Cadillac Eyes Success at Sebring as Momentum Builds
In a continuation of its storied performance at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Cadillac remains a formidable contender in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Having won five of the last nine editions, including the inaugural GTP race in 2023, Cadillac is poised to challenge Porsche’s dominance in the top class.
Frederik Vesti of Action Express Racing is focusing on building on last year’s momentum. Despite not having secured a podium at Sebring yet, Vesti has shown marked improvement since joining the sportscars scene. “The car is strong here… I think the bumpy surface probably suits the Cadillac quite well,” Vesti stated, emphasizing the importance of strong night practice as key to race success.
Last year, the Whelen-backed #31 Cadillac V-Series.R led 155 laps but lost momentum after nightfall. Vesti, who drove alongside Jack Aitken and Earl Bamber, expressed his enhanced confidence: “I feel so much more relaxed and happy in the car,” noting significant growth since his debut.
The team enters the Sebring race weekend following victories at Indianapolis and Road Atlanta, and a second-place finish at Daytona. Vesti aims to leverage this recent success, highlighting his experience as an advantage.
Veteran driver Ricky Taylor, who secured Cadillac’s first overall win at Sebring in 2017, is also optimistic. After a difficult start to the season due to an engine failure at Daytona, he believes the team’s second-year progress with the Cadillac is evident: “It’s a night and day difference in how the car rides the bumps,” he remarked.
Wayne Taylor Racing fielded two cars in the top five during the first practice session at Sebring, showcasing their readiness. Taylor underscored the complexity of adapting to Cadillac’s LMDh platform: “The systems are one thing, but the cars need to be in a precise window.”
Both Vesti and Taylor highlighted the importance of performance in traffic, with Taylor stating, “Finding performance in traffic was really important for the team and for Cadillac.” As the race weekend unfolds, both drivers will look to capitalize on the depth of their preparation and enhance Cadillac’s legacy at Sebring.
