Leist Joins JDC-Miller in Second Cadillac DPi

Photo: Matheus Leist Facebook

Matheus Leist will make his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut, having been confirmed in JDC-Miller Motorsports’ second Cadillac DPi-V.R for a minimum of the Michelin Endurance Cup races.

The 21-year-old Brazilian, who spent the last two years in the NTT IndyCar Series with AJ Foyt Racing, will team up with Juan Piedrahita in the No. 85 car for the four endurance races, with Chris Miller joining the duo for the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona.

While registered as a full-season entry, Leist nor Piedrahita currently have any additional races confirmed beyond Endurance Cup.

Leist, meanwhile, is not expected to return to IndyCar competition next year.

“To be honest I could not be happier to join Cadillac and JDC-Miller MotorSports in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship for 2020,” he said.

“I have driven for Chevrolet for the last two years in Indycar and I am super excited to stay in the GM family and to now drive a Cadillac DPi-V.R. prototype. I can’t wait to get to Daytona.”

Columbian Piedrahita, who made his debut with the Minnesota-based team this year, is likely to contest additional races beyond his currently confirmed Endurance Cup commitment.

“2019 was a first step to get into endurance racing with the Michelin Endurance Cup races. For 2020 the plan is to also do some additional sprint races and ideally the entire season with JDC-Miller Motorsports,” Piedrahita said.

“For sure the goal is to run the full schedule by 2021.”

The No. 85 car joins the previously confirmed Mustang Sampling-sponsored No. 5 Cadillac that will be driven by Joao Barbosa and Sebastien Bourdais, with Loic Duval for the Endurance Cup races.

“We are very excited about our driver roster for the Rolex 24 and the whole season,” said team owner John Church.

“We’re thrilled to have Matheus joining us in the No. 85 entry and know he will be a great addition to our lineup.

“I’m also happy to welcome back Juan and Chris to try to build on what we learned together last season. We feel we have strong line-ups in both of our entries for 2020 and it certainly will be an advantage running two cars again.”

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