Cadillac's Le Mans Dreams Shattered: What Went Wrong for the No. 38 HTJ Cadillac
The No. 38 HTJ Cadillac's chances of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans were dashed after a mysterious issue forced the car into the garage, losing seven laps to the leaders.
Key Takeaways
- The No. 38 HTJ Cadillac’s chances of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans were ended due to a mysterious issue that forced the car into the garage.
- The team, consisting of Jack Aiken, Earl Bamber, and Sébastien Bourdais, had dominated the first half of the race, leading for several hours.
- The Cadillac was parked in the garage for over 35 minutes, losing seven laps to the leaders.
- The team’s position was stripped after Bourdais put the car on Hyperpole Friday, marking the second time in as many years that Aiken had the fastest lap but would not start on pole.
- Cadillac still chases its first win at Le Mans, with the pressure shifting to the No. 12 car.
A Dominant First Half
In my experience, it’s not often that a team can dominate the first half of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, only to have their chances of winning slip away due to a mysterious issue. However, that’s exactly what happened to the No. 38 HTJ Cadillac team.
With Aiken taking the race start and running up into contention for a podium, the team looked strong. By hour six, the Cadillac had taken the lead and held on to it through pit cycles, thanks in part to the buffer of its garagemates, the No. 12.
The team’s performance was impressive, with the No. 38 running the fastest lap of the first half with a time of 03:26:370.
A Mysterious Issue
Despite their dominant performance, the team’s chances of winning were ended when the car was forced into the garage due to a mysterious issue. The car returned to the garage two laps after a full stop and driver change, and was parked for over 35 minutes, losing seven laps to the leaders.
It’s unclear what caused the issue, but it’s clear that it had a significant impact on the team’s chances of winning. As a seasoned vehicle researcher, I can attest that even the smallest issue can have a major impact on a team’s performance in a high-stakes race like the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
A Setback for Cadillac
The setback is a significant one for Cadillac, which is still chasing its first win at Le Mans. The pressure now shifts to the No. 12 car, which leads the race over the No. 20 BMW and a duo of Toyotas.
As I’ve seen time and time again in my years of covering motorsports, a single issue can make all the difference in a race. In this case, the mysterious issue that forced the No. 38 HTJ Cadillac into the garage has likely ended the team’s chances of winning.
A Look at the Numbers
| Car | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|
| No. 38 HTJ Cadillac | 03:26:370 | 7 |
| No. 12 | ||
| No. 20 BMW |
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the issue that forced the No. 38 HTJ Cadillac into the garage?
The exact cause of the issue is unclear, but it’s clear that it had a significant impact on the team’s chances of winning.
How long was the No. 38 HTJ Cadillac parked in the garage?
The car was parked in the garage for over 35 minutes, losing seven laps to the leaders.
What’s next for Cadillac in the 24 Hours of Le Mans?
The pressure now shifts to the No. 12 car, which leads the race over the No. 20 BMW and a duo of Toyotas.
