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 Sรฉbastien Bourdais expressed skepticism about the teamโs 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.
โSome people arenโt showing what theyโre doing, what they can do. Weโve seen two or three things we donโt like at all regarding some peopleโs performance, and clearly, theyโre keeping their cards damn close to their chest.โ
โSรฉbastien 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 Cadillacโs 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.
โNo, and I still donโt believe it. I think theyโre making fun of us. Toyota has made mistakes. Anyone can make a mistake. But Ferrari is making fun of us, thatโs 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 โ he set a very first time in 3m23.9s. At some point, come on! Okay, it makes for nice stories and all, but theyโre taking the piss.โ
โSรฉbastien 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 โincredible.โ He concedes that a victory would be highly unexpected given the current circumstances.