Hertz Team JOTA has completed its first tests with Cadillac

Cadillac and Hertz Team JOTA have begun their new collaboration. After having carried out a debugging on the Anneau du Rhin side last month, the American-British team has carried out its first tests. Still in France, since it is on the Castellet side that Sam Hignett's team ran the American prototype from December 10 to 12.

The six drivers scheduled for the 2025 World Championship seasonEndurance were present: Earl Bamber, Sebastien Bourdais, Jenson Button, Alex Lynn, Norman Nato and Will Stevens.

Alex Lynn, Sébastien Bourdais, Jenson Button and Will Stevens (from behind) – Photo: Cadillac / Hertz Team JOTA

« It was a good experience, estimates Sébastien Bourdais. We made a number of changes and I think we learned a lot together, which allowed us to have a good feeling with the car, despite difficult conditions and very low temperatures. I think we have a very good group of people and I enjoyed working with the engineers, everyone in the team and the other drivers. It was productive. The year ahead looks exciting.”

Sébastien Bourdais and Earl Bamber – Photo: Cadillac / Hertz Team JOTA

Jenson Button discovers the Cadillac

If Bourdais already knew the V-Series.R, it was a discovery for Jenson Button. The world champion of Formula 1 2009 had so far rolled with the Porsche 963 and the Acura ARX-06 in competition.

« These two days have been great, the Briton rejoices. I felt comfortable in the car, which is nice when you drive it for the first time. The seat position is obviously different and what you see is different, the whole pedal and steering feel, but I feel comfortable in the car. The sound is nice. There’s always a little laugh when it starts up. At 44, that’s still the case. It’s nice to see how the team is working with the new car. We’re doing a lot of testing to really understand it. The car seems to be adapting well to the changes. I can’t wait for the season to start. »

Cadillac and Hertz Team JOTA were not the only ones testing at Le Castellet this week. Alpine, without Frédéric Makowiecki who cannot ride with the French team before January 1st, and Peugeot , including its new test and development pilot Theo Pourchaire, were also on the track at the Paul-Ricard circuit.

The 2025 World Endurance Championship season will kick off on February 28 with the 1812 km of Qatar.

VIDEO - Hertz Team JOTA has debugged its first Cadillac