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JDC-Miller MotorSports fills out the No. 85 Porsche 963 driver line-up for the 2025 Twelve Hours of Sebring

Katie Church on March 10, 2025

Savage, MN (March 10, 2025)

JDC-Miller MotorSports is pleased to announce the addition of Swiss Formula E driver Nico Müller to its driver lineup for the 73rd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Müller will join full-season drivers Tijmen van der Helm and Gianmaria Bruni behind the wheel of the team’s No. 85 Porsche 963 GTP.

The 33-year-old Müller is a seasoned professional with a decade of experience in multiple disciplines, including GT and Prototype endurance racing, DTM, and most recently, Formula E. He rounds out a JDC-Miller MotorSports driver lineup with considerable Sebring experience. Nico’s previous Sebring experience was with WEC, participating in the 1000km in 2022 in LMP2 and in 2023 in a Peugeot Hypercar. Nico also competed in the 2022 24 Hours of Daytona in LMP2. He is a Porsche factory driver and currently drives a Porsche 99X in the Formula E World Championship. JDC-Miller MotorSports is thrilled he could fit this race into his extremely busy schedule.

This will be Van der Helm’s 4th 12 Hour, three of which are with JDC-Miller MotorSports. Bruni will take his 13th green flag this year and has had considerable success at the fabled track with a Sebring 12 Hour GT class win, WEC 1000km GT class win, as well as four other podiums.

JDC-Miller MotorSports has enjoyed success at Sebring, as well. Most recently, the team took the top step of the podium with an overall win in 2021, the second step in 2022, and a third in LMP3 in 2023, prior to the delivery of their current Porsche 963.

Quotes:

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

“We have a great driver line-up for this year’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Adding Nico to our already strong driver line-up with Tijmen and Gimmi, builds on the confidence we have coming off our very strong run at Daytona. Thanks to our friends at Porsche for all their efforts in making it happen.”

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

“I am really looking forward to the 12 Hours of Sebring with JDC-Miller MotorSports. I’ve raced here a dozen times with some success, so it’s a special place for me. It is hard on cars and drivers, but the JDC-Miller MotorSports team knows what it takes to win at Sebring. Hopefully, we can build on our strong effort at Daytona, keep improving, and get on the podium. “

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

“It’s great to be heading back to the Florida sunshine. I really enjoy the challenge of Sebring. The traffic and the concrete surfaces, as well as how competitive it is for all 12 hours. It is different than other races. Difficult in an enjoyable way. JDC-Miller MotorSports know what it takes to win there, so I am optimistic for a good result.”

Nico Müller, Driver, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963

“First of all I’d like to thank JDC-Miller MotorSports, Porsche, and my Formula E Team, Andretti FE, who have made this last-minute project possible. I can’t wait to turn my first laps in the Porsche 963 and compete in my first prestigious Sebring 12-hour. It’s great being back in IMSA. I have previously competed at Sebring when WEC was part of the “Super Sebring” weekend. I loved following the IMSA action during the 12-hour. It’s known as the toughest race on the IMSA calendar. I am confident that together with JDC-Miller MotorSports, Gimmi, and Tijmen, all who bring lots of Sebring 963 experience to the table. That strong foundation will speed up my 963 learning process. One more good omen: Yellow is one of my favorite racing colors!”

WEHRLEIN BREAKS NEW GROUND AT DAYTONA WITH SPORTSCAR DEBUT

Katie Church on January 28, 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 28, 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 28, 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

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.

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.

JDC-Miller MotorSports looking for strong finish in season finale at Motul Petit Le Mans

Katie Church on October 8, 2024

October 8, 2024

Savage, MN

The No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963
GTP has renewed energy after finishing third at the Indianapolis round of the IMSA
WeatherTech Sportscar Championship. This, coupled with a history of strong runs at
Petit LeMans, makes the team very optimistic heading into the season finale and eager
to improve on last year’s 5th-place finish. With 54 entries in four classes, it should be a
very exciting race around the fast and flowing, 2.54 mile, 12-turn road course of Road
Atlanta.

JDC-Miller MotorSports is pleased to announce that IMSA has accepted their full
season entry of the No. 85 Porsche 963 GTP for the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech
Sportscar Championship. Drivers will be announced at a later date. Plans for the 2025
season have been well underway for a number of months, and the team is very excited
about the prospects for their third season in the ultra-competitive IMSA GTP class.

The Saturday race broadcast in its entirety is streaming on Peacock starting at 12:00
EDT. The start and first 3 hours are live on NBC. USA picks up coverage at 6:00 EDT
through the finish.

Quotes:

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

“Petit Le Mans is one of my favorite races. Part of it is fall is such a great time of the
year and Road Atlanta is in such a pretty part of the country. We always run well at
Road Atlanta, yet it remains the only long race we have not won. The team is working
hard to do something about that.

