Cadillac scores dramatic victory at Petit Le Mans

2024-10-17

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BRASELTON, Ga. – Perseverance was the word of the day – and night – for the pink No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R team during the 27th Motul Petit Le Mans.

“Remember, we have a long way to go; we’ll get ‘em,” Mike O’Gara, race strategist for the Chip Ganassi Racing-run racecar, reminded the team after its third on-track setback with 7 hours, 30 minutes left in the 10-hour race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Everybody in sports car racing understands the truth in such encouragement —especially in the ebb and flow of the endurance race on the tricky 2.54-mile, 12-turn course. Indeed, with good pace and solid strategy, and by steering clear of further incident, drivers Sebastien Bourdais, Renger van der Zande and Scott Dixon combined to get back on the lead lap and in position to challenge for a podium spot.

And, under a bright half moon, the team reaped the rewards of their perseverance with a dramatic victory to the delight of a record crowd for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season finale.

It was the fifth Petit Le Mans victory for Cadillac Racing, which has recorded a first or second place finish in every 10-hour race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta since joining IMSA prototype competition in 2017. Van der Zande has three overall victories (2018, 2020, 2024) and a pair of second-place finishes (2019, 2023) with Cadillac Racing.

“Congratulations to the Cadillac Racing team and the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R on their victory in the Motul Petit Le Mans. Every member of the team can be proud of their efforts in preparing the racecar for success along with the skillful driving of Sebastien Bourdais, Renger van der Zande and Scott Dixon,” said John Roth, vice president, Global Cadillac. “The podium demonstrates the incredible technology and durability of the V-Series.R, and the remarkable capabilities, expertise and determination of the Cadillac Racing team.” 

The pole-winning No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, driven by Jack Aitken, Pipo Derani and Tom Blomqvist, also had its share of on-track issues and placed fifth in the 11-car Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) field.

Season highlights for Cadillac Racing include:

• Six poles in the nine races, plus a seventh race with a front-row start 
• 30th earned pole in IMSA prototype competition when Jack Aitken reset the GTP track record Friday with a lap of 1:09.639 
• Three front-row qualifying sweeps 
• 31st victory in IMSA prototype competition 
• Two victories by the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R 
• Victory and second place at Long Beach 
• Three runner-up finishes for the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R 
• Two runner-up finishes for the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R 
• Eight top three finishes 
• Fastest lap in four races
• Second in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Manufacturer Championship. Cadillac has earned five IMEC Manufacturer Championships since 2017 and finished second the other years.

Both the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R and No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R overcame two drive through penalties during the race, and the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R was levied a mechanical black flag by IMSA in the 18th minute of the race due to a sensor issue, which put the car two laps down.

The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R remained in contact with the leaders through an uncharacteristically long period of green flag racing and was running fourth when the final full-course caution was called with 57 minutes left. After pitting for fuel with 48 minutes left, van der Zande prepped for his most important restart of the season. He was running second to the No. 6 Porsche Penske 963 when the green flag waved with 35 minutes remaining and waited for the prime opportunity in traffic to make his decisive move. That opportunity came with 15 minutes left in Turn 1 and van der Zande, who earned his 21st IMSA victory and 11th with Cadillac, held off the Porsche to win by 2.948 seconds.