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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 carries St. Jude supporters to a 4th place finish in the Battle On The Bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Katie Church on September 30, 2024

Update: Due to a post-race technical infraction penalty to the No. 6, the No 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 was promoted to a 3rd place finish.

September 23, 2024

It was a rollercoaster race, culminating in their best season finish for the No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 GTP at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Battle On The Bricks.

The JDC-Miller MotorSports team battled through a number of issues, which made the strong finish especially sweet. Early in the hot and humid weekend, the team struggled to find the pace needed to compete in the extremely competitive IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship GTP field. They worked late into Saturday night and gave their drivers a much-improved car for the Sunday race. Tijmen van der Helm started the race in 11th and moved up to 5th on lap 18 in very difficult mixed weather conditions. Our rain expert, Richard Westbrook, took over as the rain increased and continued the strong push. His comment was, “I’m British. I was born in the rain.” Some great strategy calls were made in the dry second half of the race, and Phil Hanson did an outstanding job of fuel-saving for an extended last stint to bring the car home 4th.

September is Child Cancer Awareness Month. The team’s Porsche 963 carried close to 50 LOVE RACING. STOP CANCER. stickers around the 2.439 mile speedway. Supporters made donations and then wrote a message on the decal which was affixed to the car for a 6 hour 200 mph ride. This effort has raised close to $35,000 with donations still coming in.  Donate here.

JDC-Miller MotorSports hosted St. Jude patient Grayson, his brother Hudson, and mom Anne, on Saturday and they had a especially great time when the team’s Audi RS3 LMS had a TCR class podium finish in the Michelin Pilot Challenge race. They took the opportunity to give the bricks a kiss and went home with a Michelin hat from the podium celebration.

Quotes:

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

“Hats off the driver’s and the crew. This was a tough race. We were chasing things all weekend and everyone really stepped it up and were rewarded with our best finish of the year. We tested here last year and had a pretty good idea of what the car liked on this track. The hot and humid weather early in the weekend changed things but it came back to us on Sunday with the cooler weather. There was a tremendous amount of hard work put in this weekend so its gratifying to see a good result. Very much looking forward to a strong run at Motul Petit Le Mans.”

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

“A fantastic result, which I think everyone on the team can be proud of and thoroughly deserved. We came back from lots of issues in the race. It was really, really tough. I was out when it was really wet and, you know, it was enjoyable. Visibility was terrible. We were in the mix and then out of the mix and back in the mix, but had some really good strategy at the end get Phil back on the lead lap, which we did, and then we were in a really strong position on fuel. Really clever strategy by the team. The team really deserved a good result this weekend. It was a tough car in practice and qualifying, but everyone worked really hard so in the race we had a good car in the wet and the dry.” 


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

“We had a quite difficult race weekend but very pleased with the result. We came from the back so we had some work to do. It worked out quite well. We had some small problems later on in the race, but we quickly got them sorted and could maximize the results. It is our best result of the year so there is a lot to be proud of. Really looking forward to Petit Le Mans and hopefully getting on the podium.

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

“A good weekend for us. We started a bit on the back foot. Struggled early on in the weekend to get a grip on the car. The crew made a lot of changes to the set up trying to find the balance and made good steps forward for the race, which is good to see. A little bit of damage and other small issues meant that throughout the race we lost some set up. This made braking very difficult late in the race. I think that aside, we had a quite competitive car today which put us in position to capitalize on other teams’s issues and mistakes throughout the race. 
It was a good result for the package that we had this weekend.”

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.

Racing for a cure: JDC-Miller MotorSports goes from 0 to 206 mph for St. Jude

Katie Church on September 8, 2024

From MN for St. Jude Website

In the high-octane world of motorsports, where speed and precision dominate, JDC-Miller MotorSports is accelerating toward a cause that matters more than any checkered flag. This year, the racing team has ignited a powerful partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, driven by a commitment to ending childhood cancer.

Since the inception of JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 GTP program in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship series, the team has had a close relationship with its local Porsche dealers. Porsche Minneapolis – St. Paul have also been major supporters of St. Jude. This symbiotic relationship came together when the dealership introduced the team to one of their customers who wanted to support the team but decided not to promote his business on the car to the millions of fans that globally follow the series. “He was also a St. Jude supporter, so his two passions were married together, and the St. Jude logo prominently went on the Porsche’s flanks,” explained Katie Church, JDC-Miller MotorSports operations manager.

