ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — Sports car veteran Joao Barbosa has made the decision to part ways with Mustang Sampling JDC-Miller Motorsports, effective immediately.
After a decade of success with Action Express Racing, Barbosa continued his relationship with Mustang Sampling for the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, as he and the iconic black livery both moved to JDC-Miller Motorsports.
The speed and experience that the Portuguese pilot brought paid dividends, as the first-year program delivered three podiums to open the IMSA season and moved into second in the IMSA DPi standings heading into the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta six-hour event.
But as the IMSA field looks ahead to a return to action at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for the 23rd running of the Motul Petit Le Mans, the collaboration between Barbosa and JDC-Miller Motorsports will no longer be in place.
“We had a very good start to the 2020 season,” said Barbosa, who opened the year with his ninth career Rolex 24 at Daytona podium. “We had hoped to get at least one podium this year with the Mustang Sampling Cadillac, and we went on to do that three times to start the season. It was very gratifying to have those results for Mustang Sampling and JDC. However, this has been a challenging year personally and professionally for everyone, and it is no different now.
“After a lot of discussion, the team and I have made the mutual decision to go our own separate ways.”
The move will see the three-time Rolex 24 at Daytona overall winner move his focus to the next chapter of his storied career.
“It was difficult, but this is the best for everyone to be able to get to work on what is next,” said Barbosa. “With three races still to go this season, it is possible to get a head start on 2021 with a new team, so we all decided to part ways so that I’d be available to race this year.”
With a racing career that includes podium performance at Le Mans, extensive experience at the top level of IMSA prototype competition, and several years as the factory driver for Mosler – including scoring a GTS class victory in the Rolex 24 – Barbosa could be a key piece to the puzzle that teams put together to find IMSA success in 2021.
While his background has been focused on successful Prototype class competition for over a decade, Barbosa is open to what might come next.
“I am already looking forward to a new challenge,” said the four-time Michelin Endurance Cup winner. “With the LMP3 cars being eligible for WeatherTech next year, there are some teams that are looking to make that move up, and my experience could help them. There are also a lot of very strong teams in GTD, so that could be interesting as well as I look for the next opportunity to continue to pursue my career.
“We will see; I am just looking forward to what is next.”