Cadillac Aims for Third Hypercar at Le Mans
▼ Summary
– Cadillac Racing plans to submit an entry for a third V-Series.R Hypercar at the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours, sourced from its IMSA GTP stable.
– The specific IMSA team (Action Express Racing or Wayne Taylor Racing) to run the additional car has not yet been decided and will be announced later.
– Adding a fourth Cadillac for 2026 is considered unlikely, primarily due to the high budgetary costs involved in such an effort.
– Cadillac is currently the only manufacturer actively seeking to add an extra car from IMSA, as BMW, Aston Martin, and others have confirmed they are not exploring similar plans.
– Porsche and Acura are unable to submit entries for additional cars due to not fielding two full-season cars in the FIA WEC Hypercar class, despite their desire to compete.
Cadillac Racing is actively exploring the possibility of expanding its presence at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, with plans to field a third V-Series.R hypercar for the 2026 event. The team’s leadership has confirmed discussions are underway to select one of its IMSA GTP championship cars to join the two-car, full-season effort from Hertz Team JOTA in the FIA World Endurance Championship. This strategic move aims to bolster Cadillac’s chances of securing an overall victory at the world’s most famous endurance race.
The decision now centers on which of Cadillac’s IMSA partner teams will receive the coveted entry. Both Action Express Racing, which hopes to make a fourth consecutive trip to the French circuit, and Wayne Taylor Racing, looking to build on its debut appearance last year, are under consideration. Keely Bosn, head of Cadillac’s sportscar racing division, emphasized a unified approach, stating the organization will work collectively to ensure every car it brings has the best possible shot at winning while also supporting JOTA’s WEC campaign. She noted that while ambitions are high, the challenge is not underestimated, and an announcement will follow internal discussions.
This potential expansion follows a significant effort in 2025, when Cadillac entered four hypercars at Le Mans as part of a broader seven-car program from General Motors across two classes. The prospect of a fourth V-Series.R entry, while not completely ruled out, is currently considered unlikely due to the substantial budgetary considerations involved. Adding factory-supported cars to an event of this magnitude is a major financial undertaking, and GM must carefully weigh whether the increased chance of victory justifies the significant investment required.
Bosn acknowledged that, in theory, anything remains possible, describing the 2025 four-car effort as fantastic despite some technical setbacks. She reiterated that Cadillac’s fundamental goal is to compete for wins, leaving the door open for future possibilities. For now, Cadillac stands alone among manufacturers in actively seeking to add an extra car from the IMSA GTP ranks to the Le Mans grid.
Other major players have confirmed they will not pursue similar expansions this cycle. BMW and Team WRT have stated their immediate focus is on establishing and achieving success with their new North American racing program before considering a third Le Mans entry. Similarly, Aston Martin’s team principal has confirmed there are no plans to enter a third Valkyrie hypercar.
The situation is more complex for other IMSA contenders. Both Porsche Penske Motorsport and Acura Meyer Shank Racing face eligibility hurdles, as neither Porsche nor Acura currently fields two full-season cars in the WEC’s Hypercar class, a requirement for submitting an additional entry. Porsche Penske’s situation is particularly poignant; despite earning an automatic invitation from IMSA by winning the GTP title last year, the manufacturer’s decision to conclude its factory WEC program after 2025 prevents the team from accepting that spot. This also sidelines team owner Roger Penske’s continued pursuit of his first overall Le Mans victory with his own squad.
As preparations continue, it remains unclear which IMSA team will ultimately receive the series’ automatic invitation to the 2026 race. Cadillac’s push for a third car underscores its serious commitment to conquering the Circuit de la Sarthe.
(Source: DailySportsCar.com)
