Catsburg Has “High Hopes” of Suzuka 1000km Return With JMR

Photo: Gruppe C Photography/SRO

Corvette factory drivers Nicky Catsburg and Alexander Sims are hopeful of returning to the Suzuka 1000km with Johor Racing JMR following their podium success in their debuts last year.

Catsburg, Sims and NTT IndyCar Series star Scott McLaughlin scored a third place finish in the revival of the Intercontinental GT Challenge fixture, thanks in part to the Dutchman’s late-race charge in the No. 2 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R.

While yet to be confirmed by the Malaysian squad beyond fielding a Pro-Am class entry for Independent Cup contender Prince Jefri Ibrahim, Sportscar365 understands that a Pro entry for Suzuka, as well as October’s season-ending Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS, is planned.

“I’m definitely hoping to be there again,” Catsburg told Sportscar365. “It was very cool last year working with Simsy and Scott. It was a lot of fun. The team is great fun, so hopefully we get to go again.

“I have high hopes.”

Sims added: “Sharing with Nicky is always a pleasure. I haven’t had that many opportunities to share with him over our careers, despite both of us being with BMW and Corvette at pretty much the same times.

“To share with Scott for the first time was incredible.

“The JMR team did a brilliant job as well. I would love to go back to Suzuka if it was on the cards this year or in the future.

“But there’s nothing confirmed yet from my side or the team’s side.”

There’s theoretically a chance of reprising the full lineup from last year, as the Sept. 11-13 event comes one week after the IndyCar Series season finale, which would allow McLaughlin to take part again.

Both Catsburg and Sims were also part of JMR’s Pro class Corvette in February’s Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour, with the car, that also featured fellow GM works driver Earl Bamber, forced out of the race due to suspension failure.

When pressed further on his chances for Suzuka this year, Catsburg said:  “I don’t know if the decision is final. It’s possible.

“We had a lot of fun. The podium was a hard battle last year but let’s see. Doing a couple of races with JMR this year, having done Bathurst, they recently won Spa [in Pro-Am] so they’re really on top of things.

“I hope I can race with them.”

Catsburg also expressed interest in returning to the Indy 8H, in what will be the final scheduled long-distance enduro at The Brickyard, as the U.S. IGTC venue moves to Circuit of The Americas next year.

“I have no confirmation about Indy, another race I would like to do,” he said. “But that’s unconfirmed as well.

“Last year was a fantastic event. It was the first time for me at Suzuka and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sims added that he enjoys being able to contest additional GT3 races beyond his primary focus in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports.

“It’s nice to be able to do additional races to IMSA,” he said. “For me, IMSA is the best full championship that I could do, in terms of enjoyment, competitiveness, being with Pratt Miller in this Corvette is wonderful.

“But it’s also just ten races in a season and it starts fairly early and finishes fairly late.

“To be able to fill your year with a handful of extra races is nice to get seat time, have different experiences, work with different people and keep learning.

“It’s lovely to be able to do them.”

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