with. Special thanks to Unitronic, JDC-Miller Motorsports, and my family for always believing in us. Championships are very hard to win and I think we will all be celebrating this one for a while!” said Chris Miller.

Thankful for the Outpouring of Support

This championship win is not just a testament to the skill of our drivers but also to the dedication of the entire Unitronic JDC-Miller Motorsports team. From the crew to our technical partners, every detail mattered, and everyone gave it their all. Now, we celebrate this incredible achievement, reflect on an unforgettable season, and look forward to what’s next. Thank you to our partners, fans, and everyone who supported us along the way!

After a strong weekend, JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 GTP drops out of the season finale at Motul Petit Le Mans

Katie Church on October 16, 2024

October 14, 2024

Savage, MN

The No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 GTP dropped out 160 laps into the finale of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship season with a power steering issue. Driver Richard Westbrook safely brought the car back to the garage with limited steering capability, ending the team’s very strong weekend in front of a record crowd that packed Road Atlanta for the 10-hour-long Petit Le Mans.

The JDC-Miller MotorSports team was pleased with its performance up to that point. Phil Hanson led the qualifying leaderboard for more than half of qualifying and started the car in the third row of the grid. Throughout the first 159 laps of the race, the team executed its strategy, running between 3rd and 6th much of the time while conserving tires and working toward the sprint to the finish when darkness fell. The car was quite competitive with the rest of the GTP field until the failure and a bittersweet ending for the team’s 2024 season.

It was also a melancholy weekend for the team as it was the final race for driver Richard Westbrook, who is retiring after a racing career that spans some 30 years, including two stints with JDC-Miller MotorSports. The Brit started in open-wheel racing but found his stride in sportscars. He has been a part of factory teams with Porsche, Chevrolet, Ford, BMW, and Aston Martin. JDC-Miller MotorSports is proud to have played a small part in his incredible career and to be there to allow him to retire from the top class in sportscar racing. Richard will always be a beloved part of the JDC-Miller MotorSports family, and we wish him all the best as he focuses on his other passion, Westbrooks Brewery.

John Church with Brad Knight and Charles Henderson from BDO

On Friday, the JDC-Miller MotorSports team was presented with not one, but two, BDO Knows Strategy Awards.  The award recognizes the race team exhibiting excellence in strategy and execution during each WeatherTech Series weekend and is chosen by the IMSA radio broadcast team at the conclusion of each race. JDC-Miller MotorSports won the award for its runner-up finish in the LMP2 category at Road America and again in GTP with its 3rd place finish at Indianapolis. BDO tells us that this is the first time in the history of the award that a team has won twice in a single season, let alone consecutive races.

Quotes:

John Church, Managing Partner, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963

“A disappointing end to what had been a very good weekend. We were competitive on pace and were successfully working our race strategy when the steering let go.  I feel bad for the drivers and the crew as we were doing really well until it was over.

This has been a difficult season as we have performed well and just couldn’t get the results we should have gotten. Dropping out with mechanical issues at Sebring and now Petit when running strong are just two examples of how things went this year. With that said, I am extremely proud of what we accomplished in 2024. We continue to become more and more competitive against all the factory teams in the GTP class with a sliver of the resources. I am very optimistic regarding our prospects for the 2025 season and anxious to put our heads down and get going on next year.”

Richard Westbrook, Driver, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963

“Unfortunately, we are out of Petit Le Mans. It’s a shame. In some ways, it summed up our season.  We often showed so much promise, but couldn’t finish the job off.  This is one of those failures that’s out of our hands. I was going through turn one and the power steering just went. The car was difficult to control, so I’m happy the car’s back in one piece. It’s a three-hour change, so we are out of the race. I would have loved to have finished on a high in the last race of my career. As importantly, getting a good result for everyone at JDC-Miller would have meant a lot to me. I am just gutted for everyone on the team. Everyone on this team should be proud of themselves. We’re up against the big dogs and there’s been several races where we have really punched above our weight and that is very satisfying.”


Tijmen van der Helm, Driver, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963

“Last race of the year. The season seemed to go by so fast. There were a lot of good moments and some not so good, but we got stronger as the year went on. We had a really good weekend. In qualifying we put the car in mid-field with good pace, so we were expecting a lot in the race. Then suddenly we lost the steering, which is a shame. Now we can only look forward to next year. My thanks to everyone on the team for their hard work all season long.”

