Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA heads to the second round of the 2026 WEC in Spa-Francorchamps determined to turn promise into results after a frustrating outing at Imola. Despite showing clear podium potential in the opening round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship, the team left Italy without the finish it deserved. Now, with valuable data and renewed confidence, Cadillac prepares to reset its campaign at one of endurance racing’s most iconic circuits.
Imola promise ends in frustration
At Imola, Cadillac demonstrated genuine competitiveness in the Hypercar category from the outset. Norman Nato secured fifth place on the grid in Hyperpole, setting the stage for a strong race performance. Shortly afterwards, Will Stevens reinforced that momentum with an impressive opening stint, taking the fight directly to the leading contenders.
Stevens applied relentless pressure on the front-runners, even setting the fastest lap as he chased down Ferrari and Toyota rivals. Crucially, he overtook Miguel Molina to claim third position early in the race, underlining the car’s potential. However, a drive-through penalty for a yellow flag infringement changed the complexion of the race.
As a result, the #12 Cadillac dropped down the order. Around a circuit where overtaking remains notoriously difficult, recovery proved almost impossible. Consequently, Stevens and Nato crossed the line in 13th place—far below what their pace had promised.
Delétraz steps in for 2026 WEC Spa challenge with Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA
Looking ahead to Spa, Cadillac will field a revised line-up in the #12 car. Louis Delétraz joins Stevens and Nato, replacing Alex Lynn as he continues his recovery from a neck procedure. This change introduces fresh energy while maintaining strong familiarity within the team.
“Being part of the Cadillac family will make the adaptation easier,” opined the Swiss star, who is a member of the American marque’s GTP class assault in the US-based IMSA series, to FIA WEC. “Adding to this, Will and Norman are good friends and have raced with each other for several years. I’ve competed against JOTA many times in the past and they’ve always been hard to beat, so I’m looking forward to being with them at Spa.”
Importantly, Team JOTA carries positive memories into the Belgian round. The squad made history at Spa in 2024 by becoming the first privateer team to win outright in the Hypercar era. Stevens played a key role in that landmark victory, and he now aims to replicate that success.
“I’m looking forward to getting back on-track so soon after Imola,” the 34-year-old remarked. “We can take a lot of positives from that first race, despite not getting the result we could have achieved. We welcome Louis into the #12 line-up whilst Alex is still recovering. Norman and I both know Louis well, so we’re confident we can get off to a successful start together at Spa. It’s always an awesome track to drive, and I can’t wait to get going!”
Strong foundations across both cars
Meanwhile, the sister #38 Cadillac also showed encouraging signs at Imola. Sébastien Bourdais and Earl Bamber fought through the field from 13th on the grid to finish eighth, securing valuable points in the process. At Spa, they will be joined by Jack Aitken, who prepares to embark on his first full FIA WEC campaign.
“Racing at Spa is a real treat,” enthused 2023 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTP category champion, Aitken. “It’s a fantastic and historic track, and being close to the UK, we always get a lot of friends and family making it over, too. The team had a strong showing in the first race, which gives us a solid foundation for Spa. We’re continuing to learn more about our aero package and working to extract as much as we can from it in the run-up to Le Mans.”
With both cars showing competitive pace, Cadillac enters the weekend with a solid base to build upon.
Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA confident ahead of 2026 WEC Spa showdown
Spa-Francorchamps presents a very different challenge compared to Imola, featuring high-speed corners and technical sections that demand precision and balance. Nevertheless, Cadillac believes its package can perform strongly across these varied conditions.
“Spa is a great track to drive,” echoed Bourdais, who finished sixth in the Ardennes last year. “It’s challenging and has a mix of everything – high-speed corners, medium-speed corners and it’s very technical. Imola showed the potential we have, so we’ll be aiming for another strong weekend. If we can start further up the grid, it looks like we may be able to hold our own and fight for podiums.”
Ultimately, Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA arrives at Spa with a clear objective: convert speed into results. While Imola exposed the fine margins that define endurance racing, it also confirmed the team’s ability to compete at the front.
Therefore, with a strengthened line-up, growing understanding of the car, and confidence drawn from past success at the circuit, Cadillac stands ready to fight for a place on the podium—and potentially more.
