Cadillac’s 2025 Drivers in Focus as JOTA Deal Nears

Cadillac’s driver lineup for an expanded two-car FIA World Endurance Championship assault is beginning to take shape, with Antonio Felix da Costa among the candidates to join the brand.

The WEC’s new-for-2025 two-car Hypercar mandate means Cadillac will be required to add an extra entry, with JOTA Sport understood to be in line to field the two V.Series-Rs, as first revealed by Sportscar365 in April.

It appears likely that one of the two cars will be crewed by GM-contracted drivers, with JOTA’s own drivers filling the second Cadillac.

Existing Cadillac drivers Alex Lynn and Earl Bamber both look certain to stay on for the expanded effort, having been part of the Chip Ganassi-run WEC effort since last year.

At the same time, JOTA mainstay Will Stevens is likely to extend his relationship with the British team as it transitions from customer Porsche to Cadillac machinery.

Da Costa, meanwhile, is known to be keen on making a return to the WEC and still has good relations with JOTA, with whom he drove from the 2019-20 season through to the end of 2023, including the team’s first season running a privateer Porsche 963.

The Portuguese driver, who was spotted in the paddock at Le Mans last week, was effectively forced into giving up his WEC drive by Porsche, which felt that his performances in Formula E would benefit with him focused on only a single series.

It’s understood that da Costa has one more year to run on his Porsche Formula E deal, but it is possible that their relationship could come to an early end if both parties agree.

GM executives would need to agree to da Costa becoming a factory Cadillac driver, and that an IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup drive could also be a part of any potential deal.

Joining JOTA and Cadillac would not necessarily preclude da Costa from joining another team in Formula E other than Porsche.

Elsewhere, Callum Ilott is understood to be a strong contender to line up in a V-Series.R next year following his strong performances in his rookie season.

However, Ilott, who appeared for Arrow McLaren in three IndyCar races including the Indianapolis 500, could yet have options to return to the single-seater next year.

He previously told Sportscar365 he would likely take a decision on his future in June, but this week’s news that Arrow McLaren has signed 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 winner Nolan Siegel on a long-term deal appears to have narrowed his IndyCar options.

It’s currently unclear who could fill the sixth and final Cadillac seat, although Norman Nato could be a candidate to do so assuming that he is able to combine an extension of his JOTA deal with his Formula E commitments for Andretti Global.

Nato missed the Spa round of the WEC this year to race in the clashing Berlin Formula E round, leaving Stevens and Ilott to compete as a duo in the No. 12 JOTA car.

GM sports car racing program manager Laura Wontrop-Klauser declined to comment on Cadillac’s 2025 plans when previously asked by Sportscar365.