New Zealand drivers starred at the 28th annual Petit Le Mans, with Earl Bamber, Jack Aitken, and Frederik Vesti claiming a thrilling GTP class victory in the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, while Hunter McElrea, Steven Thomas, and Mikkel Jensen dominated the LMP2 class, securing the 2025 LMP2 championship in style.
Under glorious Georgia sunshine that stretched into the night at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Bamber and his co-drivers crossed the line 5.182 seconds ahead of Roman De Angelis, Ross Gunn, and Alex Riberas in the No. 23 Aston Martin THOR Team Aston Martin Valkyrie.
The win capped a dramatic season for the Whelen Cadillac team, following their previous triumph at the Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis.
“This was a true IMSA race,” said Bamber.
“The team kept me informed, the strategy was perfect, and winning these last two races has been incredible. It’s been a real team effort from Cadillac and everyone involved.”
Aitken’s pace was a key factor throughout the weekend. He qualified the No. 31 Cadillac on the front row and led early stints before Bamber took over. Despite a mid-race puncture under caution, Bamber drove a ferocious comeback, slicing through the 12-car GTP field to reclaim the lead by the six-hour mark and maintain control to the finish.
In the LMP2 class, Kiwi rookie Hunter McElrea and his co-drivers Steven Thomas and Mikkel Jensen delivered a dominant performance.
After Thomas lost the Motul Pole Award due to a post-qualifying technical infringement, he battled from the back of the field to hand McElrea the lead, with Jensen bringing the No. 11 TDS Racing ORECA LMP2 07 home 48.9 seconds ahead of their nearest rivals.
Their victory also secured the 2025 LMP2 championship, giving the Kiwi trio a perfect end to the season.
“It was emotional,” Thomas said of his final IMSA race.
“Starting at the back and finishing on top felt like a dream. Ending my IMSA career with a win like this is incredible.”
Jensen added: “Finishing on top with Steven and Hunter, and creating memories for life, is just amazing.”
Bamber, Aitken, and Vesti’s GTP triumph also marked Cadillac’s fifth win at Petit Le Mans and vaulted Aitken from sixth to second in the driver standings.
Meanwhile, McElrea’s LMP2 victory cemented his position as one of IMSA’s rising stars, capping a season of consistent excellence.
With Kiwi drivers taking top honours in both the GTP and LMP2 classes, the 2025 Motul Petit Le Mans was a memorable showcase of New Zealand talent on the world endurance stage.
Header Image: IMSA
