Johor Motorsports Racing (JMR) has unveiled its 2023 season entry for Fanatec GT World Challenge powered by AWS with a brooding, sci-fi inspired video.
Featuring two Mercedes-AMG GT3s in contrasting livery designs for the Australia and Asia series, the clip reveals an impressive driver line-up headlined by Prince Jefri Ibrahim and Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim.
Prince Jefri will team up with Red Bull Ampol Racing driver Broc Feeney, while Prince Abu will join forces with Supercars’ legend Jamie Whincup and Mercedes-AMG driver Luca Stolz, as they contest races across both continents.
Continuing the team’s long-standing relationship with Triple Eight Race Engineering, JMR will expand its garage to accommodate four Mercedes-AMG GT3s split between the two Fanatec GT World Challenge powered by AWS categories, with the Princes’ sights firmly set on GT World Challenge driver and team championships this year.
JMR experienced a stellar season in 2022 with Prince Jefri securing the Pro-Am Championship in Asia and a competitive third place in Australia, while JMR and Triple Eight took out the Team Championship in Asia.
Not content to rest on their achievements, Prince Jefri and co-driver Feeney took the opportunity to visit Red Bull’s world-class Athlete Performance Centre in Austria over the off-season, eager to put in the hard work in order to reap the rewards on offer in 2023.
The 2023 JMR campaign begins over Easter weekend, when GT World Challenge Australia kicks off with a return to Bathurst’s Mount Panorama circuit for the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst Six-Hour. The team will then take to the track for 11 rounds of GT3 racing between Australia and Asia, with the exemption of Phillip Island due to a calendar clash. The team’s schedule finishes in November with the Adelaide 500.
QUOTES
Prince Jefri Ibrahim
JOHOR Racing/Triple Eight Race Engineering
“2023 will see us running two cars in Australia and two in Asia, so it will be a big year, with big challenges, but we’re looking forward to it,” said Ibrahim.
“Last year I won the Pro-Am Championship and we also won the team championship for the first time, which was really amazing. This year has started well with a class podium at the Bathurst 12 Hour, and hopefully we can carry this momentum forward into the rest of the season.
“I’ve been training hard in the gym and getting as much seat-time as possible in the car, as I want to take my physical performance to the next level this year.”
Broc Feeney
JOHOR Racing/Triple Eight Race Engineering
“I am stoked to be joining the JMR team as co-driver with Prince Jefri for the 2023 season,” said Feeney.
“I wanted to fill in the space between the Supercars rounds this year, and this was the perfect opportunity.
“Although it was a gruelling race, I had fun starting 2023 in a GT for the Bathurst 12 Hour, so I’m keen to get some more time in the AMG GT3 throughout the year. The cars look great, and I can’t wait to get them out onto the track.”
Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim
JOHOR Racing/Triple Eight Race Engineering
“2022 was a great year and I learnt a lot, but now we are ready to step up to the next level,” said Ibrahim.
“I’m excited by the challenge of racing both the Australian and Asian rounds of GT World Challenge and having the support of Jamie, Luca and Triple Eight will mean we have given ourselves the very best chance of success.”
Jamie Whincup
JOHOR Racing/Triple Eight Race Engineering
“JMR has chosen Triple Eight Race Engineering to run their programme, and we’re taking it unbelievably seriously – every single resource we put into making a Supercar fast is exactly the same for the GT programme,” said Whincup.
“We pride ourselves in preparing and racing the fastest cars in the world, and the JMR programme is absolutely no different. 2022 was an awesome year for JMR.
“The trajectory they’re on in the next couple of years could see them on the grid of events like the Le Mans 24-Hour. Within the team we improved massively; we came a long way over the past 12 months.
“There are no excuses now for 2023 – we’ve got all the tools required, and plenty of experience to get the job done.”