By aligning with St. Jude, the sponsor not only supported the team but also contributed to a cause close to his heart. That was the starting indicator for the JDC-Miller MotorSports team to go from 0 to 206 mph with their commitment to St. Jude and its lifesaving mission: Finding cures. Saving children.®

“St. Jude is a powerful brand with a mission that resonates deeply with us,” Roger Johnson, partner relationships manager at JDC-Miller MotorSports explained. “Everyone we talk to knows St. Jude and appreciates the incredible work they do. A day doesn’t go by when someone in the paddock doesn’t comment ‘that’s cool’ when they see St. Jude on the side of the car. The JDC-Miller MotorSports team is very much a family, and we appreciate how St. Jude supports the whole family.”

When an opportunity came up to host a patient family at the Road America race, the JDC-Miller MotorSports team extended its family to St. Jude patient Colton, his mom and his sister.The entire IMSA community, as well as Porsche, embraced this effort, from Colton being greeted by IMSA President John Doonan to his mom, Colleen, going for a ride around the track in a Porsche 911 GTS.

Colton, a St. Jude patient and racing fan, became a part of the racing team. He stood with the crew for the national anthem and flyover, handed out St. Jude autograph cards and joined the team behind the scenes. Now a healthy 10-year-old, Colton’s presence on race day was a heartwarming reminder of why the team’s efforts matter.

“Colton’s mom, Colleen, shared his story with us, and I can’t imagine having a 17-month-old with a brain tumor,” said Roger. “With the support of St. Jude, she didn’t have to worry about paying for treatment, travel, housing or food. She was able to focus on the one thing that mattered – getting her son healthy.”

“We ran three different cars that weekend and one finished on the podium,” said Roger. “Colton joined our team in Victory Circle to experience the celebration and was gifted the champagne-soaked Michelin hat as a memento of his visit to Victory Circle.” JDC driver Tijmen van der Helm signed the driving gloves he wore in the race and sent them home with Colton as well.

The team’s commitment extended beyond the track. A remarkable fundraising effort at the shop included a silent auction, a pit stop demonstration, technical presentations of the unique hybrid-powered Porsche 963 GTP and opportunities for fans to join the JDC-Miller team for the St. Jude Walk/Run. The initiative has evolved rapidly, gaining significant traction and showcasing how passion for racing can drive substantial support for St. Jude.

Although the JDC-Miller team may be small, it has a global reach. “Our drivers are from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands,” said Katie. With St. Jude’s efforts toward ending childhood cancer globally, the connection to supporting all kids and families around the world is one that JDC-Miller MotorSports is passionate about. “We are known as the ‘little engine that could’ in the racing community,” laughed Katie. “We are small but mighty, and we’re excited to continue to support St. Jude and kids like Colton.”

As the partnership continues to grow, it’s clear that the synergy between JDC-Miller MotorSports and St. Jude is about more than just racing. It’s about harnessing the energy and visibility of motorsports to fuel the fight against childhood cancer.

“Now, we are inviting others to showcase their support for St. Jude on our car through sticker donations,” said Katie.

With donations to St. Jude, donors receive a customized LOVE RACING. STOP CANCER. sticker with an opportunity to add their message and be showcased at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway race on September 22, 2024. “Indy is a six-hour endurance race where speeds approach 200 mph,” said Roger. We’re excited to bring St. Jude donors to Indy and take their message for a ride. A fun way for everyone to contribute and raise awareness for the St. Jude mission.”

The race will be carried on Peacock from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT with the final three hours on NBC.

As JDC-Miller MotorSports races towards a future where childhood cancer is a thing of the past, their dedication to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital remains unwavering. This collaboration is a reminder that in the pursuit of greatness, the greatest victories are those that make a difference in the lives of children and their families.

 Join the JDC-Miller MotorSports team in supporting the kids and St. Jude, as they aim to raise $85,000 in honor of their car number 85 by visiting stjude.org/jdc.

JDC-Miller Audi Working Hard to Nail Down Title This Time

Katie Church on September 6, 2024

September 3, 2024

By David Phillips for IMSA.com

No. 17 Drivers and Crew Focused on Capturing TCR Championship that Eluded Them in 2023

“We’ve got a new input shaft going in at Indy.”

