Cadillac LMDh Drivers Enjoying Change of Scenery at N24

Cadillac LMDh drivers Renger van der Zande, Alexander Sims and Earl Bamber are relishing the chance to temporarily step away from prototype racing duties in order to compete in GT3 cars at the Nürburgring 24.

All three will compete for overall victory in this weekend’s 51st running of the Eifel classic, in machinery from different marques compared to what they race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship.

IMSA GTP drivers Van der Zande and Sims are sharing the No. 5 Scherer Sport PHX Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II just a week after battling for victory at Motul Course de Monterey.

Sims told Sportscar365 that the opportunity to drive together came together “by chance” while Van der Zande pointed out that the pair haven’t been teammates since the 2009 Macau Grand Prix.

“It’s a cool dynamic, especially having literally just raced against each other last weekend,” Sims said.

“Obviously still with each other under the Cadillac umbrella but against each other.

“I think we get along perfectly well and are looking forward to the racing to start and for us to try and get some good results together.

“I’ve done it not quite every year for the last 10 years but pretty much most of those times. I really enjoy it each time.

“It’s a funny race, there’s always a few moments where I ask myself, ‘Why am I doing this?’ When I’m driving out back trying to overtake some slow cars, having a super risky situation.

“But it’s why I love it as well. You find yourself in racing situations that you just don’t get elsewhere.”

Sims and van der Zande are sharing the Phoenix-run Audi with Patrick Kolb and Audi Sport factory driver Frank Stippler.

Van der Zande noted that both drivers were looking for seats in some of the major endurance events to complement their WeatherTech Championship duties.

“I think [Sims] is a bit of a free agent after leaving BMW,” Van der Zande said.

“I’ve been with Mercedes a long time and now we’re with Cadillac and for us having such a full program with IMSA, you’re trying to find good seats for the big races.

“Obviously Phoenix is one of the better racing teams in the world of GT. So when they call you up, you take it seriously.

“Then they told me the lineup with Alexander and Stippler, who is a complete legend. So fast, so good.

“Then you get excited because I was not planning on it because I take Le Mans very seriously with Cadillac and I was not planning on doing the Nürburgring.

“But hey, this place, you want to come back whenever you can and especially when you get a call from this team. That’s how it came together.”

Bamber, meanwhile, joins Corvette Racing driver Nicky Catsburg, David Pittard and Felipe Fernandez Laser aboard the Frikadelli Racing Team Ferrari 296 GT3.

Together with Catsburg and Fernandez Laser, the New Zealander took victory in the Nürburgring 24 Qualifiers last month, securing the first overall win for Ferrari’s new-for-2023 GT3 challenger in global competition.

“I think it’s also cool to have Nicky with me, so it’s more GM drivers coming into the Nürburgring,” said Bamber, who drives for Cadillac in the WEC.

“For me it was good just to be able to do something different, I’ve driven the Porsche many times around here and Klaus [Abbelen] I’ve driven with in the past.

“He asked me if I wanted to join in the Ferrari. It’s been a really cool project so far.

“It was great to get the first win for the 296 in the world last time out and the car’s been actually really good and fun to develop.

“I think each race we’ve been learning with it and we’ve been getting better and better and now we’ve got the big one so it’s going to be interesting.”

Bamber added that because of their factory status with the Cadillac program, the drivers needed approval to take part in the N24 with teams representing other brands.

“We need to always ask Chip Ganassi Racing and Laura [Wontrop Klauser] for permission to do these events,” he said.

“But to be honest, she’s been amazing to let us do so many of these racing events and they say it’s good practice for us.”