The New Zealand driver Earl Bamber has looked back on an intense season of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, focusing not only on his personal performance but on the collective success of the team. Despite missing a race due to a scheduling conflict, Bamber was essential in Action Express Racing‘s triumph with his #31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R.
The season marked a clear domination by Cadillac, which achieved the titles for manufacturer, team, and driver. Although they did not secure the overall victory in the final race at Petit Le Mans, they secured an extraordinary eleventh IMSA manufacturer title, the fifth since 2017. The foundation of this success was established at Michelin Raceway Road America, where Bamber and Aitken delivered a masterful performance that left the championship out of reach for their rivals, allowing Aitken to secure his first GTP crown by merely completing a lap in the final race.
Bamber, who gave up his seat to Frederik Vesti at the Long Beach race, finished fourth in the overall standings while Aitken claimed the individual title. Despite not being present at that crucial race, Bamber felt a great responsibility with every turn he took at the wheel. “I am very proud of everything we have achieved,” he commented. “Joining the team from the beginning and now winning these championships is a great pride. Feeling the pressure for the team and for Jack every time I am in the car is what has driven me”.
Regarding the final race, Bamber acknowledged that not everything went as expected, but he emphasized the importance of Cadillac and General Motors’ overall triumph. “It’s clear that we wanted to fight for third place, but things don’t always go as we expect. The global project continues and we have more goals to achieve,” he said.
Bamber also made a brief mention of the 24 hours of Le Mans, where he, Aitken, and Sébastien Bourdais showed great strength until a power steering problem eliminated their options after 218 laps. “We want to win at Le Mans, and this year we’ve been really competitive. We feel it as a shared responsibility with everyone at Cadillac,” he added.
While recalling the fun moments, Bamber laughed when reminded of Aitken’s comment about having to treat him to a beer for his support in the championship. “He owes us some watches for that race at Daytona, where we finished second in a tight battle against Porsche Penske Motorsport,” he said with a smile.
Reflecting on the season, Bamber defended the significance of consistency in endurance competitions. “What makes winning a championship special is maintaining consistency throughout the season. Wins are important, but we will remember that Cadillac and Jack won the championship this year, and that’s what matters.”.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
