Petit Le Mans – Cadillac wins ahead of Aston Martin, Mathieu Jaminet wins with Porsche

The 28th Little Le Mans, contested this Saturday on the Road Atlanta circuit, offered a finale worthy of a 2025 season ofIMSA exciting. Between twists and turns, cross-strategies and battles until the checkered flag, the American classic consecrated Cadillac on the track and Porsche in the championship. The race had started badly for the German manufacturer with the last-minute withdrawal of Julien Andlauer, replaced by Laurens Vanthoor in the number 6.

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From the start, the tone was set: barely the green flag waved, a pile-up involving five GT3s from four different manufacturers (Lamborghini, Ferrari, Ford and Aston Martin) caused a long neutralization. Polesitter Tom Blomqvist (Acura) maintained the advantage at the restart against Jack Aitken (Cadillac) and Felipe Nasr (Porsche). The former driver Williams en F1 briefly took the lead, taking advantage of heavy traffic, while the LMP2 category came alive with collisions and spins.

A timely stop then put Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche) in the lead in the fourth hour. The Frenchman, partnered by Matt Campbell and Laurens Vanthoor in the No. 6 Porsche, looked on course for the title after holding off Colin Braun (Acura) and Kevin Magnussen (BMW). Behind, TDS Racing dominated LMP2 and Lilou Wadoux led the GTD category in the No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari.

Grosjean five minutes from the podium, the title for Jaminet

The Lamborghini SC63 came close to the podium at Petit Le Mans – Photo Joao Filipe / DPPI

However, with three hours to go, Frederik Vesti regained the lead for Cadillac. The Dane put the No. 31 in front ahead of the Vanthoor brothers, Dries (BMW) and Laurens (Porsche). The tension mounted further in the final two hours despite the complete absence of caution, a rare occurrence at Road Atlanta. Earl Bamber held off Matt Campbell, while Ross Gunn remained in ambush with the Aston Martin Valkyrie.

The latter, driven at the end of the race by Roman De Angelis, anticipated its final stop by stopping in the pits 50 minutes from the end. Bamber, Jaminet and Blomqvist made their final refueling 15 minutes from the finish. The New Zealander emerged in the lead while Romain Grosjean (Lamborghini) and De Angelis came between the leader and Jaminet. Unfortunately for the former pilot Haas And for the Italian manufacturer, the SC63 didn't have enough fuel to make it to the end and had to stop five minutes from the checkered flag. The Frenchman, along with Daniil Kvyat and Edoardo Mortara, came out and finished in 4th position, the best result for the prototype of the Bull brand in its last appearance before an indefinite break.

At the front of the race, Bamber maintained his advantage over De Angelis until the finish line to allow the American manufacturer to take a second consecutive victory this season and at Petit Le Mans. With second place for Roman De Angelis, Ross Gunn and Alex Riberas, the Aston Martin Valkyrie achieved its best result since its racing debut and its first ever podium. Third, Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell are the drivers' champions, Porsche is crowned in the manufacturers' championship. Despite this consecration, an invitation to the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans is not automatic for the German manufacturer after its decision to leave the WEC at the end of this year.

Mathieu Jaminet's title wasn't the only French joy this Saturday evening in Georgia. The TDS Racing team won the LMP2 class with Steven Thomas, Mikkel Jensen, and Hunter McElrea. Tom Dillmann took second place with Inter Europol Competition. Also noteworthy was the fourth place of Logan sargeant (PR1 Mathiasen Motorsport) for his second IMSA race. The category title went to the AO Racing team with Dane Cameron and PJ Hyett, accompanied by Jonny Edgar. Spike the dragon, disguised in a special Halloween livery, thus earned an invitation to the Le Mans classic.

New prestigious victory for Lilou Wadoux

Lilou Wadoux won in GTD with Ferrari – Photo Joao Filipe / DPPI

Still on the side of the French representatives, Lilou Wadoux, the only woman at the start of this final IMSA event, won in GTD on the Ferrari 296 GT3 AF Corse's No. 21 alongside Alessandro Pier Guidi and Simon Mann. Paul Miller Racing's No. 48 BMW M4 GT3 won GTD Pro thanks to Max Hesse, Dan Harper, and Connor De Phillippi.

Starting from pole, the Paul Miller crew drove a solid race, punctuated by a decisive pass from Harper at Catsburg with just over an hour to go. Behind, the No. 3 Corvette of Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims completed the podium, securing the GTD Pro title for the crew. For the Spaniard, this is his fifth IMSA WeatherTech Championship title, following his GTLM crowns in 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021.

La Mercedes-AMG #57 Winward Racing of Russell Ward and Philip Ellis retained its GTD title, capitalizing on the first lap pileup. This crash sealed the championship from the start, giving the team its second consecutive title, a first since Meyer Shank Racing (2019-2020). Finally, the Bob Akin Award went to Orey Fidani (AWA) after his rival Brendan Iribe (Inception) retired in the first lap accident, giving Fidani a ticket to La Sarthe.

IMSA – Little Le Mans
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