Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA has confirmed that Alex Lynn will return to 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) competition for the final two rounds of the 2026 season, while Ricky Taylor will join the No. 12 Cadillac V-Series.R at Circuit of The Americas.
Lynn will rejoin Will Stevens and Norman Nato for the 6 Hours of Barcelona from 16–18 October before completing the campaign at Monza from 6–8 November. Before then, two-time IMSA champion Taylor will strengthen the crew for the Lone Star Le Mans at COTA from 4–6 September.
The changes bring greater clarity to Cadillac’s No. 12 line-up after Lynn spent much of the season away from competition. The Briton continues a structured recovery programme ahead of his planned return, while Taylor already knows both Cadillac and JOTA through his existing involvement with the manufacturer.
Lynn targets return for Barcelona and Monza
Lynn originally planned to reunite with Stevens and Nato for the full 2026 campaign after the trio raced together throughout last season. However, he has remained away from competition while addressing an ongoing neck issue and underwent surgery in June.
Louis Delétraz previously stepped into the No. 12 Cadillac at Spa-Francorchamps and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, while Lynn concentrated on his recovery. Cadillac has now outlined a measured programme involving physiotherapy, physical training, testing and simulator work before his return in Barcelona.
Lynn expressed his excitement about returning to a team with which he has already achieved significant success.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to racing with Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA,” Lynn enthused. “I’ve had a long and thorough rehab period and over the coming weeks and months, I’ll be getting ‘race fit’ through a combination of physio, training, testing and sim work to make sure I’m at my best come Barcelona.”
His return will reunite the trio that delivered Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA’s breakthrough FIA WEC victory at São Paulo in 2025. Lynn has also established himself as one of the strongest qualifiers in the Hypercar field, claiming four FIA WEC pole positions.
Taylor steps into No. 12 Cadillac at COTA
Before Lynn returns, Taylor will join Stevens and Nato for the sixth round of the season in Texas. The American already possesses considerable experience with the Cadillac V-Series.R through his IMSA programme with Wayne Taylor Racing, giving him an established understanding of the machinery.
Taylor also knows JOTA’s operation. He drove for the Cadillac-JOTA partnership at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed before participating in the FIA WEC Rookie Test in Bahrain later that year. More recently, he competed alongside brother Jordan Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque in Wayne Taylor Racing’s Cadillac at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans, where they finished ninth.
His COTA appearance will nevertheless mark his first non-Le Mans FIA WEC start in almost a decade.
“I’m really excited to join Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA for COTA,” acknowledged Taylor, who placed ninth alongside brother Jordan Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque with Cadillac WTR at La Sarthe just over two months ago. “I’ve always been a big fan of the team and it was great working with them this year at Le Mans as a team-mate car.
“I know Will and Norman well from their time with WTR, COTA is an amazing track and it will be great to go back to Austin. Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA has been so strong all year – we’ve all been watching and cheering them on – and I’ll be doing my best to help contribute to another good result.”
Existing relationships should ease Taylor’s integration
Taylor’s familiarity extends beyond the car itself. Stevens and Nato both previously raced with Wayne Taylor Racing, giving the three drivers an existing relationship before they share the No. 12 Cadillac in Austin.
Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA Sporting Director Leon Price believes that experience should allow Taylor to integrate quickly into the programme while the team continues preparing Lynn for his eventual return.
“It’s great that Alex is recovering well and will be back racing with the team soon,” added Price. “There is a plan in place for him to build back into racing in a measured way, to rejoin us for the final two rounds of the championship. Alex has been an important part of the team for years, and we’re all looking forward to having him back.
“We’re also very pleased to have Ricky joining us for COTA. He’s someone we’ve got to know well through Cadillac and during this year’s Le Mans programme, and he already has a good understanding of how we operate. He’s an experienced endurance racer who will integrate quickly, and we’re looking forward to having him in the #12 car.”
Cadillac prepares for changing line-up through final rounds
The announcement gives Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA an experienced addition for COTA while allowing Lynn to continue his recovery without rushing his return to competition.
Taylor brings extensive Cadillac prototype experience and familiarity with both the team and his temporary teammates, making COTA a relatively natural opportunity for him to step into the No. 12 programme. Meanwhile, Lynn can concentrate on building his race fitness before returning for the European finale.
For Cadillac JOTA, the final part of 2026 will therefore feature two significant driver developments. Taylor will make his race debut with the squad on home soil in Texas before Lynn reunites with Stevens and Nato for Barcelona and Monza.
