Cadillac Locks Out Front Row For 6H São Paulo

FIA WEC Qualifying Report: Cadillac Secures Front Row at Interlagos

Interlagos, Brazil – Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA achieved a remarkable front row lockout in Hyperpole qualifying for the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Interlagos, with Alex Lynn clinching pole position for the #12 V-Series.R. Lynn’s fastest lap of 1:22.570 not only secured him pole but also eclipsed last year’s benchmark by six-tenths of a second.

Sebastien Bourdais followed closely, placing the #38 Cadillac in second position with a time just one-tenth off his teammate. "It feels great to be on pole again," Lynn remarked, emphasizing the importance of track position, as teammate Will Stevens noted, "We knew we needed to start up front."

The closest contender was the #5 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963, driven by Julien Andlauer, who qualified third with a time of 1:22.834. The Peugeots also displayed strong pace, with the #94 car securing fourth place and the #93 in sixth, behind the #20 WRT BMW.

Ferrari’s #83 499P stood out as the only representative from the Italian manufacturer in Hyperpole, finishing ninth. Driver Nicklas Nielsen commented on the challenges faced by their works cars that will start significantly further back in 14th and 17th positions. “To win the race we will need a miracle,” he stated, alluding to the competitive field.

Toyota’s struggles continued, with their #7 GR010 HYBRID unable to make it out of the bottom positions, clocking in at 1:24.153 for 11th place, and the #8 car starting 10th.

In the LMGT3 category, Eduardo Barrichello delivered a standout performance for Racing Spirit of Leman, achieving pole with a time of 1:33.849, marking the team’s first-ever WEC pole. "Such a special moment for me here," Barrichello said, highlighting the emotional significance of the event.

The AKKODIS ASP Lexus RC F teams narrowly missed the top, with Clemens Schmid’s #87 just 0.024 seconds slower than Barrichello. Iron Lynx and United Autosports also performed well, with the #61 Mercedes-AMG advancing to a top four position.

The race promises high stakes, with tomorrow’s action set to commence at 11:30 local time.

Key Qualifying Results

• LMP2 & Hypercars:

  1. Alex Lynn (Cadillac #12) – 1:22.570
  2. Sebastien Bourdais (Cadillac #38) – 1:22.674
  3. Julien Andlauer (Porsche #5) – 1:22.834
  4. Malthe Jakobsen (Peugeot #94) – 1:22.948
  5. WRT BMW (#20) – Position TBD
  6. Nicklas Nielsen (Ferrari #83) – 1:23.386
• LMGT3:
  1. Eduardo Barrichello (Aston Martin #10) – 1:33.849
  2. Clemens Schmid (Lexus #87) – 1:33.873
  3. Lin Hodenius (Mercedes-AMG #61) – 1:33.964

Upcoming Race Details

• Date & Time: Tomorrow at 11:30 AM Local Time

This qualifying performance sets the stage for a fiercely competitive race at Interlagos, highlighting the relentless pursuit of excellence within the WEC series.