Mowlem, McMurry Set for Partial PC Season with BAR1

Johnny Mowlem and Matt McMurry will share one of Brian Alder’s BAR1 Motorsports Oreca FLM09s for five races during this IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.

The confirmed five-race program will see Mowlem and McMurry race at five road course sprint races, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Lime Rock Park, Road America and Circuit of The Americas.

BAR1 did not run at Detroit last year and with the addition of Long Beach to this year’s PC schedule, it remains to be seen whether the team will run either street course race.

Both drivers have past BAR1 experience. Mowlem scored the pole at the Rolex 24 at Daytona last year and is expected to drive for the race itself this year; McMurry finished on the podium at Watkins Glen last year in his first start with the team.

Mowlem and McMurry have brief past experience together with Greaves Motorsport in the European Le Mans Series in 2014; they also raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that same year, albeit in separate cars (McMurry in LMP2, Mowlem in a Ram Racing Ferrari F458 Italia).

“I was delighted when Brian [Alder] asked me to be his gold driver for 2016, especially after building a successful relationship with his team last year,” Mowlem said.

“When he told me he was bringing on Matt to race with me in the sprint races, I was genuinely excited. Matt is a bright young driver who I’ve worked with before in LMP2. I know how much potential he has for the future.

“We will know we’ve succeeded if we score the most points during the five races. If we do, we’ll probably both wish our schedules would’ve allowed us to drive together all season!”

McMurry added, “Each year of my driving career has offered a new twist. This year one of my goals is to show that I can be quick in any type of car. I’ve spent the better part of the last two years in various prototypes in Europe and here in North America.”

McMurry has also been confirmed for the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup races in Park Place Motorsports’ Porsche 911 GT3 R.

BAR1 is yet to finalize its Rolex 24 lineups, although most if not all of the drivers who tested at the Roar figure to race in a couple weeks’ time.