Phil Hanson, Driver, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 “It is never nice to go out the race and end the year on this sort of note. Unfortunately, a power steering issue made us retire the car quite early on. Difficult to know how we would have gotten on later in the race. The car was set up with the night in mind, and we showed strong pace in NP3. That made us quietly confident that we were going to be stronger at the end of the race, which is when it matters in IMSA. It’s a shame we never got there to find out where we truly stood. I think its been a year of really good potential. We’ve shown on many occasions how we can be very strong and very quick. Unfortunately, we never got to convert those strong moments into a victory or a podium.  When you look back at it, we have been quite consistently at the front, which is impressive against some of the big guys out there. I just want to thank the team for their hard work this year.  My teammates also obviously did a really solid job all year, as well, so my thanks to Tijmen and Richard.”

The high note for the JDC-Miller MotorSports team this weekend was the No. 17 Audi RS3 LMS wrapping up the season drivers and team championships in the Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR-class. The Unitronic/JDC-Miller team, with drivers Chris Miller and Mikey Taylor, had an exceptional season. It began with consecutive wins to start the season at Daytona, Sebring, and Laguna Seca. They also won at Watkins Glen. These results do not represent all the challenges the No. 17 team faced throughout the season, making the championship that much sweeter. There was a lot of well-deserved tired jubilation at Friday evening’s awards banquet after a long, hard-fought, season.

No. 17 Audi Locks Down Title

Katie Church on October 13, 2024

October 11, 2024

By Tony DiZinno and David Phillips from IMSA Wire Service

BRASELTON, Ga. – The Touring Car (TCR) class warranted watching from start to finish. Literally. For the second year running, the season’s team and driver championships were decided at the drop of the green flag.

Last year, the championship-leading (and pole-winning) No. 17 Unitronic/JDC-Miller MotorSports Audi RS3 LMS TCR suffered a mechanical failure while bringing the field to the green and the team could only watch as Mark Wilkins and Mason Filippi won the race in the No. 98 Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian Hyundai Elantra N TCR, with teammates Robert Wickens and Harry Gottsacker finishing fourth to clinch the driver, team and manufacturer TCR titles.

So, it was more than a little ironic Friday when, with Chris Miller and Mikey Taylor needing to finish 11th or better in the No. 17 Audi to claim the driver and team TCR crowns, the 12th and final starter in the class (the No. 73 Racers Edge Motorsports Honda Civic FK7 TCR) was unable to start the race after experiencing mechanical problems of its own. Mission accomplished for Miller and Taylor.

Fast forward to a race dominated virtually from start to finish by the No. 99 Victor Gonzalez Racing Team Hyundai of Tyler Gonzalez and Morgan Burkhard. Virtually is the key word, as the white flag waved to signal the final lap, Burkhard peeled into pit lane for a splash of fuel, handing the win to Wilkins, Filippi and the No. 98 BHA Hyundai.

“We were all in the same boat trying to get to the end,” Wilkins said after he and Filippi won their second straight race of the season and second straight at Michelin Raceway. “It was a battle of who did a better job of getting there.

“The No. 99 is the same car, and I didn’t know where they were (on fuel). I was just trying to gauge off of everybody else, honestly. I felt like we were all so similar. I didn’t know if he was going to make it or not. It looked the way he was driving that maybe he had a shot to make it to the end, so he had to push, obviously a little bit more. I think we did a good job earlier in the stint to allow ourselves to run a bit more aggressive at the end; to put some pressure on him. So, I guess they were waiting for a yellow that never came.”

Although sixth place was a disappointing and uncharacteristic showing for a team that amassed four wins and stood atop the TCR standings from the opening round of the season at Daytona International Speedway, there was plenty of joy to be found in the JDC-Miller compound after the race.

“No question, last year was heartbreaking,” said Taylor. “The whole team set out to make amends for that this year. We had a great year but it wasn’t easy. Some rules changes in the middle of the season meant we had to redevelop the car. Even this weekend wasn’t easy by any means. We had an ‘off’ in qualifying that damaged the car, so the team was here until midnight repairing the damage. Even when we found out the (No. 73) wasn’t starting the race, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

Although the other shoe never dropped, Miller, Taylor & Co. had a tough day at the office, so to speak.

“Of course, it was in our minds that we’d won the championship,” Taylor continued. “But we’re here to race, and we wanted to finish the season on a high note. Although the crew did a fantastic job fixing the car, we didn’t have another session before the race to test the repairs and the car was not exactly right today. The Hyundais had more speed and, obviously, a couple of them went the distance on one pit stop, where we had to stop twice.”