Car &
Series

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
Porsche 963 GTP

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship represents the pinnacle of North American sports car racing. Since its formation in 2014, the series has combined the best elements of prototype and GT racing into a premier championship that attracts factory teams, world-class drivers, and passionate fans across the United States.

Championship Structure

The WeatherTech Championship features eleven rounds at legendary venues including Daytona International Speedway, Sebring International Raceway, Road America, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Races range from sprint formats to grueling endurance classics, with the season bookended by two of motorsport’s most prestigious events: the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

The Classes

IMSA racing features four distinct classes competing simultaneously on track, creating the strategic complexity and intense action that defines sports car racing:

Grand Touring Prototype (GTP)

The top class in IMSA, featuring cutting-edge hybrid prototype race cars from manufacturers including Porsche, Cadillac, BMW, Acura, and Lamborghini. These are the fastest, most technologically advanced cars in the championship, combining hybrid powertrains with advanced aerodynamics and sophisticated electronics. GTP cars compete in both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship under the LMDh (Le Mans Daytona hybrid) regulations.

The newest and most technologically advanced Prototype race car took to the track for the first time in 2023, featuring a common hybrid powertrain for all entries that takes kinetic energy gained in braking and stores it in batteries for later use when needed. Six global automotive manufacturers—Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Lamborghini, and Porsche—compete in this class. Each manufacturer developed its own unique internal combustion engine and bodywork styling to take on this cutting-edge challenge.

Multi-Class Racing

One of IMSA’s defining characteristics is multi-class competition. All four classes race simultaneously, creating a dynamic where faster classes must navigate through slower traffic while slower classes defend their positions within their own category.

To help fans follow the on-track action, the WeatherTech Championship uses a Leader Light System. It allows fans to easily identify the position of each car in its respective class. The position of the car is displayed on an LCD panel mounted on the side of the car, and the color of the LED number corresponds with the class. For instance, an illuminated LED red number 5 on a GTD PRO style car means that car is in 5th position in the GTD PRO class.

For drivers, managing traffic is both challenge and opportunity. Faster GTP cars gain or lose positions based on how efficiently they navigate through GTD traffic. Slower class drivers must be aware of faster cars approaching while racing competitively within their own class. This requires exceptional awareness, strategic thinking, and racecraft—skills that separate good drivers from great ones.

The Michelin Endurance Cup

Within the WeatherTech Championship exists the Michelin Endurance Cup—a championship within the championship. Five endurance races throughout the season award additional points:

• Rolex 24 at Daytona (24 hours)
• Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring (12 hours)
• Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen
• MOTUL Sportscar Endurance Grand Prix at Road America (6 hours)
• Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta (10 hours)

Points are awarded at intervals during each race based on position at that moment, with bonus points for overall victory. The Endurance Cup recognizes teams that excel at long-distance racing, where consistency, strategy, and reliability matter as much as outright speed.

Kaylen Frederick is competing in the 2026 Michelin Endurance Cup with JDC-Miller MotorSports, with plans to expand the program as the season progresses.

Global Significance

IMSA racing serves as a pathway to international endurance racing, particularly the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The LMDh regulations governing the GTP class allow the same cars to compete in both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship, creating a truly global platform for manufacturers and drivers.

Many IMSA champions have progressed to success at Le Mans and in WEC competition. The skills developed in IMSA—multi-class traffic management, endurance race strategy, team coordination—translate directly to the world’s most prestigious endurance events

The Porsche 963 GTP

The car Kaylen Frederick drives with JDC-Miller MotorSports is the Porsche 963, one of the most advanced racing machines in the world. Introduced in 2023 for the LMDh category, the 963 represents Porsche’s return to top-level prototype racing and continues the manufacturer’s legendary endurance racing heritage.

