Big year for JMR/T8 GT World Challenge teams 

Johor Motorsports Racing (JMR) will continue their relationship with Triple Eight Engineering in 2023 across two continents in the GT World Challenge.

The impressive driver line-ups are again headlined by Prince Jefri Ibrahim and Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim, with contrasting livery designs launched for both teams.

Prince Jefri will continue his on-track relationship with Supercars young-gun Broc Feeney, whilst Prince Abu will tackle the season with T8 boss Jamie Whincup, and Mercedes AMG factory driver Luca Stolz.

Prince Ibrahim and Feeney put in the offseason work in Australia for their upcoming JMR GTWC campaign

“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,” Prince Jefri said.

“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.”

His brother, Prince Abu, is also keen to get the JMR/T8 season going across both continents.

“2022 was a great year and I learnt a lot, but now we are ready to step up to the next level,” he related. 

“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.” 

Prince Abu and Whincup will look to build on their JMR/T8 partnership for some more GTWC titles in 2023

Continuing JMR’s fruitful relationship with T8 Race Engineering, JMR will expand its garage to accommodate four Mercedes-AMG GT3s split between the two GTWC series, with the Princes’ sights firmly set on GT World Challenge driver and team championships this year. 

It was a solid year all round for the JMR teams last season, as Prince Jefri secured the Pro-Am Championship in Asia and a competitive third place in Australia, with JMR and Triple Eight taking out the Team Championship in Asia.

Feeney and Prince Jefri are keen to take it a few steps further this season in OZ, visiting Red Bull’s world class Athlete Performance Centre in Australia for the off-season.

JMR will run two contrasting liveries for its 2023 GTWC Mercedes AMG’s

“I am stoked to be joining the JMR team as co-driver with Prince Jefri for the 2023 season,” Feeney said.

“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 out 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.” 

JMR’s Australian campaign kicks off over Easter at the Bathurst 6 Hour on April 7-9, whilst the Asian leg of its GTWC starts on May 12 at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand.

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.

T8 team boss Jamie Whincup says that they’ll be giving their all for JMR this season across both continents, as well as having an eye on a future Le Mans appearance.

“JMR has chosen Triple Eight Race Engineering to run their programme, and we’re taking it unbelievably seriously,” he said.

“Every single resource we put into making a Supercar fast is exactly the same for the GT programme – We pride ourselves in preparing and racing the fastest cars in the world, and the JMR programme is absolutely no different.

“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, and 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.” 

2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Sprint season calendar  

Round 1: Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour – 7-9 April *SpeedSeries

Round 2: Perth WA, 28-30 April *Supercars

Round 3: Phillip Island – 12-14 May *SpeedSeries

Round 4: Sydney Motorsport Park – 28-30 July *Supercars SuperNight

Round 5: Queensland Raceway – 11-13 August *SpeedSeries

Round 6: Adelaide 500 SA, 23-26 November *Supercars