Chip Ganassi Racing’s two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou will make his debut at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans with the team as part of its factory Cadillac Racing hybrid GTP program.
“Going to Le Mans is an amazing opportunity and a big challenge, as well,” said Palou, who raced for the team and impressed in January at IMSA’s Rolex 24 At Daytona. “It’s only a couple of hours from my home and obviously it is one of the biggest races alongside the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona where you want to participate but also win.”
Palou steps into CGR’s FIA World Endurance Championship No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R at Circuit de la Sarthe in the seat formerly occupied by Richard Westbrook, who joined JDC-Miller Motorsports.
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“We have a chance to win it overall and that is our biggest goal,” Palou said. “I’m excited to be back in the Cadillac and join Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn. They had success there last year and the cars were quite fast, so with our recent pace at Daytona, I can’t wait to go there and win.”
The sister Cadillac Racing entry hails from CGR’s IMSA program with four-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais, six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon, and sports car champion Renger van der Zande at the helm of the No. 3 Cadillac.
“Chip Ganassi Racing is honored to be able to return to Le Mans to represent Cadillac Racing with our two Cadillac V-Series.R racecars,” said CGR operations director Mike O’Gara. “Finishing third and fourth overall in 2023 proved that we were ready to compete with the car on the world stage.
“Over the last year, CGR has continued to refine the V-Series.R, and we will be at Circuit de la Sarthe this June to compete again for the overall win. We are fortunate to be able to bring the best drivers and crew in the world to represent the Cadillac brand in one of the most significant races in the motorsports.”