Cadillac Celebrates Historic Win in São Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil – Cadillac made history at the 2025 6 Hours of São Paulo, securing its first victory in the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). The Hertz Team JOTA showcased dominance with a 1-2 finish, as the #12 V-Series.R, driven by Alex Lynn, Will Stevens, and Norman Nato, crossed the finish line 57 seconds ahead of the sister #38 car piloted by Sebastien Bourdais, Earl Bamber, and Jenson Button.
Starting from pole position, the #12 Cadillac led for the majority of the race, displaying superior pace throughout the six-hour event. This victory also marked the end of Ferrari’s four-race winning streak, with only the #83 499P earning points, finishing eighth.
Despite an early drive-through penalty for running low tyre pressures, the Cadillac team overcame adversity. The race began competitively, with the #5 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 briefly leading, but both Cadillacs soon took control by the second hour, effectively pushing the Porsches back.
The #5 Porsche completed the podium in third place, finishing just 1.8 seconds shy of the #38 Cadillac after a solid but unsuccessful attempt to overtake Bourdais in the closing laps. The companion #6 Porsche finished fourth, while the #20 BMW rounded out the top five after overcoming a late challenge from Loic Duval in the #94 Peugeot.
In total, the Hypercar race was noted for its clean execution with no significant incidents or retirements, though the #15 BMW did encounter a braking issue that resulted in its long pit stop. Tire strategy issues were also less pronounced than in previous years, with the majority of teams opting for Medium compound tires.
In the LMGT3 category, AKKODIS ASP celebrated a significant milestone, securing Lexus’s first WEC victory with the #87 RC F LMGT3, driven by Jose Maria Lopez, Clemens Schmid, and Petru Umbrarescu. The team effectively converted pace into a consistent race showing, finishing 35 seconds ahead of the second-place #81 TF Sport Corvette.
Tense battles in the closing minutes saw Charlie Eastwood of the Corvette navigate past Michelle Gatting in the #85 Iron Dames Porsche, further intensifying the race atmosphere. The championship-leading Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche crew managed a solid sixth place, maintaining their lead in the standings against competitors.
Overall, the event not only marked Cadillac’s breakthrough in the Hypercar class but also solidified the competitive nature of this WEC season.
Further developments and insights are anticipated as teams prepare for upcoming races.
