IMSA - VESTI VICTORIOUS AT PETIT LE MANS

Homemade pizzas from the team’s own crew! That’s how you celebrate a top-class victory at the legendary Petit Le Mans race 😉 the iconic 10-hour endurance race every sports car driver dreams of winning. Only one Dane had ever won it before in the fastest class. Tom Kristensen took the victory 20 years ago.

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It has just been an absolutely fantastic day. The car was flying. And so was I. I set the fastest lap of the race. We went into this weekend with big expectations after our win in Indianapolis. I truly believe we have the strongest team ever. The things we’ve been working on throughout the season are really coming together — both in terms of the car and the way we handle different driving styles as drivers. It’s such a pleasure to be part of a team where you keep improving! That’s what motivates me the most — feeling that I’m constantly evolving, becoming better than I was yesterday or a week ago.

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For Vesti, Petit Le Mans is one of his absolute favorite races — a tough track for both car and driver. A circuit that demands proper rest between stints.

Earl Bamber took over the wheel from Jack Aitken, who had qualified the car P2, and grabbed the lead about an hour and a half into the race. But Bamber inherited the car under tricky circumstances after a crash that left carbon debris everywhere — one piece got stuck in one of the tires, causing a puncture.

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From running P1, we dropped way back and had to make an extra pit stop. Yes, we had the pace, but at that point, it was going to take more than speed to win this race. We kept our cool and took it step by step. Earl drove a strong stint and got the car back into the top 2–3, but we were running low on fuel compared to our rivals because we’d been pushing SO hard. My job was to stay fast, but most importantly, to save as much fuel as possible to set us up for a better finish.

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I don’t have a lot of endurance racing experience. I decided not to go all out and overtake a rival. I chose to save fuel — the key factor in winning a race like Petit Le Mans. When the safety car came out, I took the lead. We had more fuel onboard compared to our competitors, so our pit stop was shorter. I made a deal with myself: do NOT look in the mirrors. All focus forward.

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Over the next 25 laps, Vesti pulled out a nine-second gap to his nearest competitor — all while still saving fuel. He handed over the car with good tires and the most fuel left in the tank, giving the team the best possible position for the final push.

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The last hour and a half was almost unbearable to watch from the sidelines. We were under maximum pressure, but Earl managed to build a gap. Everything clicked. After the final pit stop, we came out just one second ahead of P2 — and we held it to the finish. That’s the margin between success and failure. 

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The final stint, driven by the super-experienced Earl Bamber, secured the team’s historic, legendary victory — a back-to-back win following the triumph in Indianapolis just three weeks earlier.

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Two wins in a row means a lot to me personally, but also to the team, who hadn’t won since Sebring in ’23. It’s clear they’re really happy with the driver lineup we have. Jack Aitken is a top-tier qualifier, Earl Bamber is the most solid driver you could ask for, and I’m just really proud to be part of Whelen Cadillac Racing.

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Vesti ended the weekend as the fastest man at Road Atlanta — but for him, it’s not just about speed.

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Strategy. The planning and execution. That’s what excites me the most as a driver.

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The IMSA season is over — it's been a truly great adventure!