After three hours of the 2025 Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, it’s Cadillac leading with the No. 31 Whelen V-Series.R out front. The Action Express team has enjoyed an impressive run through the opening third of the race, rising from last on the grid …
After three hours of the 2025 Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, it’s Cadillac leading with the No. 31 Whelen V-Series.R out front. The Action Express team has enjoyed an impressive run through the opening third of the race, rising from last on the grid to first after just over an hour of racing.
Fred Vesti is currently aboard, having taken over from Jack Aitken who took the start and holds a slim but relatively comfortable 11s advantage over the No. 93 Acura MSR ARX-06 of Alex Palou.
What happened to Porsche’s early 1-2? It evaporated at the start of the second hour, as both 963s were unable to pit immediately under the first safety car due to the pit lane entry light showing red when they attempted to come in. The rest of the field was not impeded, they dived in as it switched over to green, leaving the 963s stranded.
It cost both cars track position when they eventually took to pit road, though they have since recovered. The No. 7 is back up to third from ninth with Laurens Vanthoor strapped in. The No. 6 has risen to fourth and is currently just ahead of the No. 25 BMW after jumping it during the third round of pit stops.
Elsewhere in the premier class, the Lamborghini SC63 is 12th, but it did spend time at the front. It led the field at the restart following the first stops, though Romain Grosjean dropped to the very back immediately as the track went green, allowing the AXR to power past and snatch P1.
The team didn’t give him the jump orders on the radio and the entire chasing pack swallowed him up. It later emerged, too, that its unlikely move to the front came via an improper wave-by during the class split.
Last in the class is the No. 10 Wayne Talor Racing Cadillac, now two laps down. The car endured a miserable start to the race. Contact with the No. 023 Ferrari in the opening hour saw the team dealt a stop-and-60s penalty. It also needed an adjustment to the throttle linkage at a stop.
LMP2 was action-packed in hours two and three. The No. 11 TDS ORECA now leads the way after Hunter McElrea, aboard the car against Bronze-ranked drivers around him, steered the car past the United cars of Nick Boulle and Daniel Goldburg to climb from third to first. The No. 2 still sits second, with the No. 22 third.
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GTD Pro is now led by the No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Alex Sims, though the car is out of sequence after a TPMS sensor failure forced the car in for an unscheduled stop. When it pits early in hour four, the No. 77 AO Racing Porsche will take over the lead.
Paul Miller Racing’s No. 1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO is third but will rise to second shortly. Madison Snow is installed and took over from Niel Verhagen who spent much of his stint fighting tooth and nail with Alessio Picariello in the No. 77. The No. 65 Ford Mustang and No. 4 Corvette are close behind and chasing.
There was trouble in this portion of the race for Vasser Sullivan’s No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3. Jose Maria Lopez tagged the rear of the No. 48 Paul Miller BMW at the hairpin and damaged the front end of the car. The pace was fine for a few laps, but the Argentinian was forced in for repair work to its front-left suspension. Following a stint behind the wall the car is back out and 24 laps down.
In GTD, the pole-sitting No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari has fought back nicely from Alessandro Pier Guidi’s off in the opening laps. Lilou Wadoux leads the No. 32 Korthoff Competition Motors Mercedes-AMG and the No. 57 AMG from 2024 winner Winward Racing.
A second big incident came with just over 10.5h to go when Tobi Lutke ran wide at Sunset Bend and went hard into the tire barriers.
The damage to the front end of the car was heavy. Lutke was able to limp back into the pit lane, though the car was retired shortly after. It eventually became the second retirement of the race after the No. 023 Triarsi Ferrari was withdrawn after being shoved off track and into a concrete barrier at the end of the first hour.
Later in the second hour, there was further drama in the LMP2 class. Nick Boulle in the No. 52 PR1 ORECA made a bold dive up of AO Racing’s PJ Hyett the inside at T1, tapping the “Spike” ORECA into a spin that sent it backwards into the barriers at speed.
Thankfully, the No. 99’s damage wasn’t terminal and the car rejoined after bodywork replacements, albeit three laps down.
Seconds after the impact there was more contact, when Luis Perez Companc in the No. 88 AF Corse car side-swiped the Riley example of Gar Robinson, sending him off track at Turn 4. All this melee brought out another safety car and both the No. 88 and No. 52 received drive-throughs for their roles in the incidents.
The only other major drama concerned the Celitar Ferrari in GTD, Giorgio Sernagiotto pulling off on the back straight after 52 laps. Thankfully he was able to stop in a safe position, ensuring the race stayed green.
It came as a surprise to many in the FIA WEC and IMSA paddocks last year that General Motors was moving to rotate out Cadillac’s sports car boss Laura Wontrop Klauser at the end of the season, as part of a wider winter of change for the brand’s …
It came as a surprise to many in the FIA WEC and IMSA paddocks last year that General Motors was moving to rotate out Cadillac’s sports car boss Laura Wontrop Klauser at the end of the season, as part of a wider winter of change for the brand’s management structure in motorsport.
