Cadillac at Le Mans: Podium finish in return

 In a season of firsts, Cadillac scored its first podium finish in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Sunday.

The No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R, co-driven by Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn and Richard Westbrook, boosted by reliability, the ability to run a relatively clean race and consistent pit stops earned third place in the iconic endurance race.

Briggs Cunningham and S.H. Allard would be among the legions proud of the accomplishment. As a privateer, Cunningham entered two Cadillac 61 Coupes in the 1950 race with much fanfare but not sought-after results. Allard, who owned a low-volume car manufacturing business, finished third in the race with a Cadillac 5.4-liter V8 engine in his Allard J2.

Cadillac returned to Circuit de la Sarthe in 2000-2002 with the Northstar LMP, but again did not secure the results it worked hard to achieve. After a 21-year absence, the Cadillac crest was front and center on the 8.45-mile course for the more than 300,000 race day spectators to see and cheer every time the 5.5-liter DOHC naturally aspirated-powered car roared past.

"Great to be back at Le Mans after 21 years and even more special as it was in the centenary year for Le Mans," said Rory Harvey, GM North America president. "Fantastic that all three Cadillacs finished, with the pinnacle being the No. 2 Cadillac getting on the podium. Fantastic job by all involved and proud of the team. We will take time to evaluate the race and understand how we can do even better moving forward." 

Cadillac and the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R entry moved to third in the FIA World Endurance Championship Manufacturer and Team/Driver Championship standings heading into Round 5 of the calendar next month in Monza, Italy. The No. 51 Ferrari 499P won the race.

The No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R also led its first laps in WEC competition.

"I couldn't be more proud of all three Cadillacs crossing the finish line, which I think is a huge feat at this race especially considering everything that happened. This is the busiest Le Mans that I can remember for the past few years and we were able to have such a strong finish," said GM sports car racing program manager Laura Wontrop Klauser, who also celebrated a class victory by the Chevrolet Corvette team. "We can't wait to be back next year and go for that top step."

The No. 3 Cadillac V-Series.R finished fourth after an adventurous race with Sebastien Bourdais, Renger van der Zande and Scott Dixon switching off in the seat. Before a fireworks and choreographed drone show lit the night sky Saturday, the No. 3 Cadillac V-Series.R had to pit once to change the rear-wing assembly after being clipped by another car and once to change the front assembly after spin on a drenched racetrack – plus sitting for an untimely one-minute hold penalty for a technical infraction.

Bourdais and van der Zande, full-season IMSA drivers in the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R, entered the race with the same chassis following a victory at Laguna Seca.

The No. 311 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R sustained damage in a Lap 1 incident at the exit of the Daytona Chicane. The crew quickly and seamlessly worked to return the car to the racetrack, and Alexander Sims, Pipo Derani and Jack Aitken soldiered on to place 10th in class.

Both teams will prepare for the IMSA Grand Touring Prototype race June 25 at Watkins Glen International.