Cadillac, finally a rebound at home?

Regaining popularity at COTA: this will be Cadillac’s ambition during Lone Star Le Mans, sixth round of the 2024 season of WEC. On home soil, the American manufacturer wants to make a clean sweep of a laborious season, where disappointments follow one another from race to race.

After five rounds, the conclusion is clear: Cadillac is in 7th place among the Manufacturers (behind Alpine, BMW and Peugeot in particular) and did not manage to place its V-Series.R even once in the Top 5. From there to talking about a podium, there is a gulf… However, the blue machine is fast, proof of which is its results in qualifying: the No. 2 is the only Hypercar to have qualified in the Top 4 in each of the last three races (2nd at Spa and Le Mans, 4th in Brazil).

Heat, Cadillac's ally in Austin?

The US round at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin may come at just the right time for a team struggling in the WEC this year. At home, the Caddy will have the advantage of terrain and experience on the Texan track, with several private tests carried out in Austin, the first of which date back to July 2023. “The testing in Austin went well. The circuit had not been resurfaced before the tests, but it has been since with the new tarmac of F1, emphasizes Alex Lynn. It won't be too big of a surprise as to how our car reacts. I think our car works well on European-style tarmac circuits like Qatar and Imola, which have recently been resurfaced to FIA grade. »

“We want to win a race and get on the podium again, that’s our goal, He added. Because it was so hot (during July 2023 testing), the grip was so low that it was actually fine. I hope the grip will be a little higher this time with the new surface, but I think the problem with COTA is that when it's very hot the grip becomes very low, so this wasn't that difficult. »

In Texas, Cadillac will also be able to count on its public, as evidenced by Earl Bamber. “I love the fact that we have such passionate fans in the United States, and I think they will enjoy seeing the WEC again in this country. It's the fans who make American races. At Sebring, they camped for a whole week. It's the same thing at Road Atlanta and Daytona. I think we will have a great turnout at COTA and Austin is a fantastic city too. » The Detroit firm also hopes to triumph on Sunday, a special day for the brand since it will be Pink Cadillac Day, celebrated each year on September 1 in honor of the iconic car of the 1950s.

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