Aurora Straus and Connor Bloum, teammates in the #95 BMW M4 GT4 run by Turner Motorsport, will be joined by professional racer Billy Johnson as a third codriver in this Friday’s upcoming BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona International Speedway, the first of ten races in the Michelin Pilot Challenge.
Johnson is a seasoned veteran of the IMSA paddock, and no stranger to BMW or Turner Motorsport. In 2005, Johnson made his GT car debut in a BMW M3 for PTG Racing and ran with Turner Motorsport in the Grand Am series from 2011 to 2015. Since then, he has made a name for himself under the Ford brand, winning the (now) Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Championship in 2016 and driving the #66 Ford GT in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Ford Chip Ganassi Racing at Le Mans from 2016-2019, winning the 6-Hours of Spa in 2018. As the Ford GT program came to a close, Johnson is seeking new opportunities for 2020.
“It’s great to be back in a BMW, especially since I got my start winning a scholarship as a Factory BMW Junior driver for the inaugural 2004 Formula BMW Championship. It feels very comfortable to be back with Will and the whole Turner Motorsport team, who I’ve driven for in many GT races over the years,” Johnson said.
“I’m excited to be partnered with two fast talents, Aurora and Connor and feel like we have a strong team, car, and driver lineup to take on Daytona. The competition in Michelin Pilot Challenge is always very fierce, and with a deep field it always makes for fantastic racing as a driver and for the fans. I always enjoy racing in this series. A huge thanks to Nick Longhi for helping organize this program, and to Aurora and Connor for the opportunity.”
Straus and Bloum are looking forward to having Johnson on board as they enter the first race weekend of the 2020 season.
“I am elated that Billy is driving with us this weekend. With the expertise of Turner Motorsport, the driving prowess of Connor and Billy, and the support of Richard Mille and Arch Capital Group, I’m anticipating a strong weekend for us,” Straus said. “I’m incredibly grateful to be surrounded by so many talented veterans to the IMSA paddock as I make my debut in GT4 car full-time, and I’m looking forward to learning from Billy and the rest of the crew during our first four-hour race weekend.”
To watch the race live, tune into Track Pass on NBC Sports Gold in the USA this upcoming Friday, January 24th from 1:00 PM to 5:10 PM EDT, or watch the race on NBCSN from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM EDT on Thursday, February 6.