Wontrop Klauser, who held the position of GM sports car racing program manager from 2021, left big shoes to fill. She was a standout personality, who always made her vision for Cadillac in sports car racing clear and commanded the respect of her peers on both sides of the Atlantic. But in the corporate world, longevity and stability are sometimes sacrificed at the altar of efficiency. Moves like this are made suddenly to inject fresh energy, push things forward and hit targets.
It came on the eve of a huge season for GM in sports car racing, in which Cadillac’s presence in both the FIA WEC and IMSA SportsCar Championship has increased and is firmly in the spotlight. Three V-Series.Rs are contesting the full season in GTP for the first time with the addition of Wayne Taylor Racing alongside Action Express Racing, and in Hypercar, Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA has taken the reins and brought a new two-car effort to the world stage. It’s a big investment, made at a time when the brand is also pushing to prepare for its Formula 1 debut next year.
Pressure is on, then, to deliver results in both arenas that match its achievements from the 2023 IMSA season, in which it claimed a sterling clean sweep of GTP titles with Action Express and Chip Ganassi Racing.
Enter Keely Bosn, the new face of Cadillac’s sports car activities.
Bosn might be unfamiliar to many in the sport as she moves over from her previous role at GM within GM’s Competitor Intelligence, Technology and Mobility Planning organisation. But she does have a history in racing that, along with her stint as part of the U.S. Navy as a logistics officer, should serve her well going forward in her new position.
“My first experience was actually as an infant, growing up at a drag strip with my father, who was a drag racer in the late ‘80s,” she tells RACER during a sit-down in Qatar. “I then started racing when I was 12 and drove sprint cars for several years at a track called I-44 before I decided to move and go into automotive engineering.
“It was always what I wanted to do, get involved in the automotive industry and/or racing. I tried to make my way through General Motors, which I did, to try and get into Corvette Racing. I did an internship with Pratt & Miller, GM and Corvette Racing and worked on a thesis focused on the aerodynamic study of the ZR1, trying to convey that information over into lap time simulator programming.
“It was a great application of my background and my degree pursuit of mechanical engineering. The complicating factor was that I made a complete pivot to the Navy. And I did so because it was an exciting opportunity, and I wanted leadership experience.”
The reasoning behind her jump to the Navy is more of a “bar conversation”, she jokes, before pointing out that “you don’t join the military in the U.S., coming out of undergrad, typically, especially coming out of engineering. For me, it was the challenge aspect, to better myself and grow.”
And help her grow it did. Her seven years spent in the forces set her up nicely for a return to General Motors via further internships that eventually led to a full-time role in product planning at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“I joke that I’ve had the most internships here than anyone else,” she quips. “When I was going through graduate school for my MBA and master’s, I was trying to find roles in more of a sustainability realm instead of motorsport. That was my passion and the more I looked at GM I understood their direction with EVs. That appealed to me, it made me want to come back.”
The allure of the sporting side of General Motors’ business was also strong and tempted her to explore a route back at a time when Cadillac Racing was about to shake things up by splitting with Chip Ganassi Racing.
“I had been in touch several times with the motorsport side. I raised my hand and said I wanted to come back at some point,” she recalls. “I happened to be working behind the scenes on production that correlated with NASCAR. That gave me an entry, but at the time, moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, wasn’t in the cards for me.
“I talked more to Eric Warren (the executive director of GM Motorsports) but it wasn’t a good time, until last summer when on a whim I said I was ready for a career change, it felt like a time to make a rotation.”
The timing, she feels, is perfect as she joins at a time when the entire operation is making a fresh start. Sports car racing is also riding high, with manufacturers swarming to the top classes of the FIA WEC and IMSA in record numbers. That brings its own set of challenges, though; so much has changed since her internship with Corvette Racing, and the pressure to deliver results on the manufacturers invested has never been higher.
The off-season – or lack thereof – left her precious little time to prepare for the 2025 season, though she’s allowing herself just “a little bit of grace”. It’s all come at her thick and fast since the turn of the year, with visits to Daytona for the Rolex 24 Hours in January, then the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar for the FIA WEC season opener a month later.
Adding to the baptism of fire, neither race delivered a standout result. The highest-finishing V-Series.R on the high banks was fifth, and JOTA’s time in Lusail was derailed by friendly fire when both its cars collided at a restart while sitting first and second.
However, at this stage, Bosn’s most pressing matters revolve around relationship building and setting both the tone and culture. And in these areas, she sees early green shoots.
“The most challenging aspect right now is just knowing where to put my focus. Being at the races so early is really helpful for that,” she says. “In Daytona, the teams worked really well together. Behind the scenes, it went surprisingly smoothly. I think there’s just so much excitement around how new things are with three cars. Some unfortunate things occurred, but the teams were in the right mindset.”
Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA has brought a two-car effort to WEC. Jakob Ebrey/Getty Images
On the WEC side, it’s tough to liken the atmosphere and experience, but again, she’s impressed with JOTA’s operation. “I feel like I’m comparing apples to oranges. Daytona has a lot of executives there and members of the public, so coming from that to the first WEC race is so different,” she points out.
“JOTA is also so strong, and there’s no conflict. In IMSA it is a little different because we have the two teams on the ground, so trying to spread the love is important. Enough attention needs to be paid across both, that’s a bit harder.
“But, overall, I think the assimilation of WTR and JOTA happened quickly. Off the bat, JOTA (which is entirely new, unlike WTR, which is returning to the brand) seems to feel at home. They bring the right mindset.
“Right now, we understand that the correlation of information, data and cross-talk is what’s going to make us stronger together. It starts from the top, comes down and the teams have been receptive to that.”
There will almost certainly be greater challenges to come down the road. Putting her stamp on the GM Motorsports organization will be important, as will working alongside other manufacturer heads and the associated rule-makers. And this is where she believes her experience in the military will come into play.
While dealing with the likes of the ACO, FIA and IMSA is something she needs to get to grips with in the coming months, in a wider sense, she feels adept at creating processes and sticking to them in pursuit of a goal.
“I come from a background where it’s regimented, every T is crossed, every I is dotted,” she explains “Motorsport isn’t necessarily more relaxed than that, but there are some processes here that are not to the level I am used to. I just need to work out where to push, and where to not. I’ve been hyperfocused on understanding different personalities, rules, and regulations and working out what we can and can’t change.
“On a personality basis, I like to win,” she continues. “I like to do the absolute best. And it was no different in the military, it’s just that the stakes were different, it was life or death. For me, it’s a little more rewarding here to have the consistent feedback of race results, to gauge how a team is doing.”
So just what can we expect from the future of Cadillac Racing in sports cars with Bosn at the controls? With Formula 1 on the horizon for the brand, the factory efforts in the FIA WEC and IMSA will need to keep justifying their existence as we move to the end of the decade and the V-Series.R’s endgame approaches. She will no doubt have to fight their corner in boardroom meetings down the line.
Will Cadillac, for instance, continue to see value in funding globe-trotting programs in two FIA Championships once the F1 team comes on song? Will the budget required to race LMDh prototypes, which Bosn doesn’t feel has spiralled just yet, swell to a point where it’s unsustainable?
These are all questions that cannot be answered yet but will almost certainly form part of the narrative going forward. Right now, the focus is on the short to medium-term.
“We are always trying to build the roadmap over the next three to five years,” she says, “with a plan for a long-term vision. We have multi-year contracts with each of our teams and are in this for the long haul. Setting a three-year strategy is something we want to accomplish.”
“I think GM has made a strong commitment right now to the teams we are associated with. We chose winning teams and drivers. It shows the hunger. We are willing to sign new multi-year contracts with the teams and be integrated on a support basis. We are looking to understand the full roadmap, and how they intertwine. It’s something that’s actively being discussed going forward. It’s something we will work through as we go.
“It’ll have to be looked at constantly,” she adds. :But we are always looking at how to tie tech transfer from this to production. We want to strengthen production cars and bring that back full circle to customers. We want to sell cars and Cadillacs, so as we look to the future we need to paint the full picture, a full story of what it means to race and buy a Cadillac. I’m trying to double down on that.
“And I don’t think we need to treat everything the same. I do think that the WEC and IMSA are each their own series. It’s important to remember that and adjust. I think [winning] Le Mans is the top priority right now, whether it’s this year, next year or the following year. That’s the goal.”
Cadillac has officially received final approval of its entry to allow it to join the Formula 1 grid in 2026. The General Motors works team has been established in partnership with TWG Global and is an evolution of the Andretti Cadillac project that …
Cadillac has officially received final approval of its entry to allow it to join the Formula 1 grid in 2026.
The General Motors works team has been established in partnership with TWG Global and is an evolution of the Andretti Cadillac project that was initially approved by the FIA in 2023. At that time, Formula One Management (FOM) did not enter into an agreement for the new team to join the grid as it had reservations surrounding future intentions relating to its power unit, with a chance an enforced supply deal would be required.
It’s believed FOM also wanted guarantees GM would commit to building its own power unit in future — creating a new full constructor rather than what it felt was likely to be a customer team — and after further dialogue last year the newly positioned Cadillac outfit reached an agreement to expand the grid to 11 teams.
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The intention to allow Cadillac onto the grid in 2026 was announced by F1 in November of last year, and it has now officially been rubber-stamped.
