World-class driving squad for JMR Corvette's Bathurst debut

Johor Motorsports Racing Team (JMR) has announced a seven-strong squad of world-class drivers to contest next month’s Meguiar’s Bathurst 12-Hour endurance race. '

It will also be Corvette’s first-ever outing at the legendary event, signalling an exciting new era for the brand’s GT3 campaign. 

Alongside His Highness Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Tunku Panglima of Johor (HH Prince Jefri Ibrahim) and HH Tunku Abu Bakar Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Tunku Putera of Johor (HH Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim) will be a new Pro team starring Corvette Racing factory pilots Alexander Sims, Nicky Catsburg and Earl Bamber. 

JMR’s regular Pro drivers Ben Green and Jordan Love will join HH Prince Jefri Ibrahim and HH Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim as the four drivers fight for glory in the Pro-Am class with the #99 car. 

Bathurst has previously been a happy hunting ground for HH Prince Jefri Ibrahim, with the team owner and principal securing three Pro-Am podium results there between 2022 and 2024. 

For the 2026 race, both of JMR’s teams will drive the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R that they’ve used to win races and take podiums in the 2025 GT World Challenge Asia championship and Suzuka 1000 endurance race.

The Bathurst 12-Hour will be just the second time that JMR has fielded a Pro-only team; in its debut at September’s Suzuka 1000 the Pro team surged to a memorable overall podium result. 

Bathurst will also herald a first-ever JMR appearance for decorated New Zealand endurance racer Earl Bamber. The 35-year-old Corvette Racing factory driver is a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015 and 2017, and secured victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2023. 

Dutchman Nicky Catsburg was on the same winning team as Bamber at Nürburgring, and bookmarked his first appearance with JMR with a podium at Suzuka alongside Scott McLaughlin and Alexander Sims. 

Sims was a 2025 regular Pro driver for JMR as the team contested the GT World Challenge Asia championship, but Bathurst will pose an all-new challenge for the Englishman. Despite his vast racing experience around the world as a Corvette Racing driver, this will be Sims’ first time setting foot on the hallowed Bathurst tarmac.

The same is also true for Ben Green: the British Pro driver has been a JMR mainstay since the team moved to the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R last year, but the upcoming Bathurst 12-Hour will be his first experience racing around Mt Panorama. 

The two English drivers will be able to call upon the experience of Australian Pro driver Jordan Love for any local knowledge. Love played a crucial role in his team’s P4 result at the 2023 Bathurst 12-Hour. 

The Bathurst 12-Hour is the first major event on Australia’s motorsport calendar for 2026, and marks the opening stop of the Intercontinental GT Challenge that spans four continents over five rounds. 

From 13-15 February, a total of 36 cars across 12 brands will take the grid for this legendary race, which will be livestreamed via the GT World YouTube channel.

HH Prince Jefri Ibrahim: “Bathurst has always been a very special place for me and one of my favourite tracks in the world. The history, fans, atmosphere and racing are incredible, and it’s also where I first raced in Australia. I’ve raced the 12-Hour three times, and since starting JMR it has been one of my main goals to return with our own team. To return next month with two cars makes it even more meaningful, especially racing alongside my brother and two great teammates, Jordan Love and Ben Green. Watching Bathurst last year was a huge motivation for us, and now to return with a new manufacturer in GM Corvette makes it even more exciting. We’ve been working towards this moment for a long time, and I’m incredibly proud to see JMR lining up with a Pro car at such an iconic event. We’re ready for the challenge and looking forward to an exciting year ahead.”

HH Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim: “Competing in the Bathurst 12-Hour represents a significant milestone in my career. Having been fortunate enough to attend the event in person on several occasions, the opportunity to now race at Mt Panorama is incredibly meaningful. The Bathurst 12-Hour is one of the world’s most iconic endurance races, and I’m fully committed to giving my best effort to help the team achieve the strongest possible result.”

Earl Bamber: “I’m really looking forward to returning to Bathurst and getting back in the Corvette with Nicky and Alex. I had really great times with them at IMSA in 2024, and I’m excited to work with them again. I know a lot of the JMR guys as well, and they're putting out fast cars with the Corvettes. Hopes are high. I can’t wait to get back to one of the greatest races in the world.”

Alexander Sims: “It’s a really exciting prospect to go to Bathurst for Corvette Racing’s first attempt at the 12-Hour alongside Nicky and Earl. Bathurst has been on my bucket list for so many years, but was difficult to do with my other racing commitments. We have simulator days planned to get up to speed, so I can be fully prepared for the race. It's a very daunting circuit; it looks exciting on TV, but it’ll bite you if you get things wrong. That obviously raises the stakes somewhat, but the high-speed and high-commitment sections sound like a good mix to me. I'm hopeful we can execute a good, solid race, stay on top of the strategy and make the right calls with good pit stops. A lot of cars don't make it to the end, and we have to make sure we’re not one of those.”

Nicky Catsburg: “It's going to be super-cool to go up the mountain in Corvette’s first outing there, and to race for JMR in the Pro car. It’s an amazing opportunity and gives me a chance to win one of the iconic races that I haven’t won before. The team has a lot of connection with this race. Having Earl join Alex and I is great – he has a massively good CV and is someone I really like working with. The last race we drove together we won at the Nürburgring. And of course, Simsy is one of my best buddies. It’s a lot of travel but will be worth it for such a great race. I can’t wait.”

Ben Green: “Racing the Bathurst 12-Hour has been a dream for me. It’s a track and race event I’ve admired since I first found motorsport. I believe the biggest challenge will be having a clean race – there are a lot of walls close to the racing line and there’ll be a lot of cars on track. I’m confident our Z06 GT3.R will fly through the mountain section, as demanding tracks are where our Corvette excels. It’s a pleasure to be joining Johor Racing again and we have a great lineup for what will be an exciting event. A big thanks to everyone involved to put the program together.”

Jordan Love: “The Bathurst 12-Hour is without a doubt one of the most exciting events of the year, and one everyone wants to be part of. Driving a GT around my favourite track is something special and requires commitment and precision. It’s extremely exciting to see Corvette at the mountain and to be a part of it is very special! I’ve now done a full year in the car, and I absolutely love it and feel extremely comfortable. We have a clear goal to walk away with a trophy and hopefully the tallest one. It’s a big race, and a challenging one at that, but we’re fully prepared and ready to tackle the mountain.”