Cadillac Dominates Le Mans Qualifying, But Doubts Linger

Pole Position Doesn’t Guarantee Victory in French Endurance Classic

Despite securing a stunning front-row lockout in qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Cadillac Racing faces a sobering reality: translating pace into a race win will be a monumental challenge. Veteran driver Sébastien Bourdais expressed skepticism about the team’s chances, citing concerns over Balance of Performance and potential sandbagging from rivals.

Qualifying Triumph Masks Underlying Concerns

Cadillac Jota secured the top two starting positions, with Alex Lynn claiming pole position in the #12 car. Jack Aitken piloted the #311 Cadillac Whelen to second place, while Bourdais qualified the #38 entry in third. No other competitor managed to lap within three-tenths of a second of the fastest Cadillac during the Hyperpole sessions.

“Some people aren’t showing what they’re doing, what they can do. We’ve seen two or three things we don’t like at all regarding some people’s performance, and clearly, they’re keeping their cards damn close to their chest.”

—Sébastien Bourdais, Driver

The concerns stem from observed discrepancies in top speeds. According to data from the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, the average speed on the Mulsanne Straight is a critical indicator of race performance, with higher speeds generally correlating to better lap times. In 2023, the winning Porsche 963 achieved an average speed of 135.06 km/h (83.92 mph) over the entire race distance. Le Mans 2023 Statistics

Balance of Performance and Strategic Gamesmanship

Bourdais believes that the current Balance of Performance (BoP) regulations are hindering Cadillac’s ability to fully exploit its qualifying pace. He fears that rivals may be deliberately holding back during qualifying to gain an advantage in the longer race. He specifically questioned the performance of Ferrari, suggesting they were not showcasing their full potential.

“No, and I still don’t believe it. I think they’re making fun of us. Toyota has made mistakes. Anyone can make a mistake. But Ferrari is making fun of us, that’s for sure. When you see what Yifei [Ye] did on his first lap on a green track with 45kg or 50kg in the [#83] car – he set a very first time in 3m23.9s. At some point, come on! Okay, it makes for nice stories and all, but they’re taking the piss.”

—Sébastien Bourdais, Driver

Despite the pole position for the sister #12 car and second place for his own #38 crew, Bourdais remains pessimistic about the race outcome. He acknowledges the strength of competitors like Porsche and Toyota, predicting a challenging 24 hours ahead.

Looking ahead, Bourdais tempers expectations, stating that a top-five finish would be a successful result, while a podium would be “incredible.” He concedes that a victory would be highly unexpected given the current circumstances.