Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA has officially unveiled its 2025 WEC driver line-up marking a significant transition as the team steps into the factory ranks.
This announcement comes as part of a strategic shift for JOTA, which has previously competed under the Porsche banner before announcing during the summer it will be teaming up with Cadillac Racing which doubles up its factory WEC effort next year
As Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA prepares for its third season in the highly competitive Hypercar category, it is set to field two Cadillac V-Series.R racecars, marking a strategic expansion of its factory program entries.
The all-new 2025 WEC driver line-up is poised to bring a blend of experience and youthful talent, aiming to make a substantial impact in the highly competitive Hypercar category.
Returning to the factory team are Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn, who have proven to be a dynamic duo over the past seasons. Their partnership has been characterized by strong performances and a deep understanding of each other’s driving styles, which is crucial in endurance racing where teamwork is paramount.
Both drivers have extensive experience in various racing series, including IMSA and WEC, and their familiarity with the Cadillac machinery will be pivotal as they strive for podium finishes in 2025.
“Joining JOTA is going to be a great step for the Cadillac project,” Bamber told FIAWEC.com. “They have really proven what they can do with the Porsche and just early interactions with the team have been positive.
“With me doing both WEC and IMSA, hopefully, we can accelerate their learning process because we were quick with Chip Ganassi Racing the last few races of the ’24 season.
“Hopefully we can transfer knowledge from that project and continue our strong showing at the end of the year and taking their knowledge from their project and combining all that into winning races in 2025 WEC.
Joining Bamber and Lynn at Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA is Sebastien Bourdais, a veteran racer with an illustrious career that spans multiple top-tier racing series.
Bourdais has previously co-driven the Cadillac V-Series.R in three WEC races and showcased his talent in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, where he secured two victories and two pole positions during the 2024 season.
The all-new Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA 2025 WEC driver line-up is further boosted by the inclusion of Will Stevens, Norman Nato, and the renowned 2009 Formula One champion Jenson Button.
Stevens has been a consistent performer in endurance racing, while Nato’s versatility adds depth to the team’s capabilities. Button’s involvement brings a wealth of knowledge from his extensive career in F1, making him an invaluable asset as Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA aims for success on the global stage.
“I’m delighted to be continuing my journey with Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA as they form their new partnership,” Button explained. “Racing with JOTA this season has been such a privilege as they’re a team steeped in success in endurance racing and an operation I’ve long admired.
“Those achievements and hard work have now led to this exciting next chapter seeing them partner with Cadillac, a marque which has already impressed with what it has achieved to date in both WEC and IMSA.
“The 2025 WEC driver line-up is pretty impressive. We bring our collective experience of working with the Cadillac platform and the experience of working with JOTA together. We have all the ingredients for a great season ahead.”
The specific driver pairings for the #12 and #38 cars will be announced closer to the season opener, which is scheduled for late February at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.
“It’s an honor for us to pair with such an iconic automotive manufacturer”, said David Clark, JOTA Sport director and co-founder.
“When you consider our collective records in the FIA World Endurance Championship, it’s very fitting that for the inaugural Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA driver line-up we have such an impressive breadth of world championship winning talent and experience.
“Cadillac’s pedigree in motorsport speaks for itself, and with these six drivers we will be in a strong position to challenge for race wins.”
Cadillac vice president Jon Roth added: “We look forward to a successful season with our new roster of V-Series.R drivers. Racing provides an important testbed for Cadillac to transfer knowledge and technology between racecars and production Cadillacs, and our 2025 WEC driver line-up is key to enabling this.”
The team will conduct a shakedown of its new Dallara chassis at the Anneau du Rhin circuit in France next week, allowing them to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the season opener on February 28 at the Qatar 1812Km race.
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