Bamber, Sims, Catsburg in JMR Corvette for Bathurst 12H

Photo: JMR

GM factory stars Earl Bamber, Alexander Sims and Nicky Catsburg will vie for overall victory in next month’s Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour, having been confirmed as co-drivers of Johor Motorsports Racing’s Pro class Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R entry.

The trio will share the driving duties of the No. 2 Corvette, as part of the car’s long awaited debut at Mount Panorama.

JMR’s second Corvette, meanwhile, will be driven by its regular lineup of brothers Prince Jefri Ibrahim and Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim plus Ben Green and Jordan Love, contesting the Pro-Am ranks in the Intercontinental GT Challenge season opener on Feb. 15.

Defending IMSA GTD Pro champion Sims and Catsburg, who compete as teammates in sister Corvettes in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, were part of JMR’s Suzuka 1000km podium-finishing lineup alongside Scott McLaughlin, who is unable to contest Bathurst due to pre-season NTT IndyCar Series testing commitments.

Cadillac LMDh factory driver Bamber, meanwhile, is set for his first Bathurst 12 Hour start since 2020 when driving for his own team.

Coincidentally, the Kiwi will race against Earl Bamber Motorsport’s Porsche 911 GT3 R, which is also contesting the Pro category.

It will mark Bamber’s first time back in the Corvette since driving in the three long-distance Michelin Endurance Cup races in the No. 4 entry, alongside Catsburg and Tommy Milner. He and Catsburg also won the Nürburgring 24 that year, sharing Frikadelli Racing’s Ferrari 296 GT3.

“I’m really looking forward to returning to Bathurst and getting back in the Corvette with Nicky and Alex,” said Bamber.

“I had really great times with them at IMSA in 2024, and I’m excited to work with them again.

“I know a lot of the JMR guys as well, and they’re putting out fast cars with the Corvettes. Hopes are high. I can’t wait to get back to one of the greatest races in the world.”

While Catsburg has previous starts in ‘Australia’s international enduro’ it will mark Sims’ long-anticipated race debut.

“Bathurst has been on my bucket list for so many years, but was difficult to do with my other racing commitments,” he said. “We have simulator days planned to get up to speed, so I can be fully prepared for the race.

“It’s a very daunting circuit; it looks exciting on TV, but it’ll bite you if you get things wrong.”

Catsburg added: “It’s going to be super-cool to go up the mountain in Corvette’s first outing there, and to race for JMR in the Pro car.

“It’s an amazing opportunity and gives me a chance to win one of the iconic races that I haven’t won before. The team has a lot of connection with this race.”

This year’s edition of the race will mark JMR’s return for the first time since 2024 when Prince Jefri Ibrahim teamed with Love and Supercars star Jamie Whincup for a Pro-Am class podium result with the team’s previous manufacturer Mercedes-AMG and operation partner Triple Eight Race Engineering.

“I’ve raced the 12-Hour three times, and since starting JMR it has been one of my main goals to return with our own team,” said Ibrahim.

“To return next month with two cars makes it even more meaningful, especially racing alongside my brother and two great teammates, Jordan Love and Ben Green.

“Watching Bathurst last year was a huge motivation for us, and now to return with a new manufacturer in GM Corvette makes it even more exciting.”

JMR is expected to contest all IGTC races this year except for the N24, meaning the Malaysian squad is set to also add the season-ending Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS to its program in addition to planned returns to the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa and Suzuka.

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