The Starting Grid of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2025

This Saturday, June 14 at 4 PM, the Cadillac surprise will take off from the front two positions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

A historic first for the American brand, which has never achieved pole position at the 24 Hours of Le Mans before. A surprise? Not really. Since the Test Day, Cadillac has undergone rigorous preparation. Last Sunday, while Toyota and Ferrari dominated the times, the V-Series.R completed multiple laps: 253 laps, which is over 3450 km combined for the four cars entered (#311, #12, #38, #101).

From the free practice sessions, the surge in performance was confirmed. The two prototypes managed by Jota Sport made it into the Top 10 Hypercar in each session. The #12 set the fastest time in qualifying, and the #38 dominated the free practice 1. Their pace is solid, both for single laps and during longer stints. Even at Whelen, the performance is there. Jack Aitken proves this: he set the Hypercar track record in 3’22″742, making him the benchmark since the category’s introduction in 2021.

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After disappointing qualifying results, the three Ferrari 499P cars entered by AF Corse will start from the back on the grid. They are efficient but discreet in testing, relying on a feared top speed shared by all competitors to aim for victory over the duration of the 24 Hours.

Only three drivers went under 3’23 this week: Aitken, Alex Lynn (3’22″847), and Dries Vanthoor (BMW M Hybrid V8 #15, 3’22″887). The duel with BMW promises to be intense, especially since both brands share a chassis designed by Dallara. BMW will start 4th and 6th, and Porsche 3rd and 5th. All have logged significant mileage in testing.

But it is Cadillac that has made an impression. With its golden liveries tinged with red and black, the American brand appears fully ready. Now it’s a matter of confirming this dominance over the distance. The verdict in 24 hours.

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