Johnson to Race BMW 228 M in CTSC with Simpson

Former motorcycle racing champion and the first and only paralyzed driver to be licensed by IndyCar announced today he will drive a BMW 228 M Sport Coupe in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge.

“With JDC Miller Motorsports still behind me, I’m looking forward to a smooth transition and a great season in 2016,” said Johnson. “To also have a BMW under me and Stephen Simpson as a teammate, I’m thrilled at what is ahead.

“To be starting a relationship with a manufacturer as prestigious as BMW is a real honor for me. This is obviously a new endeavor for me; I’ve never drove this style of car before but I’m so excited to be involved in IMSA’s Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge.”

The 23-year-old American driver joins his teammate, 31-year-old South African Stephen Simpson, in the Street Tuner class, which in addition to Johnson and Simpson’s BMW, will see cars from Audi, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan and Porsche.

Team owner, John Church, is just as confident in his driver. “Johnson has the fire in his belly that you look for in a driver,”he said. “He has relentless motivation and a ‘no-quit’ attitude that makes him not only an intimidating competitor, but also an asset to the sport.

“He raises the bar for paralyzed and able-bodied athletes, alike and I think the BMW 228 M is the perfect car to get him to the finish line.”

Johnson’s car will be specialty-equipped with hand controls provided by GuidoSimplex. Due to Johnson being paralyzed from the waist down, his car has a complicated brake, gearshift, and throttle system—he presses a ring on the steering wheel forward to accelerate, then pulls another ring toward him to brake.

“Michael [Johnson] pushes the limits of what some would think impossible,” said teammate Simpson. “He works harder than any athlete I know and he won’t stop until he accomplishes his goal.

“Working with him only fuels my own fire, even more. The 2016 season will be a great benchmark for us in Continental Tire and doing that in a BMW in the ST class will be great.”