Cadillac Racing headed back to the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in over two decades in 2023, where it managed to pull off a podium result, giving the teams high hopes for the 2024 running of the event. The chips didn’t quite fall in Caddy’s favor at Le Mans last year, but it looks like the luxury marque’s luck is turning around in 2025, as two Cadillac V-Series.R race cars will lead the field to green for the iconic endurance race this Saturday.
For the first time in the 102 year history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Cadillac Racing locked out the front row for the event. The No. 12 V-Series.R laid down a blistering lap around Circuit de la Sarthe. Alex Lynn wheeled that Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA machine to a 3:23.166 lap in the Hyperpole 2 session, fast enough to nab the pole position.
“I think every time you have the opportunity to drive this kind of car around Le Mans on low fuel and new tires is an honor,” Lynn said. “Truly honored to be able to put in a performance and deliver this for Cadillac how they deserve, in the first position. It’s such a magical circuit, a place I love to perform my best. Now just 24 hours left, what else? We’ll enjoy this tonight and reset.”
Lynn just barely beat his teammate for pole position. In fact, just 0.167 seconds stood between the two Caddy race cars. Earl Bamber, driving the No. 82 Caddy, set a best time of 3:23.33, locking down the second-best starting position.
Not only is it Caddy’s first time starting on pole for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it marks the second time in history that an American make will lead the field to green in the crown jewel of endurance racing. Ford is the only other U.S. based automaker to boast the honors, having claimed the top starting position in 1965, 1966, and 1967.
The No. 311 V-Series.R of Jack Aitken, Frederik Vesti, and Felipe Drugovich will start eighth. The No. 101 Caddy, driven by Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor, and Filipe Albuquerque will start 14th. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is scheduled for June 14th and 15th, 2025.
Comments
How did Corvette do or are any entered ?
Kind of a meh performance in qualifying for Corvette. We’ll have the results up shortly.
– Alex
Here it is:
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2025/06/corvette-racing-posts-decent-qualifying-run-for-le-mans-2025/
Given Ferrari and Toyota are hitting close to 140 MPH on the straights, and Cadillacs best speed has been 131 MPH, these other teams were just sandbagging and laughing at Cadillac.
Lap time equals best time