Cadillac Clinches Historic Pole Position at 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans

Cadillac Makes History at the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours

For the first time in the legendary endurance racing circuit’s history, Cadillac has secured the coveted pole position at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Thanks to a blistering lap of 3:23.166 by Alex Lynn in the Jota Cadillac V-Series.R, the American marque dominated the front row, signaling a new chapter in the hypercar era and revitalizing its reputation on the global motorsport stage.

Cadillac’s Breakthrough Performance

Alex Lynn’s remarkable qualifying lap not only earned the first-ever Le Mans pole for Cadillac, it ensured both Jota-run Cadillacs locked out the front row. Fellow driver Earl Bamber placed the No. 38 Cadillac V-Series.R just 0.167 seconds behind Lynn, delivering a formidable one-two result that highlighted the evolution and competitive edge of Cadillac’s LMDh prototype.

Right behind the dominant Cadillacs, Porsche’s No. 5 Team Penske entry with Mathieu Jaminet finished third, fending off the BMW M Hybrid V8 of Dries Vanthoor in fourth. Another Porsche, the No. 4 car piloted by Nick Tandy, completed the top five. In sharp contrast, last year’s champions Ferrari endured a disappointing session as Antonio Fuoco, winner of the 2023 Le Mans, could only qualify seventh in the No. 50 AF Corse Ferrari 499P.

Hypercar Class: Cadillac Aims for Victory

Cadillac’s resurgence has been nothing short of spectacular. Building on strong pace in Wednesday qualifying, the team delivered when it mattered in the critical Hyperpole session. Despite a slightly slower middle sector, Lynn’s average lap speed put Cadillac out of reach for rivals. Cadillac’s bold showing now positions the brand as a favorite to potentially claim its maiden Le Mans victory, a feat that has eluded them for years.

The third Cadillac, fielded by Action Express Racing and driven by Aston Martin reserve F1 driver Felipe Drugovich, qualified eighth, showcasing the depth of the American manufacturer’s efforts. Meanwhile, Porsche’s No. 5 hypercar had a tense moment as Jaminet lost a rear wheel during his flying lap but smartly nursed the car into the pit lane without major loss.

Further back, Ferrari’s Hyperpole campaign unraveled as Team Ferrari’s No. 50 with Fuoco finished only seventh, with Alessandro Pier Guidi’s sister car not making it past the first session. The Perrodo AF Corse No. 83 yellow Ferrari and Yifei Ye also fell short, starting thirteenth, just behind the Alpine No. 35. Despite a strong first session from Mick Schumacher for Alpine, the team’s No. 36 starts ninth after performance slipped in session two.

Reigning giants Toyota also faced disappointment. Sebastien Buemi spun into the gravel at Mulsanne after a lock-up and, forced into a tire change, was left with just one timed lap before settling for tenth. Aston Martin’s Valkyrie, entered as No. 009 by Heart of Racing, joined the Hyperpole after Porsche No. 6 Penske’s exclusion for a weight infraction, but driver Marco Sorensen could do no better than fifteenth overall in the hypercar class, despite extracting the maximum pace from the car.

Design & Specifications: Cadillac V-Series.R

Cadillac’s V-Series.R hypercar features a 5.5-liter DOHC V8 hybrid powertrain paired with a front-axle MGU, delivering robust efficiency and performance. Utilizing Dallara’s chassis expertise, the car boasts advanced aerodynamics and aggressive styling, complementing its competitive credentials both in IMSA and WEC endurance events.

Market Position & Comparison

The Cadillac V-Series.R enters the Hypercar class alongside the likes of Toyota GR010 Hybrid, Ferrari 499P, Porsche 963, BMW M Hybrid V8, and Peugeot 9X8. Cadillac’s recent domination of qualifying at Le Mans improves its standing among racing’s elite constructors, positioning the team as a real threat to motorsport stalwarts such as Toyota and Ferrari. Cadillac’s design philosophy emphasizes both power and reliability—a critical balance in 24-hour racing.

LMP2 Class: TDS Racing Secures Pole

The fiercely contested LMP2 class saw Swiss driver Mathias Beche take the pole for TDS Racing in the No. 29 Oreca 07. Beche’s final lap delivered a surprise upset, edging past the previously dominant Inter Europol Competition, whose Tom Dillmann brought their No. 43 car to second place. AO Racing’s No. 199 entry impressed with third, while ex-F1 driver Pietro Fittipaldi took United Autosports’ No. 22 car to fifth. Pure Racing’s No. 37, with Tom Blomqvist, completed a competitive LMP2 Hyperpole session.

LMP2 Vehicle Highlights

LMP2 cars like the Oreca 07 are powered by 4.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8s, uniform across the grid, and are renowned for their mix of pace, durability, and importance in launching top-level racing careers.

GT3 Class: Aston Martin’s Dramatic Debut

In the new-for-2025 GT3 category, Aston Martin’s Heart of Racing No. 27, steered by Mattia Drudi in his Le Mans debut, seized pole with a lap over 0.2 seconds faster than the competition. Ferrari’s 296 GT3 No. 21 (Vista AF Corse, Alessandro Rovera) and BMW M4 LM GT3 No. 46 (WRT, Valentino Rossi) completed the top three, with Mercedes AMG’s No. 61 Iron Lynx (Maxime Martin) joining Rossi on the second row. Porsche’s Manthey (Richard Lietz) and TF Sport’s Corvette No. 81 (Rui Andrade) rounded out the top six.

GT3 Vehicle Specs & Competitiveness

GT3 race cars are based on production models but are extensively modified for durability, downforce, and speed, featuring traction and ABS systems ideal for endurance racing. The new regulations have brought Ferrari, Aston Martin, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ford Mustang, and McLaren into increasingly close competition.

Drama and Surprises in GT3 Qualifying

There was no shortage of action as United Autosports’ McLaren No. 95—driven by Indonesian star Sean Gelael—survived a first-session scare at the Mulsanne chicane before progressing, only for teammate Marino Sato to fail to set a final time, leaving them eighth in class. Notably, Ferrari’s No. 193, Ford’s No. 88 Mustang (Proton Competition), and United Autosports’ No. 59 McLaren failed to advance into the second Hyperpole session, highlighting the fierce level of competition in the 2025 GT3 field.

Looking Ahead: The Road to Victory

As anticipation builds for race day, Cadillac’s unprecedented front-row lockout and competitive pace puts immense pressure on established contenders like Toyota, Ferrari, and Porsche. With new technical regulations, top-tier drivers, and a grid spanning hypercars, LMP2, and GT3 machines, the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans promises to be a classic showdown in the world of endurance racing.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Le Mans 24 promises high drama as Cadillac vies for its first win, endurance giants look to reclaim glory, and new GT3 rules inject additional excitement. Whether you’re a fan of cutting-edge hypercar technology, the developmental crucible of LMP2, or the fierce production-based GT3 battles, this year’s race offers something for every motorsport enthusiast.