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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.”
Gianmaria Bruni, Driver, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963
“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.”
Pascal Wehrlein, Driver, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963
“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.“
Bryce Aron, Driver, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963
“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.”
Gianmaria, Driver, No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963
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.”
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
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
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.
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.”
