Cadillac seeks Le Mans win with three entries
WEC Hypercar joined by 2 IMSA GTP for 2nd consecutive year
DETROIT (Feb.19, 2024) – Cadillac Racing will return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June to challenge for the overall victory with three Cadillac V-Series.R hybrid racecars supported by experienced and championship-winning drivers and teams.
It is the second consecutive year that Cadillac Racing has received three invitations from event organizer Automobile Club de l’Ouest to compete in the classic endurance race. In 2023 -- Cadillac Racing’s first year of FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar competition -- the #2 Cadillac V-Series.R earned a podium finish and the #3 Cadillac V-Series.R finished fourth at Circuit de la Sarthe. The #311 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R placed 10th in class.
“We’re thrilled for Cadillac Racing to return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with three cars competing for the overall win in the Hypercar class,” said John Roth, vice president, global Cadillac. “After scoring our first podium finish at this iconic endurance race in 2023, we look to build on that success and showcase the Cadillac V-Series.R’s technology, innovation and durability, while demonstrating the remarkable capabilities and determination of our race teams.”
Cadillac Racing’s stout roster features drivers who have secured overall and class victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, IndyCar championships and IMSA prototype titles among other motorsport accolades. The 92nd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is June 15-16.
#2 Cadillac V-Series.R
📷 © Courtesy of Chip Ganassi Racing.
The #2 Cadillac V-Series.R received an automatic entry based on its full-season participation in the WEC. Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn will be partnering with reigning two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou.
📷 © Courtesy of Chip Ganassi Racing.
The #2 Cadillac V-Series.R placed third in the centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans among its four top-five finishes in its WEC debut season with Bamber, Lynn and Richard Westbrook sharing the driving duties.
“We are all looking forward to Cadillac returning to Le Mans and challenging for the overall victory. It has been decades since an American manufacturer has achieved this and we will be strongly pushing to achieve our goal,” said Bamber (left), overall winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015 and 2017.
Alex Lynn (center): "I'm super excited for Le Mans 2024. We have a busy start to the WEC season with Qatar, Imola, Spa and then on to Le Mans. We were on the podium last year overall and led laps for the first time with Cadillac. We're very proud of that fact, but with that being said, we're determined to do even better."
Alex Palou (right): “Going to Le Mans is an amazing opportunity and a big challenge, as well. It’s only a couple of hours from my home and obviously it is one of the biggest races alongside the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona where you want to participate but also win. We have a chance to win it overall and that is our biggest goal. I’m excited to be back in the Cadillac and join Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn. They had success there last year and the cars were quite fast, so with our recent pace at Daytona, I can’t wait to go there and win.”
The #2 Cadillac V-Series.R opens FIA WEC Hypercar competition March 2 with the Qatar Airways Qatar 1812 Km.
#3 Cadillac V-Series.R
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 2024.
The #3 Cadillac V-Series.R is a full-season IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship entry in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class. The yellow #3 Cadillac will be piloted by Le Mans Winner and four-time INDYCAR champion Sebastien Bourdais, alongside two-time Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Renger van der Zande and six-time INDYCAR champion Scott Dixon.
📷 © Courtesy of Chip Ganassi Racing.
Sebastien Bourdais (left): "I'm quite excited to be able to announce that we'll be back at Le Mans in the No. 3 Cadillac. Obviously, it's a huge challenge but we've had some very promising findings and learnings from last year. I think we definitely have a very competitive car with our Cadillac V-Series.R to be able to contend. Hopefully, we can give it a shot to get that win that is missing on my resume. It's obviously one that means a ton to me and I'm looking forward to going back there to give it another go."
Renger van der Zande (center): "I think it's amazing what we did this past year with the Cadillac program finishing third and fourth. That was a testament to the development and everyone's hard work. I'm looking forward to attacking a classic in Le Mans. We have really strong teammates, really strong teams in Chip Ganassi Racing and Cadillac and partners to make this all work to go for the win. That's our goal; we are there to win."
Scott Dixon (right): “I love this race; it's one of the biggest and the toughest in the world. We all know it is definitely a privilege to even be invited, so I'm excited to go back with Sebastien, Renger, Cadillac and everybody involved. I feel like the team did a tremendous job last year. We had some issues here and there but to go third and fourth was pretty spectacular. Hopefully, we can have a closer fight this year but it's one I love to do. I'm very fortunate to be able to do this with the team and to be a part of it."
The six Chip Ganassi Racing drivers boast a combined total of 40 career starts in the illustrious 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Among them, Bourdais leads with 16 starts, followed by Bamber with 7, Lynn and van der Zande each with 6 and Dixon with 5. Palou is gearing up for his debut Le Mans outing after showcasing his speed in the Cadillac V-Series.R during last month’s Rolex 24 At Daytona weekend, having delivered the second-quickest lap time (1:35.589) among all drivers. Source: Chip Ganassi Racing
#311 Cadillac V-Series.R
The #311 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R is a full-season IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship entry in the GTP class, where it races as the No. 31. Reigning IMSA GTP champion Pipo Derani and Jack Aitken will be joined by a co-driver to be named in the future.
“We were excited to race in the 100th anniversary of Le Mans in 2023. To be on the podium in 2023 with a brand-new car, new team and new rules, was amazing,” said GM sports car racing program manager Laura Wontrop Klauser. “In 2024, we’ll keep pushing forward, use the lessons from 2023 to make us stronger on the program and be ready to go against the best in the world at Le Mans.”
Cadillac claimed every IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP trophy in 2023. Cadillac won its fourth Manufacturer Championship and fifth IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Manufacturer Championship since entering prototype competition in 2017, while the #31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R earned driver/team season and IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup titles.
The #31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R kicked off 2024 IMSA GTP competition with a pole start and runner-up finish in the 62nd Rolex 24 At Daytona in January.
Source: Cadillac Racing
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