{"id":34629,"date":"2025-06-13T17:08:39","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T21:08:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=34629"},"modified":"2025-06-13T17:08:39","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T21:08:39","slug":"standard-of-the-racing-world-cadillac-stuns-le-mans-sweeps-front-row-qualifying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/standard-of-the-racing-world-cadillac-stuns-le-mans-sweeps-front-row-qualifying","title":{"rendered":"Standard of the (Racing) World: Cadillac stuns Le Mans, sweeps front-row qualifying"},"content":{"rendered":"

Le Mans, Fran<\/em>ce \u2014 For the first time since Ford accomplished the feat in 1967, a Detroit automaker will lead the field to the green flag Saturday for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world\u2019s most prestigious manufacturers\u2019 endurance race.<\/p>\n

Cadillac won its first Le Mans pole position as the #12 Team JOTA Cadillac Hypercar driven by Englishman Alex Lynn beat out a packed qualifying field that included Ferrari, Porche Penske, Aston Martin, BMW and French favorite Alpine.<\/p>\n

In a show of Cadillac\u2019s pace, the sister #38 Team JOTA Cadillac V-Series.R Hypercar was second-fastest, locking down the front row for the Motown brand. And just to rub it in, a third Cadillac entry (of four) from Whelan Racing set a Hypercar course record around the legendary 8.5-mile circuit in an earlier qualifying heat \u2014 a mark two seconds under last year\u2019s pole time. The hybrid-powered, 690-horsepower, winged Hypercars are the fastest sportscars in the world.<\/p>\n

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The #12 Cadillac V-Series.R of Alex Lynn led a front-row lockout of qualifying alongside the sister #38 car at Le Mans on Thursday, June 12, 2025. Michele Scudiero, Cadillac<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an exciting moment when you put it all together,\u201d said Vice President of Global Cadillac John Roth, who cheered on the results from the Cadillac box above the pits. \u201cLooking forward to the race results on Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cadilac\u2019s grandstand-rattling V-8 engines are a fan favorite here \u2014 their distinct sound roaring above the more muffled exhaust notes of competitors\u2019 turbocharged V-8s. Le Mans\u2019 so-called Hyperpole qualifying is designed like other IndyCar and Formula One racing series with an elimination shootout. Entries in each of the three classes \u2014 Hyper, LMP2 and LMGT3 \u2014 are whittled to 15 cars after one qualifying round, then eight in the final, Hyperpole 2 Round.<\/p>\n

“Any time you have the opportunity to drive this kind of car at Le Mans with low fuel, new tires, is an honor,” Lynn told RACER.com after climbing out of the V-Series.R. “I\u2019m proud to deliver for Cadillac. It\u2019s a special feeling, a magical circuit and a place I like to perform my best. Now, just 24 hours. We will enjoy this tonight and get some rest.”<\/p>\n

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Le Mans, France – Alex Lynn (right) qualified the #12 Cadillac V-Series.R on pole. His teammates Will Stevens (left) and Norman Nato will co-pilot with him June 14-15 to try and win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Photo: Michele Scudiero \/ Drew Gibson Photography. Michele Scudiero, Cadillac<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

GM\u2019s luxury brand is not alone in seeking Le Mans glory this weekend and is joined by a multitude of other Detroit-based racers.<\/p>\n

Bloomfield Hills-based Team Penske qualified third and fifth behind the Cadillacs in Porsche 963s \u2014 the dominant car in North America\u2019s IMSA Sportscar Series this year. Corvette also had a strong showing, with one of its three entries making it to the Fast Eight. The TF Sport Corvette will start sixth. Two Ford Mustang entries from Proton Racing will start 10th and 13th<\/sup>\u00a0after making Hyperpole 1.<\/p>\n

But the day belonged to Cadillac, which has raised its game this year with a class-leading four entries. Caddy is determined to re-establish itself as the \u201cStandard of the World\u201d with motorsports playing a big part. In another first, the brand has opened four showrooms across Europe this year\u00a0\u2014 its flagship is in Paris, 130 miles southeast of Le Mans \u2014 and Cadillac will be entering the world\u2019s most prestigious open-wheel series, Formula One, in 2026.<\/p>\n

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Le Mans, France – THough it won’t start on pole, the Whelan Racing Cadillac V-Series.R set a Le Mans lap record earlier in the day on June 12th qualifying. Photo: Nick Dungan \/ Drew Gibson Photography. Nick Dungan, Cadillac<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cCouldn\u2019t be prouder of what\u2019s happened here today,\u201d said Roth. \u201cAfter all that preparation, all that work by so many throughout the whole organization, from our engineers to our designers to the team members that put together the vehicle, all the way out to the customers to our dealerships who support the brand.\u201d<\/p>\n