Cadillac Conquer Watkins Glen | Sahlen’s Six Hours Delivers Classic IMSA Chaos

Cadillac Conquer Watkins Glen ISMA

If there’s one race on the IMSA calendar that reminds fans why endurance racing is different—

it’s Watkins Glen.

Six hours.

Four classes.

Constant traffic.

Strategy calls.

And enough cautions to completely rewrite the race multiple times.

This weekend’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen delivered exactly that as Cadillac Whelen emerged victorious after surviving one of the most chaotic endurance races of the season.

Cadillac V-Series.R 2026 Race Liveries

The No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R driven by Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, and Felipe Drugovich controlled large portions of the race and converted pace into victory after six demanding hours around the legendary Watkins Glen circuit. The result marked Cadillac Whelen’s second consecutive IMSA win at The Glen and strengthened their championship momentum heading into the second half of the season.

But this wasn’t a straightforward endurance victory.

Far from it.

Watkins Glen delivered nine full-course cautions across the race, constantly resetting strategies and forcing teams to adapt on the fly. Track position changed repeatedly as pit windows opened and closed while multi-class traffic created opportunities—and mistakes—throughout the field.

Coming into the weekend, the GTP category had been building into one of IMSA’s strongest championship battles of recent years. Pole position went to Jack Aitken after a record-setting qualifying performance, immediately signaling Cadillac’s pace before race day even began.

Once the green flag dropped, though, raw speed wasn’t enough.

The No. 31 crew managed fuel cycles, restarts, and traffic better than anyone else and stayed composed while rivals lost time through incidents and changing race conditions.

That’s what Watkins Glen rewards.

Not the fastest six laps.

The fastest six hours.

Behind the overall battle, the race again showcased why IMSA’s multi-class format remains one of motorsport’s most entertaining products. GTP prototypes carved through GT traffic while GTD and GTD PRO battles unfolded simultaneously across the field, creating nonstop action from opening lap to checkered flag. The event brought together a 54-car field across GTP, LMP2, GTD PRO, and GTD categories—one of the deepest grids of the season.

Overall Winner at Watkins Glen IMSA

🥇 No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.RDrivers: Jack Aitken / Earl Bamber / Felipe Drugovich

As IMSA moves deeper into the endurance calendar, Watkins Glen may become one of those races teams look back on later in the year.

Because six hours at The Glen rarely rewards perfection.

It rewards execution.

Class Winners: GTD PRO & GTD Deliver Their Own Endurance Battles

While Cadillac controlled the overall race in GTP, some of the closest competition of the weekend happened deeper in the field.

In GTD PRO, Vasser Sullivan Racing w/ Dreyer & Reinbold converted pole position into victory with the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 driven by Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat. After six hours of traffic, strategy calls, and repeated caution periods, the Lexus squad remained composed and finally returned to victory lane for the first time since Sebring 2024.

GTD PRO Podium

🥇 No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 — Jack Hawksworth / Ben Barnicoat🥈 No. 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO🥉 No. 64 Ford Mustang GT3

Watkins Glen Classes LMP2 GTD GTP

Meanwhile in GTD, Porsche added another major result to an already strong endurance weekend.

Manthey 1st Phorm claimed victory with the No. 912 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992), driven by Ryan Hardwick, Riccardo Pera, and Richard Lietz. Fuel strategy became the deciding factor late in the race as teams attempted to stretch their final stint, but Manthey executed cleanly and delivered Porsche another endurance win.

GTD Podium

🥇 No. 912 Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) — Ryan Hardwick / Riccardo Pera / Richard Lietz🥈 No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche🥉 No. 068 CarBahn Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo

That’s one of the reasons IMSA works so well.

Even when the overall winner dominates the headlines, completely different races are unfolding throughout the field—and sometimes the best battles happen outside the lead.

First Sector Verdict

Watkins Glen delivered exactly what endurance racing fans love.

Fast prototypes.

Traffic.

Unpredictable strategy.

And a race that stayed alive until the final hour.

Cadillac had the speed—

but more importantly—

they had the discipline to finish the job.