Cadillac has high hopes for the world’s most important endurance race this year: The company was, for the first time, granted four entries by the event organizer, Automobile Club de l’Ouest—two cars from the U.S.-based IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and two from the Europe-based World Endurance Championship. As the company is trying to build a high-performance image around the world, capped by its entry into Formula 1 in 2026, a win at Le Mans would enhance Cadillac’s effort considerably.
The lucky four teams: Action Express and Wayne Taylor Racing are Cadillac’s partners in the IMSA series, while the two WEC entries are from the Jota team, which replaced Chip Ganassi Racing as Cadillac’s representative in the series.
“We’re thrilled to have Cadillac Racing return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with four cars competing for the overall win in the Hypercar class,” said John Roth, vice president, global Cadillac. “After scoring our first podium finish at this iconic endurance race in 2023 and securing a top 10 finish last year, we look to build on that success and showcase the Cadillac V-Series R’s technology, performance, and innovation with our 2025 entries.”
Ferrari took first and third in the 2024 running at Le Mans, with Toyota Gazoo in second. The top-finishing Cadillac in the Hypercar class came in seventh, one of the Ganassi WEC cars driven by Alex Palou, Alex Lynn, and Earl Bamber.
The other WEC Cadillac was 49th in the 62-car race, while the Action Express Whelen IMSA entry, driven by Pipo Derani, Jack Aitken, and Felipe Drugovich was 29th.
Of special interest to U.S. fans will likely be the Wayne Taylor Racing entry, a longtime IMSA staple that moved from Acura to Cadillac for 2025. Drivers are brothers Ricky and Jordan Taylor, along with Filipe Albuquerque. Former racer Wayne Taylor, father of Ricky and Jordan, formed the team in 2004. As a driver, Wayne Taylor won the Rolex 24 at Daytona twice, Jordan once, and Ricky three times. They’d all love to add a Le Mans win to their résumés.
As with last year, there are 62 cars on the entry list for Le Mans, which runs June 14–15. There are 21 Hypercars (called GTP in the IMSA series, with minor differences), 17 LMP2 prototypes, and 24 LM GT3 cars.
There are eight manufacturers in the Hypercar class: Alpine, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, Porsche, Toyota, and Aston Martin—back in the premier league this year, with V-12 power.
It’s a solid field: “Competition in the Hypercar field is about as tough as it can get. Last year, the first nine cars finished on the same lap. Unheard of! Race strategy, team efficiency and pure talent make the difference that puts one car ahead of the rest,” said Pierre Fillon, president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest.
First, though, the IMSA Cadillacs, the Penske Porsches, the Aston Martin, and other Le Mans invitees will have to do battle at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, a track so rough that it’s considered an excellent shakedown for Le Mans. Sebring runs on March 15.
Report by Steven Cole Smith
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