Being the last race of the season, it also has a bit different feel to it. At every other race,
you are already thinking about the next race and what needs to be done. At Petit, when
the fireworks go off at the end of the race, you have a feeling of accomplishment no
matter where you finish. A bit of melancholy that the season is over, but great feelings
of everything that was accomplished throughout the year.”

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

“Petit Le Mans is another of my favorite races. Great track with great fans. Love the day
and night aspect. This will be my 13th start at Road Atlanta. I’ve had many good results
with 3 or 4 poles and a 2nd in GTLM in 2019. This is a great opportunity to move up a
step.”

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

“Feeling really good for our prospects for Petit Le Man after our 3rd place finish at Indy. I
felt really good in the car by the end of last year’s Petit and am confident we will start
the weekend strong and that will lead to a good result.”

Phil Hanson, Driver, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963

“I’m very excited to be heading into my first Petit Le Mans. I have been a fan of the
event for years now, and I can’t think of a better race to close up the IMSA season. I
know we will be fighting hard to make it a memorable end to our 2024 season!”

JDC-Miller MotorSports to take St. Jude along for the ride in the Battle On The Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Katie Church on September 18, 2024

September 18, 2024

The JDC-Miller MotorSports will be racing the No. 85 Porsche 963 GTP to stop cancer at this weekend’s Battle On The Bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. September is Child Cancer Awareness Month, which has an official color of yellow. 

The IMSA community provided a tremendous outpouring of support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® patient Colton at Road America, so the JDC-Miller MotorSports team decided to invite St. Jude patient Grayson and his family to join their effort for the six hours of the Battle On The Bricks.

St.Jude patient Colton enjoying the fan walk at Road America.

Not only will Grayson be joining the team, but so will a couple of hundred other JDC-Miller MotorSports and St. Jude supporters who joined the LOVE RACING. STOP CANCER. campaign. The team kicked this effort off with a “team meeting” at the JDC-Miller MotorSports shop, with over 200 joining in. The meeting consisted of a Porsche 963 technical presentation, a display of the team’s freshly restored 2016 Rolex winning Prototype Challenge Oreca, and various other activities.  The highlight was a couple of live pit-stop demonstrations with fan Q&A. Photos are here: St. Jude Benefit – Dropbox.

For the race, we will be placing special LOVE RACING. STOP CANCER. stickers on the Porsche 963 with a message written by the supporter. A $250 donation puts your yellow sticker on the car and a $500 donation receives a larger black and yellow sticker. Supporters are encouraged to write whatever they like for the six-hour trip around IMS.  Supporters have already donated over $25,000 to St. Jude.



Want to put your name on the JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963? There is still time, and we would love to have your help by inviting your friends and family to join in this important race…the race to end childhood cancer! All donations are tax-deductible and donors who make a gift of $250, $500, or more receive a customized LOVE RACING. STOP CANCER. sticker with an opportunity to add their message and be showcased at the Battle On The Bricks. (Email here if you wish to do this.) Click here to read more about the JDC-Miller MotorSports partnership and to donate today, or just go to www.stjude.org/jdc.

The race will be carried on Peacock from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT, with the final three hours on NBC.

One of Three Takeaways: Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen

Katie Church on June 25, 2024

June 24, 2024

By David Phillips from IMSA Wire Service

GTP Giant Killers Derailed

Another feel-good story that didn’t quite have a feel-good ending was that of JDC-Miller MotorSports’ weekend. Saturday went just about as well as could be hoped for the independent, Minnesota-based team. Round 5 of the 2024 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season saw Mikey Taylor and Chris Miller capture the Touring Car (TCR) class win in the No. 17 Unitronic-sponsored Audi RS3 LMS TCR – their fourth of the season. Shortly thereafter, Phil Hanson put the team’s No. 85 Porsche 963 GTP on the second row of the grid for the Sahlen’s Six Hours, outpacing the factory-backed Porsche Penske Motorsport 963s in the bargain.

If anything, Sunday’s race began on an even brighter note. Hanson picked his way through the top qualifiers to grab the lead overall by Lap 7. Along with co-drivers Tijmen van de Helm and Richard Westbrook, the team subsequently kept the bright yellow Porsche among the leaders for most of the race, stirring thoughts of a rare Michelin Pilot Challenge/WeatherTech Championship double (for a team that took the overall win in the 2018 Sahlen’s Six Hours).

However, the team’s chances were dashed when Westbrook smacked one of Michelin’s RFID (radio frequency ID) stanchions while jockeying for position exiting pit lane with the No. 40 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura ARX-06. The resulting penalty (stop plus five-minute hold in the pit lane penalty box) put paid to any hope of a win for the giant killers. In the final reckoning, the No. 85 Porsche was classified ninth in the GTP class.