Penske exploring return to WEC Hypercar field as a Cadillac privateer

Team Penske is exploring a shock return to the FIA WEC's Hypercar class as a privateer, RACER understands from multiple paddock sources.

The American motorsport giant, which previously competed in the WEC's top category as the service provider for Porsche's 963 program between 2023 and 2025, is looking for a way back to the world stage so owner Roger Penske can once again fight for a first overall Le Mans 24 Hours win.

This return to the WEC is understood to be linked with Cadillac, with the team looking into privately operating a single V-Series.R (shown during initial testing, main pic) alongside the existing Hertz Team JOTA factory set-up. This would add a second privately-funded car to the class alongside AF Corse's No. 83 Ferrari 499P and allow the FIA WEC Hypercar World Cup for privateer entries to return if both cars were on the grid.

This evaluation follows discussions that RACER believes took place earlier this year between Cadillac and Team Penske to run a V-Series.R as a one-off at Le Mans after Porsche's decision to withdraw from Hypercar and focus solely on IMSA GTP at the end of the 2025 season.

Roger Penske has had his eye on a Le Mans win for a long time, a major race he hasn't yet won overall as a team owner. He remains particularly motivated to return as soon as possible, as prior to Porsche's exit, he came achingly close to winning it, finishing second on the road to Ferrari's No. 83 499P last year.

Penske is considering running a single privateer Cadillac alongside the factory JOTA-run squad (above). Jakob Ebrey/Getty Images

The WEC grid would have room for a single Penske Cadillac as soon as 2027, though the program looks unlikely to debut before 2028. The current field is 35 cars, and the maximum grid size, believed to be 40 cars, would reach 39 with the return of Signatech's A424 LMDh programme if a Chinese brand resurrects it (now highly unlikely), and McLaren and Ford's Hypercar programs debuting next year.

RACER made an enquiry to Team Penske at Petit Le Mans, with a senior source confirming that it is "exploring and evaluating" opportunities to return to Hypercar in order to pursue Roger's Le Mans dream, adding that "right now, there's no concrete plan for us to return to the WEC next year."

The source noted too that Penske remains "satisfied with our partnership with Porsche," which is ongoing in IMSA GTP.

RACER also reached out to Cadillac for a statement on the story and received a polite "no comment".

As for Cadillac's plans for Le Mans next year, reigning IMSA GTP champion Action Express Racing previously confirmed to RACER that it plans to return to the event to race alongside JOTA's factory cars and add to General Motors' Hypercar presence with Cadillac after a year away.

Fellow Cadillac GTP team Wayne Taylor Racing, which made the trip to France this year in AXR's absence, told RACER it does not expect to be at La Sarthe, allowing AXR to make its fourth visit.

“I would love nothing more than to go back. But I think it’s Gary’s (Nelson) turn," team owner Wayne Taylor said.

Penske isn't the only organization looking to return to the WEC in the coming years, as Lamborghini revealed to RACER earlier this month that it is targeting a return to the LMGT3 class with the new Temerario GT3 platform.