Jota is just not expected to participate within the World Endurance Championships post-season testing in Bahrain because it focuses on its factory program with Cadillac.
Team principal Dieter Gass has revealed that it’s “unlikely” that Jota will participate within the official one-day test on the Bahrain International Circuit on November 3, which can follow the ultimate round of the season within the Gulf country.
This signifies that the 8 Hours of Bahrain might be the last race of the Porsche 963 with Jota's title sponsor, Hertz.
This decision will allow him to pay more attention to preparations for the 2025 WEC season, when he’ll replace Chip Ganassi Racing because the Cadillac factory team within the series.
The British team, which accomplished the Hypercar World Cup in Fuji this month, can also be in talks with General Motors regarding private use of the automotive before the tip of the 12 months.
This test will happen a while after the season finale in Bahrain, when Cadillac may also end its partnership with Ganassi within the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
“We talk about it [but] it is not finalized yet,” Gass told Autosport when asked when the team would have the option to run the Caddy LMDh.
“Before the end of the season [in November]NO. [Before] hopefully by the end of the year.”
Gass explained that Jota and Cadillac must overcome many obstacles to arrange joint testing this 12 months.
“It's more of a peripheral issue [than anything else]- he said. “You must have a automotive, but we now have to have all of the tools to drive, spare parts and every thing.
“It takes preparation, and then we can start thinking about it.”
#2 Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R: Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn
Photo: JEP / Motorsport Images
Jota has been driving a Porsche 963 LMDh for a client since 2023 and took an outright victory at Spa in May this 12 months, sealing the championship for the privateer Hypercar teams with a round to spare.
The news that Jota would turn out to be Cadillac's recent factory WEC team was made official in August, when it was also announced that the team would enter two VR Series entries in 2025.
Gass added that there might be no contractual issues with Porsche regarding testing as Jota prepares to start a brand new chapter in its illustrious history at General Motors.
“We need to look at sports regulations, what is allowed to be tested and things like that,” he said. “I don't foresee any problems with Porsche.”
Sharing engineers
Cadillac has a powerful presence in IMSA, with Ganassi and Action Express Racing each fielding one VR Series within the GTP class.
The North American Championship will hold its final round of the season, Petit Le Mans, at Road Atlanta on October 12, three weeks before the WEC's title decision in Bahrain.
Asked if there’s a plan to send Jota engineers to an IMSA race to grasp how the VR Series works early on, Gass said: “It's very possible something like that is occurring. [With] tests [yes]we now have to see [if it is possible in] racing [as well].
#2 Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R: Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn
Photo: JEP / Motorsport Images
“Again, every thing must be confirmed, but I believe there may also be a staff exchange [and] potentially American engineers [will] Join us.
“Maybe for us, because of personnel constraints, it’ll not be as easy for us to go to IMSA[asIMSAengineersgoingtoWECsothatwedon'tgetintotroubleswiththeregulationsthere[jakinżynierowieIMSAudającysiędoWECabyśmyniemieliproblemówztamtejszymiprzepisami[asIMSAengineersgoingtoWECsothatwedon’tgetintotroubleswiththeregulationsthere
“But with testing and things like that, it probably will happen.”
In IMSA, Wayne Taylor Racing and Andretti will leave the Acura stable in 2025 to exchange Ganassi as one in every of Cadillac's factory teams.
The team, which has an extended history with the American marque, will field two GTP entries next 12 months, while AXR will proceed to run a single automotive.
