Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA’s V-Series.R made history last weekend, as the American prototype racer became the first FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar to turn high-speed demonstration laps at the annual Goodwood Members’ Meeting.
JOTA Sport, in its maiden campaign as the Cadillac ‘works’ team in FIA WEC, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025 as well as two decades of competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In recognition of this dual milestone, the team sent some of its most notable cars to Goodwood’s 82nd Members’ Meeting.
Alex Lynn and Will Stevens both took to the wheel of the #38 Hypercar around the iconic British circuit. Mating a 5.5-litre engine to an electric motor, the V-Series.R’s party trick is to start up in silent electric mode before firing up its V8 powerplant with a guttural roar once underway – a combination that thrilled spectators in Sussex.
“I have a deep fondness for Goodwood and cherish our history there,” commented Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA co-founder and director, David Clark. “It’s always a pleasure when JOTA participates in events at Goodwood.
“This year is particularly special for everyone at JOTA Group, our race team and our talented colleagues at JOTA Composites and JOTA Engineering. Introducing our Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R on UK soil at this iconic venue, in front of a fantastic audience, was a tremendous honour and undoubtedly a highlight of our 25th anniversary celebration.”
The Members’ Meeting marked the first appearance of the Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA Hypercar in Europe, following the Anglo-American alliance’s competitive debut in the 2025 FIA WEC curtain-raiser in Qatar in February.
The squad looked to be firmly in the mix for a podium finish if not better at Lusail International Circuit, only for an unfortunate collision to remove both cars from victory contention. Hopes are high for a happier ending in round two – the 6 Hours of Imola in Italy – this weekend (18-20 April).
The team conducted two productive test days around the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in mixed weather conditions last month, with the objective of optimising car set-up and evaluating how best to navigate a demanding 4.909km, 21-turn lap that blends high-speed straights with tight chicanes and elevation changes.
“Overall, Imola is a very different challenge [to Qatar],” mused #38 driver, Sébastien Bourdais. “There were some nice gains during the test. The car was a lot more compliant and predictable and had much better pace, so it’s all encouraging. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do on the heels of a pretty strong first weekend that didn’t end up how we wanted. We’ll keep digging and see what we can get.”
“Imola is such an iconic, old-school track with not much run-off, plus gravel traps and big curbs – and traffic management is always tricky there,” added countryman Norman Nato, one of the drivers of the sister #12 Hypercar.
“Many fans attend the weekend, and I’m looking forward to racing at Imola for the first time with the Cadillac V-Series.R. We’re still early in the development of the new Cadillac-JOTA association, but we’re making good progress every time we hit the track. We are all working hard as a team, and we will keep pushing to reach our target and get ready for Le Mans in June.”
