Jack Aitken doubted that both Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA entries would even reach Hyperpole for the Sao Paulo 6 Hours, let alone secure a one-two, given the closely matched field at the pinnacle of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
All 17 Hypercar entries were separated by less than 0.739 seconds during the opening segment of qualifying, yet both Cadillac V-Series.Rs advanced, occupying the top two positions in the early order.
The duo then led the Hyperpole session, with Aitken on track to claim pole in the No. 38 machine after posting a 1:23.089, only for Will Stevens in the No. 12 car to surge to the fastest time with a 1:23.041 on the session’s final lap.
The leading four times were clustered within a tenth of a second, and the result represented Cadillac’s second consecutive pole at Interlagos, following Alex Lynn’s pole last year and the team’s subsequent 1-2 in the race.
Reflecting on the moment before qualifying, Aitken admitted he expected a fiercely contested session and that the arrival of several new manufacturers had intensified the challenge, with a wide field of quick competitors in the Hypercar class.
He noted that with two cars from each maker in the running, Hyperpole spots fill up rapidly, but Cadillac executed its plan effectively and secured advancement.
Aitken recalled that Cadillacs had shown strength at this venue in the previous year, suggesting the track’s characteristics suit the brand to some extent, even as the field’s pace increased overall.
The Briton described the result as a strong rebound from the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Cadillac settled for a fourth-place finish after both JOTA-run cars had been contenders for victory at various stages.
He explained that the team had spent time digesting Le Mans, dissecting what could be improved, and that producing a strong performance here felt especially satisfying.
Aitken had to finish his Hyperpole run early following a mistake that forced him into the pit lane before the session ended, opening up the chance for his teammate Stevens to set the benchmark.
Stevens expressed happiness at achieving the first pole in the WEC for a Cadillacs-category entry in ten years, while acknowledging he does not fully understand the exact reasons behind Cadillac’s strength at Interlagos.
“I think we, as a team, have a solid grasp of these types of circuits,” he said, noting that their winning form last year laid a strong foundation and that the latest package still reflects a markedly different car.
“To lock out back-to-back poles and hopefully translate that into success again tomorrow demonstrates the effort this squad puts in, even with changes to the aero package, so credit to everyone involved.”
With forecasts hinting at rain for Sunday’s race, Aitken suggested that holding the top two positions offers the team more strategic options, though he stressed that they do not want to sacrifice either car simply to chase a rain setup.
