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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.
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
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.
After Falling Just Shy in ’23, Drivers Miller and Taylor Led Determined Effort in ‘24
October 23, 2024
By David Phillips from IMSA Wire Service
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – By almost any measure, the Unitronic/JDC-Miller Motorsports IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge campaign last year was a success. Which means this season’s championship-winning effort in the Touring Car (TCR) class must be ranked as the ultimate triumph. After a slow start to the 2023 season, drivers Chris Miller and Mikey Taylor steered the No. 17 Audi RS3 LMS TCR to a trio of victories and a pair of runner-up finishes. The only thing missing was the TCR championship itself. A mechanical issue coming to the green flag at the season finale ended the title bid and left the team with unfinished business to attend in 2024.
Suffice to say, Miller, Taylor and the JDC-Miller crew took care of that business this season, and then some. They captured four wins and two more podiums in the 10 races and, thanks to a dash of ironic mechanical mayhem, clinched the driver and team titles by simply taking the green flag at the Fox Factory 120 on Oct. 11, almost a year to the day after the ’23 championship hardware slipped through their fingers.
“Given what happened last year, going to the last race with a chance of winning and being able to control our own destiny, that was disappointing,” said JDC-Miller founder John Church. “But everybody rallied. We worked hard in the off-season to clean up some things like pit stops so they wouldn’t be part of the equation, and that worked out well for us.”
But it wasn’t quite as simple or easy as the statistics might suggest. For openers, JDC-Miller again campaigned a lone Audi against a veritable armada of Hyundai Elantra N TCRs, no fewer than four fielded by Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian in a bid to claim its sixth consecutive driver and team crowns. There was also another perennial contender, the No. 5 KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR, as well as emerging potential winners like the No. 93 Montreal Motorsport Group Honda Civic FL5 TCR and No. 99 Victor Gonzales Racing Team Hyundai.
Relishing the status as giant killer, the No. 17 Audi opened the season with four wins and a third place to open a massive 220-point championship lead halfway through the season. The competition never quit, however. Defending TCR champions Robert Wickens and Harry Gottsacker won in the No. 33 Herta Hyundai at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Tim Lewis and William Tally guided the No. 5 KMW Alfa Romeo to victory at Road America. Dai Yoshihara and Karl Wittmer did the same in the No. 93 MMG Honda at VIRginia International Raceway, even as Miller and Taylor rebounded from an early “off” to finish seventh in the No. 17 Audi.
Still, when Mark Wilkins and Mason Filippi coaxed their fuel-efficient No. 98 BHA Hyundai to the win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway just clear of teammates Wickens and Gottsacker, JDC-Miller headed to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for the finale with a 150-point lead looking to close the deal.
Miller, though, crashed the No. 17 in qualifying, and when the BHA Hyundais qualified 1-2-3, JDC-Miller still had work to do, beginning with repairing the car. Needing only to finish 11th or better in class in the race, that was all but assured when the No. 73 Racers Edge Motorsports Honda Civic FK7 TCR withdrew after a mechanical issue in qualifying. It meant the No. 17 Audi needed only to be on the starting grid for Miller and Taylor to earn the drivers’ title and Unitronic/JDC-Miller to claim the team championship. This time, there would be no issues on the pace lap and Miller and Taylor duly came home a conservative but jubilant sixth in the race.
“Our guys started the season well and capitalized when they could,” Church said. “We had a couple of tough races through the year, but in the end, they did what they needed to do to finish out the year and championship. It was a whole team effort where everybody contributed, and I’m super proud of the effort everybody put in.”
All of which is not to say there was no drama in the season finale. After leading most of the last half of the two-hour race, Tyler Gonzalez was forced to bring the No. 99 Victor Gonzalez Hyundai to the pits for a splash of fuel as he was about to take the white flag. Thus, Wilkins, Filippi and the No. 98 BHA Hyundai took their second straight win to clinch the runner-up spots in the driver and team championships by just 10 points over Wickens, Gottsacker and the No. 33 Hyundai. It also put an exclamation point on Hyundai’s unprecedented fifth straight TCR manufacturer championship.
“A fifth manufacturers championship in a row here in IMSA,” Filippi said. “It just shows how hard Bryan Herta Autosport works and our Hyundai is really good at this championship, a really good car and reliability. We have a lot challengers here and it’s fun to compete in TCR, so it’s a big accomplishment.”