The Porsche 963 is a single-seater prototype racing car built for the LMDh category, competing in both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Technical Specifications

ENGINE

• Type: Water-cooled V8 twin-turbo
• Displacement: 4.6 liters
• Power: Combined performance with MGU (Motor Generator Unit) approximately 500kW (680 PS / 671 HP)
• Configuration: Mid-mounted, driving the rear wheels

HYBRID

• System: Single specification hybrid system (common to all LMDh manufacturers)
• MGU (Motor Generator Unit): Located at rear axle
• ESS: Lithium-ion Energy Storage System
• Voltage: 800V system architecture
• Function: Regenerative braking harvests energy; strategic deployment for acceleration and overtaking

DRIVE

• Clutch: CFK Racing Clutch (Carbon Fiber Reinforced)
• Transmission: Single specification, sequential 7-gear race gearbox
• Actuation: Pneumatically actuated (paddle-shifted)

SUSPENSION

• Front Axle: Double wishbone suspension, Pushrod-System, Hydraulic power steering
• Rear Axle: Double wishbone suspension, Pushrod-System

BRAKES

• System: Two independent brake circuits for front and rear axle
• Technology: Brake-by-wire system for rear axle
• Integration: Blends mechanical braking with regenerative braking for energy harvesting

TIRES

• Front: 12.5 J x 18 ET 29
• Rear: 14 J x 18 ET 34
• Supplier: Michelin Pilot Sport

CHASSIS DIMENSIONS

• Wheelbase: 3,148 mm
• Width: 2,000 mm
• Height: 1,040 mm
• Length: < 5,100 mm
• Weight: 1,030 kg minimum (without fuel and driver)

The Hybrid Advantage

The Porsche 963’s hybrid system fundamentally changes how the car is driven compared to traditional race cars. The Motor Generator Unit at the rear axle serves dual purposes:

Power Deployment: The MGU provides additional electric power to supplement the combustion engine, delivering boost during acceleration and overtaking maneuvers. Drivers can deploy stored electrical energy strategically—to complete a pass, to build a gap, or to maintain pace while managing fuel consumption.

Energy Harvesting: Under braking, the MGU operates in reverse, converting kinetic energy into electrical energy stored in the lithium-ion battery. This regenerative braking supplements the mechanical brakes while recovering energy that would otherwise be lost as heat.

The result is a race car that requires strategic thinking beyond traditional racing. Drivers must manage battery state of charge throughout a stint, balancing performance with efficiency. Deploy too aggressively early in a stint, and you’ll lack energy later. Harvest too conservatively, and you’ll lose time to competitors who are more aggressive with deployment.

This adds a layer of complexity that doesn’t exist in traditional race cars, requiring drivers to think like strategists while executing at the limit.

LMDh: Global Racing Regulations

The Porsche 963 is built to LMDh (Le Mans Daytona hybrid) regulations, which were created to allow the same cars to race in both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship. This convergence of regulations means a Porsche 963 can compete at Daytona, Sebring, and Le Mans with minimal modifications.

Key aspects of LMDh:

• Common hybrid system across all manufacturers (Bosch MGU, Williams Advanced Engineering battery)
• Manufacturer freedom in internal combustion engine design
• Single-specification chassis from approved suppliers (Porsche uses Multimatic)
• Balance of Performance (BoP) system to ensure competitive parity between manufacturers

Porsche Heritage at Daytona

Porsche has unmatched success at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, with 20 overall victories—more than any other manufacturer. This dominance spans decades, from the legendary Porsche 917 and 936 of the 1970s to the 962 of the 1980s, and continuing with modern prototypes.

Between 1977 and 1987, Porsche won the Rolex 24 eleven consecutive times—a record that demonstrates the manufacturer’s endurance racing expertise and engineering excellence.

The 963 continues this legacy, combining Porsche’s traditional engineering strengths—reliability, efficiency, performance—with cutting-edge hybrid technology.

The No. 85 Porsche 963: “The Banana Boat”

The specific car Kaylen drives is the No. 85 Porsche 963, affectionately known in the paddock as the “Banana Boat” for its distinctive bright yellow livery. The color makes the car highly visible on track—useful for fans trying to follow the action, and useful for competitors navigating dense multi-class traffic.

Team Configuration

The No. 85 is shared among three drivers:

• Kaylen Frederick (USA) – Making his endurance racing debut, bringing international single-seater experience from BRDC F3 (Champion), FIA F3, and Japanese Super Formula Lights. First American to win the BRDC British F3 Championship.
• Tijmen van der Helm (Netherlands) – Entering his fourth season with JDC-Miller MotorSports, with 23 starts in the Porsche 963. Extensive knowledge of the car’s characteristics and proven pace at Daytona.
• Nico Pino (Chile) – Experienced in both IMSA and FIA World Endurance Championship competition. Set the fastest time in the fourth session during the November 2025 Daytona test, finishing second overall for the entire test weekend.

