After a convincing Prologue, Cadillac an outsider in Qatar?

In JOTA, has Cadillac finally found the partner it was missing in order to secure its first victory in WEC ? It's possible. From this season, the American manufacturer will benefit from the expertise of the British team which, let's remember, became the first customer team to win a round of the World ChampionshipEndurance last year, during the 6 Hours of Spa. The Anglo-American association is finding its feet day after day, run after run: during the WEC Prologue, held this Friday and Saturday on the Losail circuit, Cadillac and JOTA were able to work in a different context after several days of private testing.

In Qatar, Cadillac and JOTA were able to test themselves in (quasi) real racing conditions, against the seven other manufacturers in the Hypercar category. The two Cadillac V-Series.Rs, now adorned with a beautiful white and gold livery, were able to complete a total of 648 laps (or 3 kilometers covered) over the two days of testing. Beyond the number of laps completed, it was above all the pace of the American LMDh that impressed. Both cars finished in the Top 486 of the cumulative times over the four sessions: the #5 set the 38nd absolute time in 2'1″39 (116″0 from the reference set by the #145 BMW), while the #20 set the 12th best time in 5'1″39. The team even achieved a one-two finish during Free Practice 296 on Friday evening.

Convincing marks which satisfy the Anglo-American clan, who explain having tried numerous adjustments on the Losail track. "We have six drivers who are generally satisfied, which is always a good indicator of how things are going, says Sam Hignett, co-founder and director of JOTA.. If the path we're taking is a corridor, then right now our corridor is very wide because we're making radical changes to try different things. That's what these trials are all about. What's really encouraging is that everywhere we go, we get a definitive answer. We're narrowing the corridor to find the best window where the car works."

Cadillac's "Frenchies" remain cautious

On the drivers' side, there is no excitement: it is impossible to read the forces present after the Prologue, where most of the teams are still hiding their game. For Sébastien Bourdais, remaining loyal to Cadillac, the new collaboration with JOTA and his new teammate Jenson Button is still under construction. “It was the first time we had the #38 with Jenson, Earl, me and our engineers all together. The very first time. Was it perfect? ​​No. Do we have work to do? Yes, recognizes the Le Mans pilot. But with the Prologue, we have plenty of time to learn and follow the test program to be ready for next week. Overall, I would say it's a positive start."

In No. 12, the same story: for the other Frenchman from the Cadillac-JOTA team, Norman Nato, the crew is not yet " 100% ready » before the 1812km of Qatar. “Pstep by step, we will create a team that pushes in the same direction to have the best package, confides the Cannes native, supported by Will Stevens and Alex Lynn in 2025. It’s a very exciting project and I’m happy to be part of it. Already, having six drivers with different driving styles allows you to learn from one corner to the next. In terms of set-up and strategy, you can try different things and arrive next week with a package that allows you to think about the race and not try to find the best set-up. It’s a circuit that suits our car and it’s also important to have a clean race to learn as much as possible, because you need consistency to fight for the championship.”

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