“As we said in November, the commitment by General Motors to bring a Cadillac team to Formula 1 was an important and positive demonstration of the evolution of our sport,” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said. “I want to thank GM and TWG for their constructive engagement over many months and look forward to welcoming the team on the grid from 2026 for what will be another exciting year for Formula 1.”
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem was a key supporter of expanding the grid and opened up the process for new teams to submit applications back in 2022, in a move that frustrated FOM at the time but has ultimately led to the current Cadillac project.
“Today marks a transformative moment, and I am proud to lead the Federation in this progressive step for the championship,” Ben Sulayem said. “The FIA Formula 1 Championship’s expansion to an 11th team in 2026 is a milestone. GM/Cadillac brings fresh energy, aligning with the new FIA 2026 regulations and ushering in an exciting era for the sport.
“The Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s presence in the paddock will inspire future competitors and fans. Their entry strengthens our mission to push motorsport’s boundaries at the highest level.”
The team will be run by TWG Motorsports and has so far hired over 300 people to work on aerodynamics, chassis and component development, software and vehicle dynamics simulation across its facilities in Indianapolis, Charlotte and Warren in the United States, and Silverstone in the UK.
“For the past years, we have worked hand in hand with GM, to lay a robust foundation for an extraordinary F1 entry,” TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss said. “Now, with 2026 in our sights after today’s final approval from the FIA and Formula 1, we’re accelerating our efforts — expanding our facilities, refining cutting-edge technologies and continuing to assemble top-tier talent.”
Cadillac will need to sign up to the new Concorde Agreement — the document that binds the teams to the sport from a commercial perspective — from 2026 onwards but as that next agreement is still being formulated with the existing competitors, it will now be included in discussions alongside them.
Cadillac’s planned entry into Formula 1 adds further value to Audi’s own project that begins in full in 2026, according to its CEO Gernot Döllner. Audi is taking over the Sauber team currently competing as Stake to have its own works set-up from the …
Cadillac’s planned entry into Formula 1 adds further value to Audi’s own project that begins in full in 2026, according to its CEO Gernot Döllner.
Audi is taking over the Sauber team currently competing as Stake to have its own works set-up from the start of the new regulations in 12 months time. There is set to be another new team joining at the same stage with General Motors becoming the 11th constructor on the grid – subject to receiving its official entry from the FIA – and Döllner says it’s an arrival that reinforces Audi’s own position.
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“Yeah, a new OEM is coming to join Formula 1,” Döllner said. “It shows the strengths of Formula 1 and that platform, and it’s a strong signal to have another OEM in the lineup. And I think competition is what we need, and it’s just adding value to our project.”
Audi announced additional resources for its F1 project though an investment from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) in November, with the deal coming into effect this month, and Döllner says there were a number of interested parties wanting to be involved.
“We were approached by a lot of investors, so we didn’t really have to start a search. But one year ago, Qatar … they visited our Hinwil facility, [and] the powertrain unit, and from what they’ve seen there – professionalism, the strategic vision, the setup – they were convinced. From there on, we have been in constructive discussions and built that partnership.”
Döllner also believes the additional funding brought to the table by QIA reinforces Audi’s commitment to its F1 project, and like the Cadillac project – that includes investment from billionaire Mark Walter – shows it has the resource to eventually challenge at the front.
“Bringing in this strong partner is a model a lot of other teams have. And it’s, from our perspective, a necessary step to become one of the top teams in the future.
“At Audi, the project is seen positively anyhow, and I think it just strengthens the message that we are really into a long-term investment in Formula 1. And it’s a capital injection to the project, so it doesn’t reduce Audi’s commitment, it adds money to the project. So, it’s a strong signal.”
Ferrari has confirmed it has reached an agreement to supply the future Cadillac Formula 1 team with power units and gearboxes from 2026. The General Motors-backed entry that was formerly known as Andretti Cadillac is preparing to be on the grid in …
Ferrari has confirmed it has reached an agreement to supply the future Cadillac Formula 1 team with power units and gearboxes from 2026.
The General Motors-backed entry that was formerly known as Andretti Cadillac is preparing to be on the grid in just over a year’s time to match up with the start of new aerodynamic regulations. That entry point comes at least two years before GM believes it will have its own power unit ready, meaning it needs a supply deal in the meantime. Ferrari says an agreement is now in place.
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“Ferrari N.V. today announces a multi-year agreement starting from 2026 with Andretti Formula Racing LLC, regarding the supply of power unit and gearbox to the racing team led by TWG Global and General Motors, subject to Andretti Formula Racing LLC receiving written confirmation from the FIA – F1 that its entry to the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Championship has been accepted and approved,” a Ferrari statement read.
The agreement means Cadillac will not need a mandatory supply deal as defined under the F1 sporting regulations, and is another milestone reached before it can receive its official entry from the FIA.
