In a surprising turn of events, JDC-Miller Motorsports, the distinguished Porsche GTP privateer team, has revealed that Nico Mueller will be joining the ranks for the 73rd annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring race. Mueller will be aligning with Tijmen van der Helm and Gianmaria Bruni, taking the reins of the No. 85 Porsche 963.
Mueller’s journey in the world of auto racing is nothing short of fascinating. Having spent three successful seasons as a Peugeot Sport factory driver in the FIA World Endurance Championship, he was instrumental in steering the 2024-spec Peugeot 9X8 to its first podium finish in Bahrain. This victory marked his swansong with Peugeot before embarking on a new journey as a factory driver for Porsche.
In the FIA Formula E World Championship, Mueller has been primarily representing Porsche customer Andretti. He now steps into the shoes of his compatriot and fellow Porsche works and Formula E driver, Pascal Wehrlein, taking control of the JDC-Miller ‘Banana Boat,’ the vehicle that clinched the sixth position at Daytona.
JDC-Miller Motorsports is no stranger to victory, having won the 2021 Sebring 12 Hours and securing the second place in the subsequent year during the DPi era. Mueller’s inclusion in the team is expected to boost their performance further.
Expressing his excitement about the new assignment, Mueller said, “I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to JDC-Miller MotorSports, Porsche, and my Formula E Team, Andretti FE, who have made this high-profile, last-minute project possible. I am thrilled to get behind the wheel of the Porsche 963 and compete in my first distinguished Sebring 12-hour.”
Commenting on his return to IMSA, Mueller added, “I am no stranger to Sebring, having competed here during the ‘Super Sebring’ weekend when WEC was a part. I have always admired the IMSA action during the 12-hour and am well aware that it is reputed as the toughest race on the IMSA calendar. Alongside JDC-Miller MotorSports, Gimmi, and Tijmen, who bring a wealth of Sebring 963 experience, I am confident that my learning curve with the 963 will be accelerated.”
JDC-Miller Managing Partner, John Church, expressed his optimism about Mueller’s addition to the team stating, “Having Nico join our already formidable driver lineup with Tijmen and Gimmi only strengthens our confidence, especially after our strong performance at Daytona. We are grateful to our friends at Porsche for their efforts in facilitating this.”
In a lighter vein, Mueller also mentioned his fondness for the color yellow, which he considers a good omen for his racing endeavors. As Mueller gears up for the upcoming race, the anticipation among fans and fellow racers is palpable. With his remarkable track record and the backing of a strong team, Mueller is all set to make a mark in the prestigious Sebring 12-hour race.