Cadillac IMSA Drivers Open to Extra WEC Outings in No. 2 Car

Cadillac’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship regulars have expressed an interest in acting as the third driver for the marque’s FIA World Endurance Championship effort if called upon.

A little over a month ahead of the WEC Prologue, Cadillac has yet to formally announce the lineup for the No. 2 V-Series.R, although Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn were both named on the 2024 entry list when it was revealed last November.

Sportscar365 understands that Cadillac has no plans to announce a full-time third driver for the program to replace Richard Westbrook, who has departed the Chip Ganassi Racing-run team to race for JDC-Miller MotorSports in the WeatherTech Championship.

While Cadillac has the option of running only Bamber and Lynn in the six-hour races, a third driver would be required for the longer events, including the season-opening Qatar 1812km as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

CGR’s WeatherTech Championship full-timers Renger van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais would appear to be likely candidates to fill the seat for the Qatar round, although they would not be available for the subsequent races at Imola and Spa due to clashes.

Asked if he would be open to additional outings in the WEC by Sportscar365, van der Zande replied: “For sure. At the same time, if they run with two drivers it might be an advantage for their results.

“We’ll have to see, I’m not making those calls, but for sure I would like to drive more races if I can.”

Bourdais said on the subject: “They have options. Renger and I are available, they could call us up. We are Ganassi and Cadillac drivers. We are happy to help if they need us.

“It’s not something we have been asked about yet, but we are here if they need us. It’s pretty simple and easy.”

Action Express Racing drivers Pipo Derani and Jack Aitken may also be candidates to join Cadillac for the Qatar round as well as the season-ending 8 Hours of Bahrain.

“I think what they are doing is pretty smart,” Aitken told Sportscar365. “In six-hour races you don’t necessarily need a third driver. They have two great guys full-time in that car full-time, so they may not need the help.

“But if they do, GM has a great stable of guys.

“There have been no specific discussions, but I was with CGR at Spa last year, unfortunately I didn’t get to race because of Renger’s accident, but we get on great with CGR and vice versa. It would be fun.”

Tom Blomqvist, who has joined Derani and Aitken as a third driver at AXR in the Michelin Endurance Cup races this year, ruled himself out a role with Cadillac in the WEC owing to his full-time commitments in IndyCar with Meyer Shank Racing.

The four Cadillac WeatherTech Championship full-timers would be unavailable to fill the vacancy in the No. 2 car for Le Mans should the brand be granted two additional entries for CGR and AXR as it was last year.