As the Ferrari statement highlights, confirmation of the entry has yet to be provided from the governing body, despite Formula 1’s recent announcement that it is working to add GM as the 11th team in 2026. RACER understands the operating company of Andretti Formula Racing LLC will change as part of the transition to GM branding the team as Cadillac.
“It’s great to see the commitment of another American team, backed by one of the most highly respected marques in the motor industry, at a time when Formula 1 is increasing in popularity in the United States,” Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said.
“We are delighted therefore that we will be supplying the team with our power unit and gearbox as the basis of this technical collaboration. It means we will continue to have two ‘customer teams’ in the championship with all the benefits this brings in terms of technical development within Ferrari.”
GM also confirmed its team principal during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, with former Manor sporting director and recent advisor Graeme Lowdon chosen to lead the team.
“We are thrilled to partner with Ferrari as the power unit and gearbox supplier for our Cadillac team, bringing together two remarkable legacies,” Lowdon said. “Choosing the right power unit partner is crucial, and we trust in Ferrari’s passion, excellence and the exceptional capabilities of their people.”
RACER understands GM is already constructing a power unit facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, with the most recent timeline stating its intention is to have its works engine ready by the end of the decade.
General Motors has named Graeme Lowdon as the team principal of the Cadillac Formula 1 team that is preparing to enter the sport in 2026. Lowdon has worked as an advisor to GM and Andretti Global over the past two years as it worked on an F1 …
General Motors has named Graeme Lowdon as the team principal of the Cadillac Formula 1 team that is preparing to enter the sport in 2026.
Lowdon has worked as an advisor to GM and Andretti Global over the past two years as it worked on an F1 project, helping to structure the team alongside other roles including as part of Zhou Guanyu’s management. Lowdon has also previously served as sporting director and CEO of Manor’s F1 entries up until 2015 under the Virgin and Marussia names.
“I’m truly honored to be appointed as the team principal of this exciting new team and I would like to thank everyone involved for placing their trust in me,” Lowdon said. “I believe that Formula 1 is the greatest team sport in the world, and teams are all about people. This is a team with a real love for, and desire to go, racing, and we have the experience and expertise to do just that.
“Racing is at the very heart of everything that we do. This is what I want to see in a team, and I really want to be part of it. I don’t underestimate the task ahead and I have the utmost respect for the competition. I look forward to the challenge of racing. In the meantime, our work continues at pace.”
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TWG Global’s motorsport business CEO, Daniel Towriss, says Lowdon’s experience both within F1 and the wider motorsport industry was a big factor in his appointment.
“Graeme has been advising our team for the last two years as we have built out our operations; his experience on both the technical and managerial sides of Formula 1 and other motorsports ventures will serve him well as he builds the Cadillac Formula 1 team,” Towriss said.
GM president Mark Reuss also highlighted the importance of the role Lowdon has fulfilled so far as team development has continued, with Cadillac still awaiting its final entry confirmation.
“Graeme has been a pleasure to work with over the past two years and we’re excited he will lead our journey to the 2026 Formula 1 grid as team principal,” Reuss said. “He has great racing expertise, he knows how to assemble a high-performing team and he embodies the values the Cadillac Formula 1 team will represent in all its endeavors, on or off the track.”
A number of the Formula 1 drivers have backed General Motors’ arrival in the sport with the Cadillac brand, with the likes of Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen open to future race seat opportunities with the team. F1 announced it is working …
A number of the Formula 1 drivers have backed General Motors’ arrival in the sport with the Cadillac brand, with the likes of Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen open to future race seat opportunities with the team.
F1 announced it is working towards GM joining the grid in 2026, whereby the team will run under the Cadillac name and use a customer power unit deal until its own works engine is ready in 2028. Its addition will expand the field to 11 teams and 22 cars, and Lewis Hamilton said it will also provide extra positions for engineers and mechanics as well as drivers.
“I think it’s great,” Hamilton said. “I’ve always been super supportive of having another team; more cars on the grid. To think of how many more job opportunities that is… I’m so happy to hear that it’s happening.”
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Hamilton is one of the drivers who has raced in a grid of more than 20 cars in the past – the last year being 2016 when the Manor team was last competing – and Fernando Alonso similarly backed a project that includes some of his former colleagues such as technical director Nick Chester, advisor Pat Symonds and COO Rob White.
“Eleventh team, 22 drivers, it’s not the first time that we will be 22 on the grid,” Alonso said. “It’s a complex decision for the sport in general but if they came to that conclusion it’s because it’s the best for everybody. I will always support whatever management think that is the best.
“For the team personnel, they have a couple of people that were in the Renault days and for sure they will have a huge contribution right now at the very early part of the project, with a lot of experience in Formula 1 and in the sport. So I wish the best of luck. A new team is never an easy task, but I think they will be well prepared and they have the right people.”
