Catsburg: JMR in “Better Spot” to Fight for Suzuka Win

Photo: Gruppe C Photography/SRO

Nicky Catsburg believes that JMR Johor Racing is in a “better spot” to contend for victory in this weekend’s Suzuka 1000km.

Catsburg and fellow Corvette factory driver Alexander Sims plus Chevrolet-powered NTT IndyCar Series star Scott McLaughlin have reunited in the Malaysian squad’s Pro class Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R after last year’s podium finish, thanks in part to the Dutchman’s late-race heroics.

“It was tough,” Catsburg reflected to Sportscar365. “I think I did the last three-and-a-half hours and I was dying in there!

“In the last bit of the race I was battling with Loek Hartog for P3. He was on fresh tires and I wasn’t and it was very tough to keep him behind.

“It was a lot of fun. I remember feeling like passing out after the race. It’s funny, if you see the pictures, I always say I look like a maniac on the podium!

“It was a cool race and it was nice to get a podium. It was very nice to work with Scott as well. And it’s nice to do it again.”

When asked if he believes their chances have increased 12 months later, Catsburg thinks they can now challenge for overall honors, especially given the complexion of the Pro class grid this weekend.

“We’re definitely in a better spot than lats year,” he said. “Us drivers know more about the car. Scott has driven it. The team knows more.

“Balance of Performance, I’m not sure where we are. I remember last year the BMW was very fast, too fast I think.

“There’s no Pro BMWs this year, so we should be able to contend for the win, that’s for sure the plan.”

Suzuka will mark JMR’s second Pro class Corvette entry of the Intercontinental GT Challenge season, with Catsburg, Sims and Earl Bamber having contested the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour but was sidelined when Bamber crashed out due to suspension failure.

“These races are very cool,” he said. “Hopefully we can continue doing them and maybe even doing more of them next year.

“It’s very nice working with the JMR guys, both at Suzuka and Bathurst and now driving with them again.

“They’re a good team with a lot of smart engineers and smart people there.

“I feel like in Bathurst we had a really fast car. We had a good opportunity to win there as well.

“Hopefully this whole IGTC story can continue for the foreseeable future.”

Racing Corvette in N24 Would be “Dream Come True”

Catsburg, a two-time overall winner of the Nürburgring 24, said he’s ecstatic at the prospects of the Corvette competing in next year’s event, following news that the Pratt Miller-built car will be receiving a kit that would make it Nordschleife-compliant.

The Dutchman, as well as Sims, both took part in this year’s race at the wheel of Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 and Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II machinery, respectively.

“Honestly that would be a dream come true,” said Catsburg. “I know drivers say that all the time but it would honestly be a dream come true because the N24 is my favorite event, by a long shot.

“It’s the best track in the world. So to be able to go there with the Corvette, basically the car that I drive all the time, the company I work for, would be awesome to bring them there and show them a little bit of this environment.

“The Nordschleife, the Eifel there, and just the event itself is very unique. I would love for that to happen.”

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