How Cadillac Frantically Worked To Rectify Its Le Mans Hypercar Quickly After Fire in Qualifying

The 24 Hours of Le Mans presents a unique challenge like no other race on the planet. The track, an eight-mile-long circuit primarily comprised of public roads, poses a significant test for mechanics and drivers alike. However, before being able to compete at Le Mans, qualification is a must. Following the third-fastest time set during Friday’s Hyperpole qualifying round, the No. 3 Cadillac Hypercar suffered a fire incident and had to withdraw from the session. This led to an intense effort by the Chip Ganassi Racing team to prepare the No. 3 for race day, while also ensuring the other two Cadillacs were clear of any similar issues.

Encountering a significant problem like this between qualification and race day is highly undesirable. Fire not only destroys things visibly but also alters the molecular structure of various components due to extreme heat. Carbon fiber bodywork, metal fluid lines, rubber hoses, and other composite materials can all suffer severe damage, even if they outwardly appear “fine.”

Reconditioning the car for 24 hours of racing demanded the combined expertise of both Ganassi Racing and Cadillac, who promptly sprang into action once the car returned to the pits. At Le Mans on Saturday, I spoke with GM’s Propulsion Lead Engineer Adam Trojanek and LMDh Vehicle Technical Lead Aaron Pfeifer, who concurred that the recovery process commenced with Sebastien Bourdais’ adept reaction when the fire erupted.

“In such scenarios, Bourdais knew precisely how to act,” Trojanek mentioned. “Driver training plays a crucial role—he skillfully pulled over, turned off the car, and started to extinguish the fire.”

“Drivers and the series conduct meetings where they educate and instruct about the locations of fire crews around the track and their corresponding [station] identifiers,” Pfeifer added. “This way, drivers are informed on how to promptly reach assistance if they encounter a fire. While any incident of this nature poses a challenge for the car, the driver’s response is pivotal in mitigating the damage.”

Upon the return of the No. 3 to the pits, the team swiftly commenced disassembling it and conducting a comprehensive inspection. Although the team claimed the damage was “minimal,” they opted to replace the engine as a precaution. Additionally, the bodywork and numerous other affected softer components also necessitated replacement.

“Our initial focus was on identifying the root cause,” Trojanek explained. “Once we pinpointed the source, we swiftly checked the other two cars to prevent a recurrence. The subsequent emphasis was on replacing components to ensure readiness for race day.”

“With the car dismantled, we carried out a meticulous visual inspection part-by-part,” he added. “Due to the fire extinguishing agent being spread over the components, initial visual assessment was challenging, but eventually, we achieved a clear visual. Subsequently, we conducted physical inspections to assess stiffness and other characteristics.”

Thereafter, the primary challenge mostly revolved around logistics. According to Trojanek, the repair alone necessitated an additional minimum of eight hours of work. Opting not to work overnight due to the arduous race ahead, the team split the tasks, completing some immediately after the fire and the remainder on Friday. The extended repair duration also included the collaborative efforts of chassis-maker Dallara, GM Powertrains, and Ganassi to ensure the availability of essential components for a successful outcome.

In the end, the No. 3 successfully participated in the Saturday afternoon warm-up session, undergoing a thorough diagnostic assessment of the new components. It will commence the race from the eighth position, with the No. 2 Cadillac starting sixth, and the No. 311 from the 12th position.

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