For many of the younger drivers it will be the first time they race on a grid of more than 20 F1 cars, and Charles Leclerc said that provides more chances for up-and-coming driving talent, too.
“It’s the first time in my career that I’ll be 22 on the grid in F1, and that’s exciting,” Leclerc said. “I also think that there are lots of young drivers waiting for a place in Formula 1, and that will obviously give more opportunities to very talented young drivers that are dreaming to get into Formula 1. So for that, this is a good thing, and cool to have two more cars on the grid.”
Pierre Gasly echoed Leclerc’s sentiments, and emphasized benefits from a racing spectacle point of view.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s going to be my first time to race with 22 cars in F1. So more rivals, probably more action, more racing. So, exciting times. I think it’s been a long topic for quite a long time. So I’m sure if they came to that conclusion, definitely means it’s the best for the sport. So I’m excited about it.”
But it’s not just young drivers who are excited by the prospect. Bottas is out of a seat at the end of this year and said he has spoken to GM already about his availability for 2026.
“I think that’s just increased the chances of getting a seat for 2026, which ultimately is the goal,” Bottas said. “But if not, then there’s lots of other cool things in other series.
“Yes (I’ve had talks), I think for sure I’m not the only one, but of course, it’s interesting for me, and I think it’s great for F1. Great brand, GM is a big backer behind it so, for sure, it’s an interesting project.”
Magnussen is another who is set to drop off the grid next year, and he has history with the manufacturer after racing a Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac in IMSA in 2021.
“Absolutely, I think it’s exciting to see,” Magnussen said. “It’s a proper competitor coming in, a great name and an OEM who’s going to come in with guns blazing and throw everything at it I’m sure. So it’s exciting for the sport, exciting for the driver market, for the grid.
“You never know of course. I have driven for the factory before in IMSA, it was the factory Cadillac that I drove there, so I know the management, I know the people there. They know me. So you don’t know.”
Along with those more experienced names, Zhou Guanyu – who scored his first points of the season in Qatar on Sunday – has links to the GM entry’s advisory team, and says he’s also looking at the new constructor as a potential opportunity to get back on the grid in just over a year’s time.
“I’m fully aware that GM and also Cadillac joined the grid,” Zhou said. “I think it’s very good for the sport in general because a lot of people are always talking about having not enough seats for the people, the young drivers available. Clearly, I think we have a lot of young drivers for next year.
“From my position, it’s a great opportunity and a great chance for next season when I’m not having a seat. So I can probably think about what the future will be and try to have an opportunity there. So I’m aware of that.
“But everything was just only announced this week. We still need to go through further details a bit more on that. But for me, my priority is trying to have another chance of coming back on the grid. So for me, I don’t really have where I go, but if there’s a chance to grab, I will absolutely take it.”
The full-season drivers for Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA’s new-look two-car FIA WEC Hypercar program with the V-Series.R in 2025 have been revealed. For the British team’s first season as Cadillac’s factory service provider – taking over from Chip …
The full-season drivers for Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA’s new-look two-car FIA WEC Hypercar program with the V-Series.R in 2025 have been revealed. For the British team’s first season as Cadillac’s factory service provider — taking over from Chip Ganassi Racing — it will field a combination of returning drivers from its privateer program and longstanding Cadillac factory talent.
Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn stay on after competing together with Cadillac Racing in the FIA WEC during the 2023 and ’24 seasons. They will be joined by Sebastien Bourdais, who co-drove the No. 02 Cadillac V-Series.R in three WEC races this year alongside his commitments as a full-season IMSA GTP driver for the brand.
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“Joining JOTA is going to be a great step for the Cadillac project,” said Bamber. “They have really proven what they can do with the Porsche and just early interactions with the team have been positive.
“With me doing both WEC and IMSA, hopefully, we can accelerate their learning process because we were quick with Chip Ganassi Racing the last few races of the ’24 season and hopefully we can transfer knowledge from that project and continue our strong showing at the end of the year and taking their knowledge from their project and combining all that into winning races in WEC in 2025.
“The continuity of Alex, Seb and myself having driven the cars for a couple of years in IMSA and WEC will really lead to a formidable line-up.”
Added Bourdais, who will also race in LMP2 with Tower Motorsports in IMSA next season: “JOTA has been a well-known and successful name in sports car racing in Europe for many years. The push that Cadillac is making with two cars and going with JOTA shows the commitment to endurance racing and being successful in WEC. We’re going to get to work quickly and there’s a continuity in the whole process.
“For me, it’s a known quantity with the car and the GM people, so it’s cool to be able to continue there. Hopefully, we’ll get a few things going our way quickly. We showed speed this season but not the results we wished we would have, so I’ll be working hard to get those. There are a lot of cross-experiences.”
They will be joined by three drivers from JOTA’s 2024 WEC stable — Will Stevens, Jenson Button and Norman Nato — who all drove with the team this year in Hypercar.
