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WEHRLEIN BREAKS NEW GROUND AT DAYTONA WITH SPORTSCAR DEBUT

Katie Church on January 23, 2025

January 23, 2025

From www.monacoincrease.com

Monaco Increase Management’s Formula E World Champion Pascal Wehrlein is embarking upon a fascinating new stage of his successful racing career this weekend in the 63rd edition of the 24 Hours of Daytona, the iconic endurance race taking place at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

Porsche factory driver Wehrlein, who is currently in the middle of defending his Formula E title after two rounds of the all-electric series, has teamed up with the Minnesota-based US racing squad JDC-Miller Motorsports for his endurance racing debut in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, one of the toughest and most prestigious sportscar races in the world.

After F3, DTM touring cars (a title he won in 2015), two years in Formula 1 with Manor and Sauber, five seasons as factory Porsche driver in Formula E, the 30-year-old German is now dovetailing the electric championship with the occasional sportscar race.

This weekend he will be at the wheel of the #85 Porsche 963 LMDh in the IMSA GTP category, a car he has piloted once before as official Porsche driver, during a collective development test at Sebring in 2022. His teammates in this new adventure will be the experienced Italian GT and endurance racing ‘veteran’ Gianmaria Bruni, Dutchman Tijmen van der Helm and American Bryce Aron.

Wehrlein, who drove the car, affectionately nicknamed ‘Yellow Submarine’, for the first time in December and also put in more useful mileage in last weekend’s pre-race ‘ROAR before the 24’ test session, will start from fifth place on the grid for Saturday’s race after designated driver Bruni lapped in today’s 15-minute Qualifying with a time of 1m34.374s.

With the starting-grid now locked in, Pascal will have three more Free Practice sessions to familiarize himself with the #85 Porsche 963 before the race gets underway at 1.40 pm (Eastern Time) / 19.40 (CET) on Saturday 25 January.

Photos: Courtesy of Porsche

WEHRLEIN AND BRUNI TEAM UP FOR ENDURANCE RACING DEBUT WITH JDC-MILLER MOTORSPORTS

Katie Church on January 22, 2025

January 22, 2025

From www.monacoincrease.com

With one day to go before qualifying gets underway at Daytona for the opening round of the WeatherTech IMSA SportsCar Championship, the Florida circuit is a hive of activity as the drivers prepare for the iconic 24-Hour endurance race.

As well as exchanging information about the race, in which they will make their debut in the #85 Porsche 963 LMDh GTP machine, Pascal Wehrlein and Gianmaria Bruni – two of the drivers in the four-strong JDC-Miller MotorSports team – have a particular connection that ties them to the Monaco-based MIM driver management company.

The manager of the 30-year-old German, 2024 Formula E World Champion and factory Porsche driver, is of course the CEO of MIM, Salvatore Gandolfo, while the 43-year-old Gianmaria ‘Gimmi’ Bruni is an ‘old’ acquaintance and friend of Gandolfo.

The two Italians have in fact known each other since 1997, when Bruni was starting his racing career in Italian Formula Renault Campus, a title he won the following year, and when ‘Gandi’ was the CEO of Spain’s famous Campos Racing Team.

Over the years, Bruni has constructed a stellar career in all categories of motorsport ranging from Formula 3 and Formula 3000, a year in Formula 1 with Minardi in 2004, to international GT and Endurance racing – which includes three class wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

For his IMSA SportsCar rookie debut therefore, Pascal – who like Bruni can also boast a short spell in F1 on his racing CV – now teams up with Bruni, factory Porsche driver for the last eight years, who joined the private JDC-Miller Motorsports team for a full season of IMSA racing in 2025 after the German manufacturer dropped several drivers from its line-up in December.

Bruni’s most recent experience with the Porsche 963 was last year when he campaigned the customer team Proton Competition entry in IMSA, finishing ninth overall, while this year Wehrlein is aiming to dovetail the defence of his Formula E title with the occasional select endurance race, starting with the Daytona 24 Hours.

This weekend, the reigning Formula E World Champion and the experienced Bruni will be flanked in the JDC squad by the other full-season drivers, Tijmen van der Helm from the Netherlands and American Bryce Aron.

Photos: Courtesy of Porsche

Unitronic JDC-Motorsports Ready for Daytona Season Opener

Katie Church on January 22, 2025

January 22, 2025

From www.getunitronic.com

Daytona Beach, FL — The 2025 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season is kicking off with great anticipation as the Unitronic JDC-Miller Motorsports team enters the GS class with a brand-new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. Following their TCR championship victory in 2024, the team is thrilled to face a new level of competition and continue their streak of impressive racing achievements in 2025.

Unitronic JDC Porsche Daytona

New Era of Racing in GS Class

Building on the momentum of their previous victories, including multiple wins at the world-famous Daytona International Speedway, the team is eager to debut their Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport at the BMW M Endurance Challenge this weekend. This highly advanced race machine represents a huge leap forward in performance, technology, and capability—all crucial elements for tackling the fiercely competitive GS class.

