JDC-Miller MotorSports reveals IMSA line-up for 2021
JDC-Miller MotorSports has named Loic Duval, Tristan Vautier and Sebastien Bourdais as its drivers for the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.
Duval and Vautier will pilot the Mustang Sampling-sponsored #5 Cadillac DPi-V.R for the full-season, with Bourdais joining his fellow Frenchmen for four Michelin Endurance Cup races.
Bourdais was one of JDC's full-timers this season but is dropping back to a 'third man' role for 2021 due to his NTT IndyCar Series commitments with A. J. Foyt Racing.
He started the year partnered with Joao Barbosa, who was suddenly dropped for the final three races of the season and replaced by Vautier.
Bourdais concluded the year fifth in the drivers' standings, boosted by a run of three straight podiums at the start of the coronavirus-impacted season.
Team co-founder and CEO John Church commented: "We had a little bit of an up and down year in 2020 but I think we showed in the final race of the year at Sebring a lot of momentum and the potential we have as a group and that is what we have to build on for 2021.
"Consistency with our partners and line-up is a big part of that, so we are all very excited to be able to keep the line-up together for another run at the championship in 2021.”
Duval meanwhile steps up to a full-time IMSA drive after contesting the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Petit Le Mans and the Sebring 12 Hours with JDC this year alongside his DTM commitments.
#5 JDC-Miller MotorSports Cadillac DPi: Loic Duval
Photo by: Art Fleischmann
The long-time Audi driver had previously expressed his disinterest in continuing into the DTM's new GT3-based era and signalled his desire to return to prototype racing full-time.
“I am really happy and pleased to be back with Mustang Sampling Racing/JDC-Miller MotorSports for the 2021 season after I joined the team in 2020 for the long endurance races,” said Duval, who skipped a DTM round at Zolder to contest Petit Le Mans.
“2020 was a challenging year for a lot of reasons and as a team we for sure had our up and downs but we started the season really strong at Daytona and had a lot of momentum towards the end of the season.
"So it’s great to be back with Tristan and Seb in 2021, now as one of the full-season drivers for the team because it for sure gives us consistency and to build on the momentum we had."
JDC's announcement made no mention of plans to field a second Cadillac, as it did throughout the 2020 season with a variety of drivers - including Vautier, Matheus Leist, Stephen Simpson and Chris Miller - taking it in turns at the wheel.
#85 JDC-Miller Motorsports Cadillac DPi, DPi: Matheus Leist, Stephen Simpson
Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images
Related video
IMSA’s 2021 west coast swing moves to September
NASCAR champ Elliott joins Action Express for Rolex 24
The significance of the next step in WEC/IMSA convergence
Following the latest convergence connection permitting Le Mans Hypercars from the FIA World Endurance Championship to compete against LMDh entries in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship from 2023, it could open up enticing options not only to manufacturers but also for the calendar and race formats
Why a Mazda IMSA Prototype title would bring bitter joy
Can Mazda win this year’s IMSA Prototype championship? Undoubtedly. But it will be the culmination of an achingly hard struggle, after which the brand has decided to quit. David Malsher-Lopez tells the story of a bizarre blend of heartache and positivity.
The GTE dilemma that IMSA has created for the WEC
The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s decision to scrap its GT Le Mans class for 2022 raises the question of whether the FIA World Endurance Championship should phase out GTE cars. But it's a much harder decision than it appears on the surface.
Nine things to watch at the 2021 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona
After a 100-minute sprint race to whet the appetite, the 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship gets underway properly this weekend. With plenty of significant changes during the winter, here are the key points you need to keep an eye on
Why Magnussen is relishing a fresh start in sportscars
Having gone over seven years without a race win through spells with McLaren, Renault and Haas, Kevin Magnussen's departure from Formula 1 for IMSA with big-hitters Chip Ganassi Racing could give him what he craves most - a chance of success
Oliver Gavin's Corvette Racing highlights
Oliver Gavin has stepped down from the full-time Corvette Racing line-up after a stellar career with the team spanning nearly 20 years. He looks back on a stint that encompassed, among other successes, five Le Mans 24 Hours victories.
How Tandy joined an exclusive club of endurance legends
Victory at last year's Spa 24 Hours meant Nick Tandy had completed the unofficial sextuple crown of the world's six biggest endurance races, becoming the first Briton to do so. Ahead of his fresh start with Corvette Racing, he explains how he did it…
The 12 greatest Sebring 12 Hours ranked
The 2020 edition of the Florida sportscar classic is finally taking place this weekend, eight months after its traditional date in March. That meant there was plenty of time for Motorsport.com to pour over its previous 67 races and select the best.