JDC-Miller Motorsports has announced that it will be fielding a Mustang Sampling-backed Cadillac DPi-VR into the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship, which will be driven by Sebastien Bourdais and Joao Barbosa. The duo will be joined by Loic Duval for the endurance rounds of the season.
The team has signed a deal to field the #5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac for the 2020 and 2021 season. That car was previously fielded by Action Express Racing, but their deal ran out after Petit Le Mans.
"We are honored to have Mustang Sampling joining us and grateful for the confidence Brenda and Ken Thompson have placed in our team and organization," said John Church, managing partner of JDC-Miller Motorsports. "Mustang Sampling Racing has achieved a tremendous amount in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship. We look forward to carrying on the legacy of the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing entry and hope to add more wins and championships in the near future."
Joao Barbosa, who previously drove the car when it was under the AXR banner, joins the team and will be partnered by Sebastien Bourdais. Bourdais will be making the switch to endurance racing after it was announced earlier that the Frenchman would not be returning to Dale Coyne Racing in Indycar.
"Following two very difficult weeks filled with uncertainty regarding my future, I am thrilled to get the opportunity to race a prototype again, be reunited with Joao, Ken and Brenda, and drive for JDC-Miller MotorSports and Mustang Sampling Racing," commented Bourdais. I want to thank Christian [Fittipaldi] and everyone who made this possible. 2020 can't come soon enough and I can't wait to get behind the wheel of our Cadillac DPi-V.R."
Bourdais will be joined by the experienced Barbosa, who will be heading into his sixth season with Mustang Sampling Racing, a tenure that included a championship in 2015 and a win at Daytona in 2018
"I'm incredibly excited to join JDC-Miller MotorSports and to continue my relationship with Mustang Sampling Racing! Ken and Brenda have been incredible supporters. The passion they bring to the races is key to the success of Mustang Sampling. We had a lot of success together and we'll be working hard to continue that success. I'm looking forward to 2020," Barbosa commented.
"It was a different off-season for me for sure but we have been working on this project for some time and I'm really happy with how things turned out. JDC-Miller MotorSports has proven that it is ready for a strong season and I'm looking forward to the challenge!
It's going to take a little bit of time to get to know everyone and how they work but so far they have been really nice and are also as excited about the program as I am. Since I first talked with John I felt that we were on the same page and things just clicked.
I'm also very happy to share the car with Sébastien again. I was sad to hear that his IndyCar deal did not continue, but on the other hand, I couldn't really ask for a better teammate. We won Sebring and Daytona together and I feel we can achieve great results again!"
The team also announced that 2013 Le Mans winner Loic Duval would be joining the team for the endurance rounds, and that Christian Fittipaldi, who raced for the team in previous year, has been added as an advisor.
"First of all I am obviously super happy to be able to return to Daytona with a great team, car and fast experienced co-drivers. I am very excited for the challenge and looking forward to my first laps in a Cadillac." Duval said.
Last but not least, the team confirmed that it intends to continue with a two-car entry for the 2020 season.
"Our plans for the 2nd car are progressing well and we will be running it again this season," said John Church. "We have a couple very solid pieces in place and are currently in discussions with several additional drivers and partners. We hope we can make an announcement on who will drive for us in the JDC-Miller MotorSports No. 85 entry very soon".