Unitronic JDC Porsche Dayton Tech

Drivers Excited to Kick Off New Season

“I am extremely excited to start this new chapter in the Unitronic JDC-Miller Motorsports story.” said Mikey Taylor, driver of the #17 Porsche Cayman GT4 RS. “We had a ton of success with Audi in TCR, but I’ve been looking forward to this new challenge with Porsche and stepping up to GS! There’s a lot of competition and many more manufacturers in this class, so it’s all a bit new to us and we’re not expecting to be on top from the first race, but we will be working hard throughout the year, to get to the front of the pack, where we belong!”

Chris Miller and Mikey Taylor

“The team did a great job at the Roar as we got to grips with our new #17 Unitronic Porsche GT4.” said co-driver Chris Miller. “We have a lot to learn but I think it’s clear already that it will be a fast and competitive car and it was very exciting to get to drive it for the first time. Heading into the race weekend, I really believe we have the ability to earn a great result. With the race being four hours, the most important thing will be to execute on all fronts to keep the car in contention until the last hour. One of the great things about this program is that while it is a new car, we still have a lot of continuity in the people around us and we can fall back on a lot of the procedures and teamwork that led us to winning a lot of races together the past few seasons. It’s going to be tough but I know we are up to the task!”

Long-Time Partners Return for 2025

Unitronic JDC-Miller Motorsports is proud to have the continued support of an outstanding lineup of technical partners, including LIQUI MOLY, Out There Brands, OptiMate, Sabelt America and more. These partnerships have been instrumental in the team’s success throughout the years and are once again, integral to the 2025 motorsport campaign.

Unitronic JDC Porsche Daytona

UroTuning Back for More Racing Action

As part of Unitronic’s ongoing commitment to supporting its Authorized Dealer Network, UroTuning will once-again be present with the team at the event and have special branding on the #17 Porsche as well. UroTuning.com is your number one source for OEM and Performance parts for your Volkswagen, Audi or BMW vehicle. The team at UroTuning is dedicated to providing the best customer service possible while at the same time offering competitive pricing on all the products they sell. They are also owned and operated BY Enthusiasts FOR Enthusiasts!

Unitronic JDC Porsche Daytona UroTuning

Follow Along Live

The 2025 season kicks off with the four-hour BMW M Endurance Challenge At Daytona on Friday, January 24, 2024 at 1:45 PM to 5:45 PM ET. US fans can stream live on Peacock and international fans can follow along on IMSA.TV. Stay up to date on all our activities, learn more about the team, our pro drivers and our tremendous sponsors HERE. Don’t forget to tune into the UNITRONIC social media channels for race coverage of all ten championship events as well.

Unitronic JDC Porsche Daytona
Unitronic JDC-Miller Porsche
Unitronic JDC-Miller Porsche

Photos by Digi Kühlt


About UNITRONIC®
UNITRONIC® engineers industry-leading aftermarket performance enhancing software and hardware for Audi®, Volkswagen®, Porsche®, Seat®, Cupra® and Skoda® cars worldwide. Best known for its performance software engine and transmission calibrations, Unitronic enhances vehicle performance while maintaining complete OEM-like reliability and drivability. Unitronic’s UniCONNECT+ Programming and Diagnostic Interface empowers Unitronic Clients to safely reprogram their engine and transmission control modules from the comfort of home, anywhere in the world. Learn more about Unitronic’s competitive advantage at www.getunitronic.com


About JDC-MILLER MOTORSPORTS
JDC-MILLER MOTORSPORTS is a world-class multiple championship winning sportscar racing team, with a total of 18 championships, 60 wins, 57 pole positions, and 195 podiums, most of which coming by way of their Prototype class programs running in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship. Highlights include an Overall Win at the Six Hours at Watkins Glen in 2018, 2017 Winner Extreme Spirit Award, and 2017 Winner Jim Trueman Award, providing the team an automatic entry into the 2018 24 Hours of LeMans. Learn more at www.jdcmotorsport.com


About LIQUI MOLY USA – Canada
LIQUI MOLY USA – Canada is a subsidiary of LIQUI MOLY GmbH, a global motor oil and additive company based in Germany selling products in more than 150 countries. LIQUI MOLY offers more than 4,000 items globally covering automotive, powersports, commercial vehicles, boats and watercraft and more. LIQUI MOLY USA – Canada is actively involved in motorsports in numerous capacities highlighted by teams in IMSA USA and IMSA Canada, TC America and Trans AM. Learn more at www.liqui-moly.com


About OUT THERE BRANDS
Out There Brands was founded by professional racing driver Mikey Taylor. He saw a need for a company that offers extreme personalization and customer service in the branding industry and founded OTB in order to fill it. Producing custom-made displays and apparel to bring attention to our customers. Using his experience in the motorsport industry, Mikey focused on working with suppliers and forming partnerships to utilize only the best materials and products from around the world to deliver durable, cost-effective and stand out products! Learn more at www.OutThereBrands.com


About OPTIMATE
Since 1994, OptiMate high performance battery chargers have extended life and improved performance of AGM, GEL & STD lead-acid and LiFePO4 lithium batteries. OptiMate is trusted by over 15 major vehicle & performance battery OEMs and millions of happy vehicle / craft / equipment owners world-wide. OptiMate’s unique battery saving method recovers dead-flat batteries other chargers can’t. Learn more at www.Optimate1.com

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 9, 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 9, 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.”