Imagine the roar of engines, the smell of burning rubber, and the sheer adrenaline of a ten-hour endurance race! But what if I told you that despite a nail-biting victory, not everyone was celebrating? Get ready to dive into the dramatic 2025 Petit Le Mans, where Cadillac snatched a stunning win, but Porsche walked away with the ultimate prize: the IMSA GTP title. The race was an absolute thriller, packed with intense battles and unexpected twists across all four IMSA classes, leaving fans on the edge of their seats until the very last lap.
The Action Express team, spearheaded by Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, and Frederik Vesti, secured Cadillac's second consecutive Petit Le Mans victory. This is a huge accomplishment, showcasing Cadillac's continued dominance in endurance racing. But here's where it gets controversial… did their victory overshadow Porsche's strategic masterclass?
While Cadillac celebrated their hard-fought win, Matt Campbell and Mathieu Jaminet of Porsche Penske Motorsport clinched the coveted IMSA SportsCar Championship title. Their consistent performance throughout the season, culminating in a crucial third-place finish at Road Atlanta, proved to be the golden ticket. The #31 Action Express Racing Cadillac V-Series.R LMDh crossed the finish line a mere 5.1 seconds ahead of the #23 The Heart of Racing Aston Martin Valkyrie Le Mans Hypercar, driven by Ross Gunn, Roman De Angelis, and Alex Riberas. That's an incredibly tight margin after ten grueling hours of racing! It really highlights the level of competition in the IMSA series.
Campbell, Jaminet, and Laurens Vanthoor (who stepped in after Julien Andlauer fell ill – talk about last-minute changes!) secured third place in their #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 LMDh, which was more than enough to secure the championship. Porsche didn't just win the drivers' title; they achieved a clean sweep in the GTP class, also claiming the manufacturers' and teams' crowns, and the IMSA Endurance Cup with Nick Tandy and Felipe Nasr in the sister #7 PPM car. This complete domination really cements Porsche's place at the top of the sportscar racing world. Some might even say it was too dominant! What do you think?
The Action Express Cadillac demonstrated blistering speed throughout the majority of the 10-hour race, but they had to overcome an early setback to retain the Petit Le Mans crown, previously won by the Chip Ganassi Racing squad in 2024. Aitken, who qualified second, initially trailed pole-sitter Tom Blomqvist in the #60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 LMDh for the first two and a half hours. Aitken managed to build a lead of nearly 10 seconds before handing over the reins to Bamber just before the fifth of six safety car periods that punctuated the race.
And this is the part most people miss… Bamber then suffered a right rear puncture after running over debris on his outlap, forcing him to return to the pits under the yellow flags. This could have been a race-ending incident, but the team's quick work and Bamber's determination allowed them to recover to second place, behind the #6 PPM Porsche, now with Vanthoor at the wheel. The Action Express team then executed a brilliant pit stop strategy during the final safety car period with four hours remaining, allowing them to jump ahead of the Porsche.
Vesti then extended their lead over Dries Vanthoor in the #24 Rahal BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh, shared with Philipp Eng and Kevin Magnussen, which had also overtaken the Shank Acura. Campbell, in the Porsche, then fought his way past the BMW, closing to within a second of Bamber in the penultimate hour. However, after the final round of pit stops with just over an hour to go, the Cadillac driver, now with Jaminet at the wheel, was able to re-establish their advantage.
In a dramatic final hour, all the leading cars needed to make a splash-and-dash fuel stop, with the THOR team opting to make their extra pit call early. This promoted De Angelis to third place, behind the Cadillac and the factory Lamborghini SC63 LMDh with Romain Grosjean at the wheel. That became second when Grosjean, who shared the Lambo with Edoardo Mortara and Daniil Kvyat, made his splash with just five minutes remaining. The Lamborghini still managed to finish fourth, marking its final scheduled appearance. The best of the Shank cars finished fifth, with Blomqvist, Colin Braun, and Scott Dixon at the helm, while the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac, driven by Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, and Will Stevens, completed the top six.
In the LMP2 class, the #11 TDS Racing ORECA-Gibson 07, driven by Steven Thomas, Mikkel Jensen, and Hunter McElrea, took the victory, while PJ Hyett and Dane Cameron secured the class title in their AO Racing ORECA. Switching gears to the GTD Pro category, BMW celebrated a victory with the Paul Miller Racing M4 GT3 EVO, driven by Dan Harper, Max Hesse, and Neil Verhagen. The two Corvette Racing/Pratt & Miller Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs followed, with Nicky Catsburg, Tommy Milner, and Nico Varrone taking second place. However, the GTD Pro title went to Alexander Sims and Antonio Garcia, along with Daniel Juncadella, who secured third place.
The 2025 Petit Le Mans was a true spectacle of endurance racing, filled with drama, strategy, and incredible driving. While Cadillac secured a well-deserved victory, Porsche's championship win highlights the importance of consistency and strategic planning over the course of a season. But I have to ask: Did Cadillac deserve the victory, or was Porsche's overall performance more commendable? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
