- BMW Motorsport drivers Neil Verhagen and Sheldon van der Linde join the team for the endurance rounds
BUFORD, GA (Tuesday, November 14, 2023) — The Paul Miller Racing team is moving on up—to GTD Pro that is.
The 2018 and 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD winning team is looking to take their program to new heights next season, contesting the GTD Pro class beginning in 2024.
The No. 1 Quartz Engine Oil-backed BMW M4 GT3 will once again be piloted by co-drivers Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow, who together have formed one of the most successful GTD driver pairings in IMSA history.
The duo have claimed two-year-long GTD championships for Paul Miller Racing, as well as two consecutive Sprint Cups—2022 and 2023—and the Michelin Endurance Cup in 2020. Additionally, the pair combined with Corey Lewis for victories at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2020 and the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2018 and 2023.
The team set new IMSA records in 2023, scoring five victories—the most by any GTD team in a single season—and a further two podiums en route to their title.
“We are looking forward to stepping up to GTD Pro in 2024 and competing against truly some of the best of the best in sports cars,” Paul Miller Racing team owner, Paul Miller said.
“It will certainly be a challenge, with the teams in GTD Pro having access to full factory driver lineups and factory support beyond what you see in GTD, but I know we’re up for it.
“I have full faith in our program and I believe the consistency of our organization, with Bryan and Madison having raced together since 2016 and entering our third year with the BMW will be a huge benefit as we take on this new test.”
The duo will be joined by a pair of BMW Motorsport drivers Neil Verhagen at the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds of the championship, and Sheldon van der Linde at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Verhagen most recently competed in GT World Challenge America, helping BMW lock down fourth in the Pro-Am title race. The 22-year-old American already has several other accomplishments under his belt—including a class win at the 2020 24 Hours of Nürburgring as he joins Paul Miller Racing to take his first stab at the IMSA series.
The team’s fourth driver, for the Rolex 24, also comes with an impressive pedigree. van der Linde has two podium finishes at the Nürburgring 24 and is the 2022 DTM series champion for BMW. In his occasional forays in IMSA, the South African has notched a Petit Le Mans victory (2017) and second place finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring (2023).
“We’re thrilled to have two such accomplished drivers for BMW join our driver lineup in 2024,” Paul Miller Racing team manager, Mitchell Simmons said.
“Both Neil and Sheldon are incredible talents and I think you would be hard-pressed to come up with a better driver lineup for this BMW M4 GT3 than the four guys we have now.
“The step up to GTD Pro isn’t going to be easy by any means, but having a group of four really incredibly fast drivers will certainly make it a little bit easier. I look forward to welcoming them to the team and hopefully getting good results with them.”
The 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season kicks off in January at Daytona International Speedway for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
