One-time Components 1 starter Jack Aitken will be part of Cadillac’s World Endurance Championship line-up subsequent yr, changing the retired Jenson Button on the manufacturing facility Jota staff.
Aitken, who has been representing the GM marque within the IMSA SportsCar Championship since 2023, will share the #38 Cadillac V-Collection.R with incumbents Earl Bamber and Sebastien Bourdais.
This would be the Briton’s first full marketing campaign within the WEC, though he has already made 4 appearances within the Le Mans 24 Hours – together with three with Cadillac within the Hypercar class.
The 30-year-old started integrating with the Jota staff ultimately weekend’s Bahrain rookie check, the place he shared the automobile with Ricky Taylor.
Aitken will mix his newly introduced WEC commitments with one other marketing campaign in IMSA’s GTP division after ending second within the championship this yr. He’ll as soon as once more staff up with Bamber on the wheel of Motion Specific Racing’s Cadillac LMDh, with Mercedes F1 reserve Frederik Vesti becoming a member of the duo at endurance occasions.
Wednesday’s announcement virtually definitely signifies that Aitken received’t return to the DTM for a fourth marketing campaign with Emil Frey Racing in 2026.
“I’m very appreciative that Cadillac has that belief and are keen to offer me the chance,” stated Aitken.
“It’s very thrilling for me personally as a result of I’ve by no means raced within the WEC and I’ve by no means raced with JOTA, regardless that we’ve come shut a few instances and have had a relationship that’s now coming to fruition. They’ve improbable individuals – from the drivers to the workers – and it’s a staff that has had success in WEC.
“I’m excited to attempt to take what I’ve discovered in IMSA at Motion Specific and convey that throughout to attempt to push issues ahead. I’m excited to begin the yr and to double up on my time within the Cadillac V-Collection.R.”
#38 Cadillac Hertz Crew Jota Cadillac V-Collection.R: Jenson Button
Picture by: Shameem Fahath / Motorsport Community
Aitken’s addition marks the one change to Jota/Cadillac’s driver line-up within the WEC, with Alex Lynn, Norman Nato and Will Stevens remaining as a trio within the #12 entry.
Lynn has been representing Cadillac as a manufacturing facility driver for the reason that last yr of IMSA’s DPi period in 2022, whereas Stevens has loved an extended relationship with Jota courting again to its LMP2 days. Nato first joined Jota in 2024 when it ran a pair of Porsche 963s on a buyer foundation.
Jota and Cadillac had been trying to find a brand new driver to interchange Button ever because it turned clear that the 2009 F1 champion would retire from skilled motorsport on the finish of his two-year contract with the staff.
A number of drivers together with 2019-20 Components E champion Antonio Felix da Costa and present Alpine driver Mick Schumacher had been into account for the vacant seat earlier than Jota/Cadilla finally chosen Aitken.
Schumacher got here near securing a twin programme with Cadillac that might have seen him be part of the American marque’s new F1 staff as a reserve driver, however the deal collapsed previous to the WEC’s go to to Austin in September.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Jack Aitken to our 2026 WEC Cadillac Hertz Crew JOTA driver lineup. Jack brings distinctive velocity, technical perception, and a fierce aggressive spirit that completely enhances the staff,” Cadillac Racing program supervisor Keely Bosn stated.
“Our 2026 roster really displays the energy in continuity. With drivers competing throughout each IMSA and WEC, we’re constructing a unified program that drives shared efficiency and improvement. I’m genuinely excited concerning the depth, expertise, and power this lineup brings to the season forward.”
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