January 28, 2025
Daytona Beach, FL — Unitronic JDC-Miller Motorsports kicked off their 2025 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season with a strong P7 finish in the BMW M Endurance Challenge at Daytona International Speedway. Competing in a stacked field of 27 GS competitors, the result marks an impressive debut for the team’s new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport and sets a promising tone for the season ahead.
Strong first showing for the #17 Porsche
With plenty of time to dial in the setup and get comfortable with the new race machine during the ROAR Before the 24, Chris Miller would start the 4-hour BMW M Endurance Challenge from P9 after Thursday’s qualifying session. His stint was marked by several battles to maintain position, allowing the #17 Cayman GT4 RS to remain on the lead lap.
Nearly two hours into Friday’s race, Mikey Taylor would take over the reins and impressively climb as high as P2, fending off numerous attacks from a chasing Ford Mustang GT4 duo. Ultimately, the team would have to settle for a P7 finish but the long race demonstrated the Porsche’s potential and provided many valuable insights for future improvements.
Drivers optimistic for season ahead
Chris Miller reflected, “After a long offseason and a ton of hard work by everyone involved in this program, it felt pretty special to finally get to drive our new race car. We knew there would be a lot to learn but the Unitronic JDC-Miller Motorsports crew was up to the task, changing components between every session as we worked to find a setup for the race. Thanks to their efforts, we made a lot of progress with the car and felt optimistic about our chances at a good result.“
“As racers we are rarely satisfied with anything but a win. Finishing seventh is not where we know we can be but it’s a solid start and a place we can build from. I think we showed ourselves that we have the pieces and potential to run at the front and we are all motivated and looking forward to Sebring already!“
Mikey Taylor added, “A great start to our new season with a new car! We knew it wasn’t going to be easy without any testing and learning the new class and car, but the team did a great job in preparing for the event as much as they could and we worked through everything we had time for! The speed in the race is something we can build on, and we know what we need to work on for Sebring! A very positive start to our relationship with Porsche and some good points to get the championship going!“
Next round just weeks away
Looking ahead, the Unitronic JDC-Miller Motorsports team is setting its sights on the next challenge at Sebring International Raceway. Known for its notoriously bumpy surface, the 3.7mi track will require the team to fine-tune their vehicle setup once more. Despite the upcoming challenge, the team is eager to tackle this next hurdle and build on their solid start for the second round of the 2025 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Season.
Photos by Digi Kühlt
