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.
SAVAGE, Minn. (January 27, 2025) — JDC-Miller MotorSports secured 6th place in the 63rd running of the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona with their Porsche 963 GTP. The team completed 780 laps of the 3.54-mile Daytona road course, finishing just 109 seconds behind the overall winning No. 7 Porsche. The car averaged 115.439 MPH over the 2,774 miles it covered during the race.
The chilly Florida temperatures posed a challenge for the team, starting at 59°F and dropping to 48°F by 3 AM. All four drivers had to skillfully manage tires and brakes that were difficult to get up to and maintain the desired operating temperature. The No. 85 Porsche began the race in 5th place and spent most of the 24 hours running in either 5th or 6th place among the 12 GTP class entries. A total of 61 cars across all classes started the race.
The car performed flawlessly throughout this classic event, and the JDC-Miller drivers brought it home without a scratch—a remarkable feat given the heavy traffic they navigated each lap. Driver Gianmaria Bruni led the team with 562 overtakes during the 238 laps he drove, while Tijmen van der Helm closely followed with 404 overtakes in the 198 laps he completed.
Quotes:
John Church, Managing Partner, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963
“I am extremely proud of everyone on the team for the incredible effort that went into our 6th place finish at the Rolex 12 Hours of Daytona. It was one of those events where there was a lot going on and everyone pulled together and got it done. Tijmen worked closely with Gimmi and got Bryce and Pascal well-versed in how to race this car. They kept the car damage free which isn’t easy to do at Daytona. All the guys on the pit-box worked together to deal with the low ambient temperatures to find solutions and maximize what we could get out of the car. Our pit stops were very good both day and night. Overall, an excellent start to the 2025 season and I’m really looking forward to Sebring and the rest of the season.”
“First of all, I’m very happy with a P6 finish in the race for JDC-Miller MotorSports. The boys worked very, very hard. We had an issue with brake temperature from the start of the race, that was tough to resolve. We were not able to put the proper temperature into them, and then keep the temperature for the whole stint. This changed our entire race strategy. As the day got warmer, our car balance was perfect. We were very competitive late in the race and had a good potential to be in the top three or four. I am looking forward to Sebring. I’m very happy to be here in IMSA with JDC-Miller MotorSports.”
Tijmen van der Helm, Driver, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963
“A long 24 hours. We had some problems in the beginning with the brakes which we tried to work around, but couldn’t really do much about. I think we did quite a good job. There were some minor mistakes, what happens normally in a 24 hour race. I think we deserved a bit better place than 6th based on everyone’s performance. Now we work on what we have learned and make Sebring as good as possible.”
“First of all, thanks to everyone involved for this opportunity. It was a long, 24-hour race, a lot of fun, and a lot of driving. Each time I was in the car, it improved. Racing at night is pretty cool and something I had not done before. I had a lot of good fights and at the end we finished in P6. The car was reliable, which was great. Only a couple of issues which I think hurt a bit of our performance, but nevertheless, for me, it was a great experience. I want to thank everyone on the team for this opportunity. It was great.“
“I liked this a lot. This was many new experiences for me. I want to thank everyone at JDC-Miller. It’s been an awesome time getting up to speed in the GTP car and for the first time doing an endurance race and racing at night. Really enjoyed the challenge and the race. A very special experience. Thanks to the team and my teammates for all their help in making it so special. Hope to do it again in the future.”
SAVAGE, Minn. (January 23, 2025). JDC-Miller MotorSports driver Gianmaria Bruni qualified the JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 GTP from the 5th position for the 63rd running of the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.
It was a very challenging qualifying session for the Italian driver due to very brisk and blustery 49° F (9°C) weather conditions and the short 15 minute qualifying session. The session was further shortened by a red flag just as the tires on Bruni’s No. 85 Porsche were coming up to temperature. When the session resumed, Bruni skillfully used just two laps to bring his tires up to tempersture and used his remaining single lap to set the 5th place time, which was just .479 seconds off the pole position.
With qualifying behind them, the confident team shifts its focus to final preparations for the 24 hour race. Bruni will be joined by Dutch driver Tijmen van der Helm, German Pascal Wehrlein, and American Bryce Aron.
Quotes:
John Church, Managing Partner, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963
“We would have loved to have a little more time in the session as things were really coming together to put up a really good laptime when the red flag came out. It is a bit frustrating to spend a lot of the session trying to get temperature into the tires. We are really happy with P5 but had a few more spots in our sights the whole session. Gimmi was outstanding at getting the most possible from his cold tires. We think this starting position reflects how competitive we are currently and will be in the race.”
It was very cold! I think we had a good qualifying. We had to do the best we could in short time we had after the red flag. The team did a really, really, good job to prepare the car. I think it was a good lap, very close to the top four cars. We are ready now for the important part – the race on Saturday and especially Sunday.
I’m really happy to to be racing in America with JDC-Miller MotorSports and can’t wait to start this race and to race all season with this team.”
Monaco Increase Management’sFormula 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.
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.
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.
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.
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!”
“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.
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!
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.
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
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.”
“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.”
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.”
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.”
“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.”
