Laurin Heinrich, a 24-year-old German driver, has begun his stint with JDC-Miller MotorSports on a high note during the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. After securing victories in two endurance races in the IMSA with Porsche Penske Motorsport, Heinrich has been loaned to the private team to co-drive the Porsche 963 #5 alongside Tijmen van der Helm.
His adaptation has been immediate, with a standout performance in the first practice session, where he set the fastest time. Several drivers have expressed their impression of Heinrich’s performances and JDC-Miller, which is surprising considering this is only his third event in the IMSA GTP category, in addition to a prior appearance in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
“It’s a compliment that everyone is afraid of me,” Heinrich stated. “I’ve only participated in three races and it’s my first time here, so we take it very seriously. Every time I get into the car, I realize that everything is very well prepared.”
Currently, Heinrich shares the points standings lead with his PPM teammates, Julien Andlauer and Felipe Nasr. Although he will not participate at Watkins Glen due to a crash during the 24 Hours of Spa, he will compete in all the short races and the endurance event at Road America with JDC-Miller.
One of the factors that have put Heinrich and his team in the spotlight is the adjustment of the Balance of Performance (BoP) that affects competition. JDC-Miller has maintained the previous update, perceived as an advantage over the powerful PPM team, which recently dominated the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
With a total weight of 1,060 kg and a comparative performance reduction against PPM, the combination of JDC-Miller’s Porsche 963 has proven competitive. Heinrich expressed his confidence in the car’s capabilities: “The diversity of the Porsche 963 will surely play in our favor. The key is not always pure speed, but also how we execute the race.”
This weekend, Heinrich will look to maintain his good form to achieve a strong result at Long Beach, backed by a solid team strategy.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_cbef3ab20e01c239e1a1ec11ab840389ca2341a2