Loïc Duval: “The potential to do well”

When did you have contact with JDC-Miller MotorSports?

I met Action Express Racing this year at Sebring, the idea being that I would join the crew of the No. 2020 Cadillac in 5. But with the team ultimately fielding only one car, it didn't happen. While I didn't expect it, Christian Fittapladi (past advisor at JDC-Miller MotorSports. Editor's note) came back to me a few weeks ago to find out if I was willing to do the full season, which was complicated for me (through its commitments with Audi in DTM. Editor’s note). Conversely, he could not offer me the role of reinforcement on long races. And then there was this turnaround in the situation with Seb (Bourdais. Editor's note), who unfortunately lost his steering wheel at Dale Coyne in IndyCar.

THEIMSA, is this a championship that you appreciate?

Curiously, apart from the last two years with Core Autosport, I had only experienced American racing within European teams. With Core, in 2018, we finished third in the 24 Hours of Daytona with an LM P2 (Oreca 07. Editor's note), while winning our class and with an amateur in the crew (John Bennett. Editor's note). So we were delighted. This year, the car (Nissan Onroak DPi. Editor's note) was good but we were delayed by technical problems. Previously, I took part in the 24 2017 Hours of Daytona with DragonSpeed ​​and of course I won the 12 2011 Hours of Sebring with Oreca, on a Peugeot , for what remains one of the most significant victories of my career.

Known for its yellow liveries, JDC-Miller should adorn its No. 5 Cadillac with the same livery as that worn last year by the DPi-VR fielded by AXR under the Mustang Sampling banner. © Courtesy of IMSA

And you will team up with Sébastien Bourdais…

There are always plenty of things to discover and learn from someone like Seb, who has a very varied and colossal experience. He is one of the great French pilots of recent years, he has done F1, has a sensational track record in the United States and was one of the leading figures of theEndurance when I arrived in the discipline and he was at Peugeot. It can only be enriching.

Do you believe in the ability of JDC-Miller MotorSports to rise to the level of benchmarks in the category?

The Team Penske Acuras and Mazdas are going to be very competitive, but having a Cadillac is not a bad thing. Christian Fittipaldi and Mustang Sampling will inevitably bring something to the team, in addition to their experience of course. And between their connections in the US and those of Seb, I wouldn't be surprised if a few people came to strengthen the existing team. It's almost a shame that the 24 Hours of Daytona is the first race of the year because we're obviously going to need a little time to put everything together. We will not be favorites, but there is the potential to do well.

What is your program until then?

I'm going to discover the Cadillac at the Roar before the Rolex 24 (January 3-5, Editor's note). This should be enough to acclimate to the car.