This driver lineup combines youth with experience, international backgrounds with diverse skill sets, and individual talent with collaborative teamwork.

JDC-Miller MotorSports: The Only Privateer

JDC-Miller MotorSports holds a unique position in the GTP class: they are the only privateer team competing against factory-backed manufacturer efforts from Porsche Penske Motorsport, Cadillac Racing, BMW M Team RLL, and Acura.

A privateer team purchases their race car as a customer rather than receiving direct factory support. They don’t have access to factory engineers at every race, unlimited parts budgets, or the development resources that manufacturer teams enjoy.

What privateer teams do have is ingenuity, efficiency, and the drive to prove that expertise and preparation can compete with unlimited budgets.

Championship Credentials:

• Rolex 24 at Daytona – Overall winners
• 12 Hours of Sebring – Overall winners
• Multiple IMSA championships across different classes

The team knows how to win endurance races. They know how to manage 24-hour strategy. They know how to execute flawless pit stops when every second matters.

Team Goals for 2026

Managing Partners John Church and Chris Miller have stated clearly: “We are confident we can reach the podium with the goal of taking the top step.”

After finishing sixth at Daytona in both 2024 and 2025, the team is focused on reaching the podium. With the driver lineup of van der Helm, Pino, and Frederick, plus the team’s proven execution capabilities, that goal is achievable.

Competition in the GTP Class

The No. 85 faces formidable competition from factory teams with massive budgets and resources:

• Porsche Penske Motorsport – Factory Porsche operation
• Cadillac Racing – Factory Cadillac teams
• BMW M Team RLL – Factory BMW effort
• Acura ARX-06 – Factory Acura programs
• Lamborghini Iron Lynx – Factory-supported Lamborghini effort

Lap time differentials between top GTP cars are measured in tenths of a second, not seconds. Every aspect of setup, strategy, and execution matters. There’s no margin for error when the competition is this close. 

Why IMSA? Why Now?

Kaylen’s transition to IMSA endurance racing represents the natural evolution of his career. After proving himself in single-seaters across three continents—winning the BRDC British F3 Championship, competing in FIA Formula 3, and racing in Japan—endurance racing offers new challenges:

Strategic Complexity:
Racing in terms of hours and fuel windows, not just individual laps. It’s racing as chess match.

More Laps = More Driving:
One of the significant benefits of endurance racing is seat time. Drivers love to drive. In the words of Steve McQueen: “Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting.”

Team Dynamics:
Sharing a car with teammates, coordinating strategy, working toward collective success.

Technical Depth:
Managing hybrid systems, energy deployment strategies, and multi-hour stints adds layers of complexity.

Global Platform:
IMSA’s LMDh regulations create pathways to Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Full Circle Moment:
Starting karting at Daytona at age 7, now racing the Rolex 24 at the same venue sixteen years later.

How to Watch

Television:
NBC and USA Network broadcast IMSA races throughout the season with comprehensive coverage.

Streaming:
Peacock Premium provides live streaming of all IMSA races with flag-to-flag coverage.

Live Timing:
Follow live timing and scoring at IMSA.com during all race sessions.

Social Media:

• Instagram: @kaylen.frederick
• Facebook: Kaylen Frederick Racing
• YouTube: Kaylen Frederick Racing

Partner With Us

Kaylen Frederick Racing and JDC-Miller MotorSports offer partnership opportunities for businesses looking to connect with IMSA’s engaged, affluent audience.

Benefits include:

• Brand visibility on one of the most distinctive cars in the GTP field
• Hospitality opportunities at America’s premier racing events
• Content creation and social media activation
• B2B networking and client entertainment
• Association with championship-winning team and proven driver

Contact us for partnership information

Kaylen Frederick competes in the No. 85 Porsche 963 GTP with JDC-Miller MotorSports in the 2026 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup. Supported by PilotOne Racing.