JOTA Eyes Fuji as Best Chance for First Cadillac Win

Hertz Team JOTA has identified Fuji as the best chance for Cadillac to score its first FIA World Endurance Championship victory over the remainder of the season.

Both JOTA technical director Tomoki Takahashi and team co-owner Sam Hignett believe that the Japanese circuit, which will host the penultimate round of the season in late September, offers the best prospects for a breakthrough Cadillac triumph.

Last year’s Fuji race saw the sole Cadillac V-Series.R, then operated by Chip Ganassi Racing, qualify on pole in the hands of Alex Lynn and then feature in the mix for a podium until two incidents with Earl Bamber at the wheel put the car out of the race.

Acknowledging the pressure mounting for Cadillac to break its victory duck in the WEC in the brand’s third season, albeit its first since joining forces with JOTA, Takahashi highlighted the GM marque’s performance at Fuji last year as a reason for optimism.

“The Caddy was extremely strong at Fuji last year,” Takahashi told Sportscar365. “That’s the one that sticks out for us [of the remaining four circuits on the calendar].

“I think a little bit of that, track characteristics, in terms of the layout. The final sector is key to the lap, but the long right-hander [Turns 4 and 5] is also a lap time killer, similar to what you find at Spa and Le Mans, which are ‘Caddy tracks’.

“Maybe I am basing that too much on the performances from last year, but at Fuji the car was really strong last year. That is something that we are excited about.”

Hignett meanwhile said that the final three races at the Circuit of The Americas, Fuji and Bahrain could offer chances for Cadillac, but said that this weekend’s 6 Hours of Sao Paulo could be a more difficult event for the V-Series.R.

In last year’s race at Interlagos, the Cadillac was in the mix for a top-five finish in the first part of the race before dropping two laps off the pace with brake issues.

“We need to manage our expectations in Brazil,” admitted Hignett. “But we know the car is mega at Fuji and it can be pretty good at COTA.

“Then we will can see where we can go in Bahrain. We’ve always been good [as a team] in Bahrain, so let’s see if we can work some magic there.

“There is an incredible desire from the many brilliant people in Cadillac for that first win and that is reflected in what we are trying to achieve for them.”

Cadillac Drivers Optimistic of Strong Brazil Showing

For their part, Lynn and Bamber both expressed optimism of challenging for a strong result in this weekend’s Sao Paulo round.

It follows an encouraging 24 Hours of Le Mans last month, when the two JOTA Cadillacs swept the front row in qualifying and then went on to finish fourth in seventh in a race where the V-Series.R lacked the outright pace of Ferrari and Porsche.

The BoP for Sao Paulo appears favorable towards Cadillac, which has been given extra horsepower and less weight compared to the previous regular WEC race at Spa.

Lynn, who shares the No. 12 car with Will Stevens and Norman Nato, said: “I think the progress we’ve made since last year in Brazil and understanding the importance of tire management on the circuit puts us in a better position to challenge for the podium.

“We’ve done sim work and other things to prepare, and hopefully data collected at Le Mans and Spa will be put to good use.”

Bamber, who will be in the sister No. 38 Cadillac alongside Jenson Button and Sebastien Bourdais, added: “Though Interlagos is a different track [to Le Mans] we believe the strengths of the Cadillac V-Series.R will come through there.

“Aside from a pit miscue in 2024 that cost us two laps, we were competitive in Brazil, so I expect us to be in the mix again.”