A masterclass at Watkins Glen: Cadillac dominates as the crowds return

It was supposed to be a weekend dictated by the skies over New York’s Finger Lakes, but the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen turned out to be a masterclass in controlled aggression. While drivers like Ricky Taylor and Nicky Catsburg had braced for the typical, volatile Watkins Glen weather, the race remained blissfully clear. Yet, the track lived up to its chaotic reputation. Nine full-course cautions tested the nerves of every team on the grid, with an early, nasty collision at the “Esses” knocking out both the No. 60 Acura of Colin Braun and the No. 23 Aston Martin of Roman De Angelis.

At the sharp end of the field, the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen machine was simply untouchable. Jack Aitken, alongside Earl Bamber and Frederik Vesti, navigated the narrow, high-speed 3.4-mile circuit to secure a second consecutive win. This wasn't just another victory; it was a record-extending eighth consecutive podium for the team in the GTP era. With a 203-point lead in the standings, Aitken remains the one to catch, though the 24-year-old German Laurin Heinrich continues to be a revelation, rallying the No. 5 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche to a hard-fought third place after earlier tyre disaster.

Perhaps the most poignant moment of the weekend came from the GTD PRO class. Racing under the Vasser Sullivan w/Dreyer & Reinbold banner to honor the late Dennis Reinbold, Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat ended a two-plus-year winless drought for the No. 14 Lexus. It was a victory clearly fueled by something deeper than just race pace. Seeing the stands packed from the “Esses” to the “Boot” at Watkins Glen only confirmed what we already know: the appetite for this era of IMSA racing is absolutely insatiable.