In a bit of a surprise, JDC-Miller MotorSports has announced tit has signed hat former Porsche factory driver Gianmaria Bruni for the full 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Though no longer a factory driver as of this year, Bruni will still be connected with the Stuttgart brand as he drives the No.85 Porsche 963, alongside third-year JDC-Miller driver Tijmen van der Helm. At Daytona they will be joined by reigning FIA Formula E World Champion and Porsche works driver, Pascal Wehrlein, plus fellow IMSA debutant and Indy NXT driver Bryce Aron.
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“I am very happy to be joining JDC-Miller MotorSports for the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech Championship season,” said Bruni, who won the LMP2 class as part of Proton Competition’s team at the 2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
“I spent a few days with the team at the Daytona tests in November, and I can’t wait to work with them throughout the entire IMSA championship. I am very motivated and expect to see great results. I am looking forward to working with my new teammates at Daytona and through the entire WeatherTech season.”
Bruni had tested the No.85 JDC-Miller Porsche during the IMSA Sanctioned Test at Daytona in November, but last month’s release of the provisional Rolex 24 entry list had Bruni scheduled to drive the No.5 Proton Competition Porsche. This was understood to be a clerical error that will be corrected in a future bulletin from IMSA.
The Italian veteran, who has spent lengthy stints as a Porsche and Ferrari works driver, will replace the retired Richard Westbrook at JDC-Miller. The ‘Banana Boat’ Porsche scored its first GTP podium last September in Indianapolis, when a technical infringement and post-race penalty to the No.6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 elevated Van der Helm, Westbrook, and Phil Hanson from fourth to third.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Gimmi to the JDC-Miller family,” added JDC-Miller Managing Partner, John Church. “His impressive track record and deep understanding of sports car racing speak for themselves. We believe his experience and skill will be instrumental in our pursuit of success in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. He and Tijmen are the pair of world-class drivers we need to compete for the championship.”