“I’m delighted to be continuing my journey with Hertz Team JOTA as they form their new partnership with such an iconic brand as Cadillac,” said F1 world champion Button. “Racing with JOTA this season has been such a privilege as they’re a team steeped in success in endurance racing and an operation I’ve long admired. Those achievements and hard work have now led to this exciting next chapter seeing them partner with Cadillac, a marque which has already impressed with what it has achieved to date in both WEC and IMSA.
“The driver line-up is pretty impressive. We bring our collective experience of working with the Cadillac platform and the experience of working with JOTA together. We have all the ingredients for a great season ahead.”
Stevens, who along with Lynn and Bamber will also compete with Cadillac in IMSA during 2025, reiterated his desire to stay with JOTA through its transition to a factory team.
“I’ve made no secret of my intention to be with JOTA for the long haul and to do this with Cadillac makes it even more special,” he said. “I’m proud to be part of JOTA’s journey over the years.
“We’ve gone from LMP2 through to Hypercar and now we’re moving onto a manufacturer program and to have been with the team from the start is a great feeling. The longevity of my relationship with JOTA has resulted in a strong relationship.
“I know the team so well and they know me. This definitely helps us from a performance perspective. JOTA and Cadillac are a great match, and I feel like we have all the ingredients to be successful next season and ultimately challenge for race wins.”
In summary, David Clark, director and co-founder, JOTA Sport, said he has zero doubt the team will “put on a good show” in 2025.
“It’s an honor for us to pair with such an iconic automotive manufacturer. When you consider our collective records in the FIA World Endurance Championship, it’s very fitting that for the inaugural Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA driver line-up we have such an impressive breadth of world championship-winning talent and experience.
“Cadillac’s pedigree in motorsport speaks for itself, and with these six drivers, we will be in a strong position to challenge for race wins.
“Under the careful watch of ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest) President Pierre Fillon, WEC continues to go from strength to strength, and with more eyes than ever before on our races, and some incredible talent behind the wheel, we have no doubt that we’ll put on a good show next season.”
JOTA’s transition to racing with Cadillac is well underway. The team will conduct a shakedown of its Dallara chassis next week at the Anneau du Rhin circuit in France ahead of a substantial test program over the winter.
All six drivers announced today will compete in the full 2025 FIA WEC season. The combinations for its No. 12 and No. 38 V-Series.Rs will be announced at a later date.
General Motors is rotating its sports car management team, with longtime GM Sports Car Racing program manager Laura Wontrop Klauser and Corvette Z06 GT3.R program manager Christie Bagne moving back to the production side of the company. In a …
General Motors is rotating its sports car management team, with longtime GM Sports Car Racing program manager Laura Wontrop Klauser and Corvette Z06 GT3.R program manager Christie Bagne moving back to the production side of the company.
In a statement on the move, GM stated that, “Motorsports is a platform to hone engineering and leadership skills in a fast-paced highly competitive race environment. Rotating team members back into production and corporate programs is part of our core ‘why we race’ mission. Having experience in motorsports programs helps to enrich our team members’ careers and make GM a stronger company.”
At the conclusion of the 2024 season, Klauser will join the Global Hardware Systems and Integration Team as Engineering Group Leader. Concurrently, Bagne will transition to Corporate Strategy as a Senior Analyst. The final race for both will be this weekend’s World Endurance Championship finale in Bahrain.
Keely Bosn, currently Future Tech & Mobility Planning Manager in the Competitor Intelligence, Technology and Mobility Planning organization at GM, will join GM Motorsports as the Cadillac Racing Program Manager. Jessica Dane, currently the Motorsports Integration Manager in GM Motorsports, will become the Corvette Racing Program Manager for all Corvette GT3 programs.
Klauser started in the motorsports side of GM in 2016 as Cadillac was fielding the ATS-V.R in World Challenge before the Cadillac DPi program came online, and helped launch the Camaro GT4.R. She became sports car program manager in 2021, spearheading Cadillac’s LMDh program as well as the Corvette Z06 GT3.R. Cadillac took the driver, team and manufacturers titles in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP category last year, across both the full-season championship and the Michelin Endurance Cup.
Bagne moved from system capability engineer to assistant sports car program manager in 2021, assuming the role of Corvette Z06 GT3.R Program in January 2023 as GM was about to release its first customer GT3 car. The Z06 GT3.R found victory lane in both IMSA GTD PRO and Fanatec GT World Challenge America in its inaugural season, as well as carried Orey Fidani to the Bob Akin Award in the GTD category.
Wayne Taylor Racing will retain its core lineup as it switches to Cadillac for the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the GTP category, while a Cadillac regular and some familiar faces join in for the endurance races. Ricky Taylor and …
Wayne Taylor Racing will retain its core lineup as it switches to Cadillac for the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the GTP category, while a Cadillac regular and some familiar faces join in for the endurance races. Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque (main image) will drive the No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R for the full season, while Jordan Taylor and Louis Delétraz continue in the No. 40.
