Cadillac Completes Portimao Endurance Test

Chip Ganassi Racing has completed an endurance and performance test with the Cadillac V-Series.R at Portimao as part of its preparations for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Full-season FIA World Endurance Championship drivers Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn and Richard Westbrook were present to drive the No. 2 car, sharing it with Renger van der Zande and Scott Dixon.

Dixon was absent from the recent 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps due to clashing commitments in the NTT IndyCar Series.

Sebastien Bourdais, who will team up with Van der Zande and Dixon at the French endurance classic, did not take part in the test.

The Frenchman was instead working through a “complementary development program” at the Dallara simulator facility in Indianapolis.

It was the first test outing for Cadillac on a European circuit, as the car ran at venues like Sebring International Raceway, Daytona International Speedway and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta as part of its development.

The team did race at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve last month during the second round of the WEC season.

“These couple of days have been crucial in our preparation for Le Mans,” Bamber said. “I feel we’ve made some good steps forward.

“It’s been our first proper test as a European WEC team, and it was great to come back to a track that we’ve already raced at, know the areas that we could focus on and work on.

“I feel now we’re very well prepared for Le Mans coming up so quick.

“It’s fantastic to see how much Cadillac Racing is pushing, Chip Ganassi Racing is pushing. It’s really formed a strong team and I’m excited for the 24 hours.”

Action Express Racing is also ramping up its preparations for Le Mans, with Pipo Derani, Alexander Sims and Jack Aitken recently shaking down the No. 311 car at Road America.

Both squads will be in action at this weekend’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, which is the final race for the teams before Le Mans.