Privateer Porsche 963 Keeps JDC-Miller “At Highest Level”

Photo: Katie Church

JDC-Miller Motorsports team co-owner John Church said he’s relishing the opportunity to remain in the top class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and challenge for overall wins as a privateer in the new GTP era.

The Minnesota-based team was confirmed last weekend as the first customer Porsche 963 entry, which will race alongside the factory Porsche Penske Motorsport entries in the new-look category next year.

JDC-Miller has arguably been the most successful privateer team in the DPi era, having won the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in 2021 with its Cadillac DPi-V.R while also taking top overall honors in the 2018 Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen with a LMP2-spec car.

Church said he expects the challenge in 2023 — as being one of only two expected GTP privateer entries on the grid — to be similar t0 the early days of the DPi era when LMP2 cars were in the same class and fought for overall wins.

“It’s very similar to 2017 when we did the ORECA P2 car against the DPi manufacturers when we were running all as one class,” he said. “I’ve always said, personally, I come to the track to compete. 

“If we’re going to get beat, you want to get beat by the best and if you’re going to beat them, you want to beat the best. 

“The win [at Watkins Glen] in 2018, that was pretty significant because we beat all the rest of the factory teams that day. Everybody has their day and you’ve got to keep digging. 

“Being a customer team, there’s no complacency. You have to work hard every day and that’s what everybody enjoys doing. I love it.”

Church said the deal to purchase the first IMSA-allocated customer Porsche 963 has been “many months” in the making, after discussions between Porsche Motorsport North America President and CEO Volker Holzmeyer (pictured, top right) leading to a deal to remain in the top class.

Porsche’s Multimatic-chassied LMDh car is the only customer option for privateers in the first year of the new global formula.

“At some point we talked to everybody,” said Church. “And there was one clear option, that in my mind was the only option, so that’s what led us here.

“We’ve been discussing this for some time — calls and video calls and whatnot. I couldn’t be happier for our team and I certainly want to thank Volker for all of his hard work and help in putting this together.

“I want to thank my partner, John Miller, for his continued support and guidance. We’re here because I believe in our program and we want to continue competing in IMSA at the highest level.”

When asked by Sportscar365 if Porsche may have an influence on its driver lineup, Church said they intend to work with “as much of our current program” as possible and “go from there.”

At least one change would be expected, with third driver Loic Duval — who is contracted to Peugeot in the FIA World Endurance Championship — likely unable to run both programs.

Richard Westbrook and Tristan Vautier are currently the team’s full season drivers in its Cadillac DPi.

Additionally, Church said its agreement with Mustang Sampling, which has served as the team’s primary sponsor for the last three years, is still being worked on for next year.

Holzmeyer: Customer Porsche 963s Identical to Factory Penske Cars

PMNA’s Holzmeyer has confirmed that JDC-Miller, and other future customers, will receive identical Porsche 963s to the factory Porsche Penske operation, along with the same level of information sharing.

“From a Porsche point of view, we provide the same data to Penske as the customer teams like JDC-Miller,” Holzmeyer said.

“Of course now during the engineering, Penske is closer to the car. But [JDC-Miller] is invited to join our testing to get them involved as early as possible to observe it. 

“Porsche will provide information for everyone equally and then there will be a limited performance-related [how-to guide] of how to operate the car and how to set it up.

“Then it’s up to the teams, with Penske, what they share and what they don’t share. Because at the end, everybody is racing against each other but we as a manufacturer want to make sure that we are on top of the grid.”

While it’s unclear if JDC-Miller will have its car in time for next year’s season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona, Church said that he’s looking forward to having an identical car to the factory Penske Porsches. 

“Every program is a little different but for us to know we have the same basic package as the factory team checks a lot of boxes to start with,” he said.

“We’re very excited. Hopefully this next chapter in IMSA with the GTP class is a successful one.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John