The 2 Series BMW should be a natural for several racing series in the USA. We will soon find out, as JDC-Miller Motorsports is preparing a 228i for the Street Tuner class in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge Series, and Classic BMW of Plano, Texas, is launching a two-car M235i Racing team in the Pirelli World Challenge series.
JDC-Miller Motorsports, the team that won the PC class in this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, is entering the CTSC Street Tuner class in a 228i. The car will be driven by Michael Johnson, who is the first and only paralyzed driver to be licensed by IndyCar. Johnson will co-drive the specially equipped car with Stephen Simpson, one of the drivers of the Daytona winning JDC-Miller prototype. The team takes delivery of the car next week; it will make its debut at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on April 30 unless early testing indicates that the car is ready for Sebring in March. Burton Racing, the 2013 Street Tuner championship winning team, is building the car; it will field its own 228s as well beginning at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
When the Pirelli World Challenge Series season opens at Circuit of the Americas on March 3-6, Classic BMW Motorsports will enter a pair of M235i Racing cars in the TC class. Classic BMW has announced on its Facebook page that it has taken delivery of the cars. The COTA entry list shows two “BMW tbd” entries for Classic BMW Motorsports with Toby Grahovec and Gino Carini listed as drivers. To date, only one M235i Racing has been run in competition in the USA; Will Turner won two races in an M235i Racing in the BMW CCA Octoberfest event at New Jersey Motorsports Park in September.—Brian S. Morgan
