24h Le Mans
Following a fine inaugural campaign in the Hypercar class in 2023, Cadillac Racing had high hopes for 2024. Preparations went well but the season has nonetheless been a series of highs and lows. It is hoped that the strategic shift lined up for 2025 will bring a change of fortune.
Cadillac Racing suffered a setback at the season’s opener, the Qatar 1812 Km, falling foul of the Stewards for a minor technical infringement. The false start set the tone for the rocky road ahead. Mixed performances at Imola and Spa-Francorchamps, affected by a race incident and a penalty, reined in the team’s ambitions.
At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Cadillac entertained hopes of a podium after the previous season’s third place. The American contender sporadically led the race, hinting that the V-Series.R was indeed capable of being competitive. However, unfavourable weather and an erratic strategy relegated car #2 to seventh place – an honourable showing but a long way off the top three. The remainder of the season saw the outfit oscillate between further below-par performances (at São Paulo and Fuji) and a positive reaction on home soil at Lone Star Le Mans. Finally, a seventh place in the overall Hypercar manufacturers’ standings brought the curtain down on a rather disappointing campaign.
Cadillac Racing is banking on a major strategic change to reverse its fortunes in 2025 by entrusting its two V-Series.R hypercars to Hertz Team JOTA. The British team – winner of the FIA World Cup for Hypercar teams with a private Porsche 963 – will bring its expertise and a fresh dynamic outlook to propel Cadillac to a new level of competitiveness.
The American manufacturer is also planning to introduce improvements to the V-Series.R, as permitted by the regulations in the scope of the Hypercar homologation cycle. The developments are expected to include a significant overhaul of the electronic control system to boost its consistency and reliability. This upgrade would help rectify one of the weaknesses pinpointed in 2024, notably in terms of performance management over long distances and in changing conditions.
The V-Series.R will also benefit from the expertise of Hertz Team JOTA and an impressive driver line-up. Seasoned drivers Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn and Sébastien Bourdais, already familiar to Cadillac, will ensure continuity. The squad will be completed by Will Stevens, Jenson Button and Norman Nato.
The choice of Hertz Team JOTA and the integration of technical improvements show that Cadillac Racing has learned lessons from its first two FIA WEC campaigns. Backed by a successful outfit and top-drawer drivers, Cadillac aims to be regularly in the mix for a podium despite the fierce competition in Hypercar. Toyota, Porsche and Ferrari will again be forces to contend with, while Alpine and BMW will continue to improve. Cadillac will need to show greater consistency, avoid race incidents and optimise its strategies to rival with these manufacturers.
The 2025 season is shaping up to be a watershed for Cadillac. With Hertz Team JOTA at the helm and promising technical developments in the pipeline, the Detroit-based manufacturer has the tools required to turn a corner. If the V-Series.R proves up to expectations, Cadillac could well become one of the most fearsome outsiders on the Hypercar grid. The road to victory is a rocky one, but Cadillac now appears to be better equipped to rise to the challenge.