WTR and Cadillac Racing also announced their endurance additions for each car. Brendon Hartley moves to Daytona-only, while McLaren F1 test and development driver Will Stevens takes the wheel of the No. 10 for the three long-distance Michelin Endurance Cup races — the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and Motul Petit Le Mans. Alex Lynn, who has spent the last two seasons racing the V-Series.R in the FIA World Endurance Championship after a season with Cadillac in IMSA, is the third driver in the No. 40 for the races longer than six hours, while Kamui Kobayashi returns to IMSA competition for Daytona.
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“I’m excited for the No. 10 lineup in 2025,” said team principal Wayne Taylor. “Three of the four drivers have been with us at least four years and working together. Adding in Will Stevens for the endurance races will be a big advantage as well. All four drivers understand the setups and are used to working closely together — a necessity for winning in Daytona and for being on top in this incredibly close championship.
“The No. 40 car is an exciting driver line-up as well. Louis and Jordan (below) are back together again, and Alex Lynn will be helping with the endurance races. Alex has worked with us before, helping us win the Twelve Hours of Sebring back in 2017. Kamui Kobayashi’s abilities speak for themselves, having run with us before and won the Rolex 24 twice, once with Jordan. Everyone in this group works to get the job done, no egos — it is what wins races, especially the Rolex 24.”
Richard Prince/Cadillac Racing
Wayne Taylor’s history with GM Motorsports dates to 1990 when the South African native turned his first laps in the U.S. as a General Motors factory driver in a Chevrolet-powered GTP race car. Since Taylor founded the team in 2007, Wayne Taylor Racing has been a frontrunner in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The 2021 Michelin Endurance Cup champions have won three IMSA driver championships, nine manufacturer titles and have four Rolex 24 victories.
It’s a homecoming for Ricky Taylor, who has been an Acura racer since 2018, first with Team Penske, where he won the 2020 DPi championship with Helio Castroneves, and then back with WTR after the team took over the Acura DPi program, switching from Cadillac.
“It is exciting to be rejoining Cadillac Racing,” said Ricky Taylor. “I am looking forward to learning about what has made them so competitive over the past two GTP seasons as well as working with a new group to work together to win races and championships. I think we will be curious to learn what has made them strong over the first two years, but also to bring our own experience to the program. I think the team has something special in how the two cars and four full-time drivers work together to push each other on and off the track in a healthy way that supports both cars succeeding.”
Ricky Taylor and Albuquerque have been partners for four years now, since Taylor’s return to the WTR fold. Together they have garnered numerous victories, but a championship has eluded them.
“Since I started racing in America in the overall class, it was with the Chevy DP in 2016, then I did another four years with Cadillac DPi, and now to be back is amazing,” said Albuquerque. “I am really looking forward to returning ‘back home.’ My first overall Daytona win was with Cadillac, so for sure I want to be back to those winning feelings.
“I remember very well fighting hard WTR in a Cadillac, they were a big stone in my shoe — this is a very Portuguese expression to not say something else — but I remember as well that I won some of them too. Now being all together, me, Ricky, WTR and Cadillac, I think we have the dream together.”
Jordan Taylor spent a dozen years as a GM driver before this past season, first with WTR and Cadillac, winning a DPi championship, then a stint with Corvette Racing that resulted in back-to-back GTLM titles.
“It feels like I am coming back home to see lots of familiar faces,” he said. “The Cadillacs have obviously been extremely strong in GTP the last two years, so I can’t wait to see what the car is like from the inside. WTR always does an amazing job at putting together strong lineups. Not just strong on track, but guys that are able to work well together off the track with the teammates, team members, and sponsors. I think putting together all the drivers that we have is bringing an amazing amount of experience that can push us all in the right direction.”
“GM is what brought my mom and dad to America back in the early ’90s, giving my dad his first drive in the States. It was also where my career began and where Ricky has had so much success in the past as well. We have kept in touch with all those people that we’ve dealt with in the past, and there’s no doubt that it will be a seamless transition coming back together. “
For Delétraz, this will be his first experience with Cadillac, and it’s one he’s relishing.
“Cadillac and GM have achieved so much in motorsport, I can’t wait to start working together. I look forward to understanding how they work and make such fast cars,” he said. “Since I joined IMSA, Cadillac Racing has always been extremely competitive and hard to beat. I’m happy to have them on our side and not against us now. I think together we can win many races and championships in the future.”
The 2025 season kicks off with the Roar Before the 24 (Jan. 17-19) and the Rolex 24 at Daytona (Jan. 23-26). The Cadillac WTR team and drivers will have their first IMSA-sanctioned test during the homologation test on Nov. 15-17.
