SpeedSeries news | Johor’s royal duo return to GT World Challenge Australia with Bathurst 1000 legend Jamie Whincup
Johor’s racing royals have confirmed they will return to Australia to contest GT World Challenge Australia as part of the SpeedSeries program.
Triple Eight Race Engineering will campaign four Mercedes-AMG GT3 sports cars across Australia and Asia, with two in each continent.
The team’s first appearance under the Johor Motorsports Racing banner takes place as part of the Bathurst 6 Hour support card on April 7-9.
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The cars will be driven by Prince Jefri Ibrahim and Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim, who are brothers from Johor’s royal family.
Prince Jefri will have Supercars race winner Broc Feeney as his co-driver while Prince Abu will be joined by seven-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup.
In GT World Challenge Asia, Prince Abu will be joined by factory Mercedes driver Luca Stolz.
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Off the back of winning the Pro-Am Championship in GT World Challenge Asia and finishing third in the equivalent title race in Australia last year, the team has high aspirations.
“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 Prince Jefri.
“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.”
Team owner/driver Whincup said the trajectory of the royal duo could see them on the grid at the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans in years to come.
“JMR has chosen Triple Eight Race Engineering to run their program, and we’re taking it unbelievably seriously – every single resource we put into making a Supercar fast is exactly the same for the GT program,” said the four-time Bathurst 1000 winner.
“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 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“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.”
GT World Challenge Australia gets underway on April 7-9 at Mount Panorama.
2023 SpeedSeries calendar
Round 1: Race Tasmania, Symmons Plains – February 24-26
Round 2: Bathurst 6 Hour – April 7-9*
Round 3: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit – May 12-14*
Round 4: Winton Raceway – June 9-11
Round 5: Sydney Motorsport Park – June 23-25
Round 6: Queensland Raceway – August 11-13*
Round 7: Sandown International Raceway – September 8-10
Round 8: Bathurst International (TCR World Tour) – November 10-12
* – Denotes GT World Challenge Australia events
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