24 Hours of Le Mans 2024 – Perspectives by manufacturers: Cadillac
The first free practice sessions of the 92nd edition will start this Wednesday: the opportunity to assess, before the serious things begin, what the some fourteen manufacturers involved in Hypercar and LMGT3 can hope for. Having achieved a podium last year, Cadillac must react, after a season start devoid of success.
Two points in three races. Such is the balance of Cadillac, which will field three cars at Le Mans, compared to just one last year. Numbers 2 (blue), 3 (yellow), and 311 (red) will have the heavy task of repeating last year’s feat: third place.
The centenary edition had been quite complicated for the three cars at the beginning of the race: car No. 311 had hit the barrier on the Hunaudières and car No. 3, already broken down during the Hyperpole, was slowed down in its comeback by a crash, coming out of the Dunlop chicane. Car No. 2, on the other hand, had to thread the needle to secure the 3rd place.
This year, the V-Series R is well below where it could be: Cadillac is second to last among manufacturers and will have to bounce back at Le Mans this week. However, there are many reasons for hope, as the car had a brilliant pace at the beginning of the race. Before the big crash on the Kemmel straight.
This confirms that the American prototype is comfortable on high-speed tracks. Naturally, it is an advantage on a track like that of the 24 Hours. The BoP established for the occasion has put Cadillac above the minimum weight (1,036) for the first time this season, whereas it had remained at the regulatory 1,030 kg for three races.
Le Mans will have a local representative in the race: Sébastien Bourdais will be behind the wheel of the No. 3 car and will try to do even better than last year’s already unexpected 4th place, considering the incidents encountered.