So says John Church, JDC Motorsports founder in discussing plans for the No. 17 Unitronic/JDC-Miller MotorSports Audi RS3 LMS TCR (second gen) in the upcoming IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

No wonder. Church’s Minnesota-based operation was in position to win the Touring Car (TCR) class driver and team championships coming to the green flag at last year’s season finale, the Fox Factory 120 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. The No. 17 Audi was on the pole and a mere 20 points behind No. 33 Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian Hyundai Elantra N TCR and its co-drivers, Harry Gottsacker and Robert Wickens.

But all that promise turned to ashes when the yellow Audi coasted to a stop on the pace lap.

“We had a car that was capable of winning and we didn’t even get to the start/finish line before it broke,” says a rueful Church. “An input shaft failed, literally broke in half. So that’s been replaced once or twice already this year. And we’ve got a new one going in at Indy, to make sure.”

Fast forward to 2024 where Miller, Taylor and the JDC-Miller team are in a stronger position to vie for the TCR championships heading into the final two events on the calendar. Following a hard-fought seventh-place finish Aug. 24 at VIRginia International Raceway, they own a 170-point lead over their same nemeses, Gottsacker, Wickens and the No. 33 Hyundai. And given that JDC-Miller is the defending TCR winner at Indianapolis, not to mention the Michelin Raceway pole winner, it would appear the No. 17 is in the proverbial catbird’s seat.

“I told the guys after VIR we’re in a lot better spot than we were last year,” Church says. “We went to Indy 60 points back (in ’23) and we got the gap down to minus-20 going to (Michelin Raceway) with a mindset, ‘If you win the race, it doesn’t matter what anybody else does.’ So, we’re in a much better position points-wise based on our run at the beginning of the year. We’ve been competitive everywhere and there’s no reason to believe that will change. We just have to keep doing what we’re doing and execute, and hopefully the results will come.”

JDC-Miller’s strong position in the driver and team championships reflects the fact the team was ready, willing and able to win races from the drop of this season’s first green flag. In contrast, while they were surely willing to win races in ’23 from the get-go, the “ready” and “able” parts were lacking thanks to the “second generation” part of their Audi’s moniker. Given that newer Audi sported a host of improvements and updates to the tried-and-true Audi RS3 LMS, with which JDC-Miller had previously shown race-winning form, it took the team a few races to become fully competitive.

Not so this year. The No. 17 Audi swept the opening three rounds and finished third at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course before returning to the top step of the podium at Watkins Glen International. Although a DNF (while leading) followed at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, they were back on form at Road America to finish fourth.

Which brings us to the opening laps at VIR, where the JDC-Miller Audi plowed into the tire wall at Oak Tree Bend while running third and dropped well down the order. Ultimately, Miller and Taylor mounted a strong recovery to come home seventh and limit their points loss to the No. 33 Hyundai, their cause aided when Gottsacker and Wickens finished in third place.

Not that Miller and Taylor had it easy. As they have all season, they faced long odds in the numbers game given that their Audi was up against the four-car flotilla of BHA Hyundais, none of which gave an inch during their recovery drive – witness the No. 17 Audi’s caved-in driver door.

“Unfortunately, we got ourselves into a hole early,” Church says. “Until we did that we were in good shape, but it was just a small mistake by Chris (Miller). But in the end, it worked out, despite some of the other cars trying to take us out. All in all, it definitely could have been worse, but we survived and carry a decent points lead to Indy, so no complaints.”

Thus, they head to the penultimate round of the season on Sept. 21 in search of another strong finish, one that will make their task three weeks later at Michelin Raceway simpler.

“Right now, the way it sits is if we have a 170-point lead leaving Indy, depending on how many cars show up (for the Fox Factory 120), we’d pretty much only have to start the race,” Church says. “So, that’s your ideal scenario. You could essentially lock it up after Indy by carrying enough of a gap in points that no matter what anybody else does, all you have to do is start the race and there’s not enough points on the table for them to take it away from you.

“We’re in a great position,” he continues. “It’s due to the drivers and team doing a great job, so there’s no reason to change the recipe. We’re confident, the guys are confident and we just have to keep digging, mind our Ps and Qs and hopefully have a solid race. If not, we’ll just go to (Michelin Raceway) with our elbows out!”

And don’t be surprised if there’s another new input shaft in the mix as well.