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2025 Rolex 24 Tough On Cadillac Racing Teams: Video

Cadillac Racing headed back to the fabled asphalt infield road course at Daytona International Speedway for the 63rd running of the Rolex 24 with high hopes and fast V-Series.R machines. Unfortunately, despite leading almost 100 laps, several wrecks destroyed those race cars and dashed their shot of winning the iconic race.

Just after midnight, Action Express’s No. 31 Cadillac Racing machine suffered a crash. Frederik Vesti shot up the banking in the oval Turn 4, slamming the barrier and dealing serious damage to the race car. Vesti returned to the garage, and after 78 minutes of repairs, the No. 31 V-Series.R was able to rejoin the race. Vesti, Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, and Felipe Drugovich mustered a ninth-place class result.

No. 31 Cadillac V-Series.R on the track at Rolex 24. Cadillac Racing teams finished 6th and 9th.

“Repairing the car shows the passion for this race. Just to finish is a massive achievement. In my time here we’ve been to this race three times with this car and we’ve had the pace every single time,” Aitken said. “But it just hasn’t quite come together for us, so it’s a bit of a sad one. But we put in a really good showing.”

The No. 10 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R, driven by Ricky Taylor, Felipe Albuquerque, Will Stevens, and Brendon Hartley, took home a sixth-place class finish. They managed to avoid major incident during the race, but just didn’t have the pace to match the No. 7 Porsche 963, the ultimate Rolex 24 victor.

“Hard week but I think we came away with a good result,” Taylor said. “The team maximized the performance, and we go to Sebring with some points and start the season working toward the championship with Cadillac.”

The No. 40 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R, fielded by Wayne Taylor Racing and driven by Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz, and Kamui Kobayashi, got the worst of it. Racing on cold tires at about 9 p.m., Deletraz spun heading into the infield turn, making heavy contact with the tire barriers. The No. 40 V-Series.R then shot back across traffic and was struck twice more by competitors, suffering irreparable damage and forcing its early retirement. Deletraz was unhurt in the wreck.

“Very cold tires, especially when you race at night. I’m fine,” Deletraz said. “Luckily, we have a very strong car. Cadillac has a very safe car. I think I just didn’t have enough grip in the tire and lost it straight away and after that got hit by an LPM2. I feel very bad for the team and it’s a shame that it happened so early in the race. A sad way to end the 24.”

It’s worth noting that Sebastian Bourdais, who is signed on fulltime with Cadillac Team JOTA in the FIA World Endurance Championship, co-drove the No. 8 LMP2 class-winning entry.

Alexandra is a Colorado-based journalist with a passion for all things involving horsepower, be it automotive or equestrian.

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  1. Really hope they stay committed. The team has potential!

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