After recent seasons in Formula E, including a win last year with Mahindra, and time served with Aston Martin Racing, including a GTE Pro win at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2020, Alex Lynn has made the hop over the Atlantic and will start with the Cadillac Racing Dpi squad as part of the full-season line-up put together by Chip Ganassi Racing, So Alex, how did this come about?
“It was a little bit left-field for me. But to be honest, when, a few years ago, I looked back on where I wanted my career to go and what I wanted to achieve within the next period of my life, I think this when this deal arrived for my table, I was very happy to take it and very interested.
“Because for me it’s about winning a lot of big sports car races. And I think certainly, today, right now and also in the future, this is going to give me the opportunity to try to achieve those objectives.”
Tell us a little bit about how you’re finding the team and the car, and how much time we’ve had in the car to this point?
“So I’ve had four days in the car. Two at Road Atlanta, and two before the Roar here in Daytona. Certainly, the team speaks for itself with their history and what they’ve achieved. So already, coming from European racing, you already know what Chip Ganassi Racing represents, and that’s winning, and being successful.
“So when you come and join that team, you know, what’s expected. Although it’s a very, very friendly team, very accommodating, I don’t think Chip chooses any drivers that wouldn’t turn up and get what he classes as the job done, which is winning. So from that side, it’s a great place to be and a fun place to be. But certainly, you can feel the energy that everyone’s here for one purpose.
I think I would be right in saying it’s more about it’s about more than just this year – Correct?
“Yeah, correct. It’s more for my side it’s about my future and where the landscape of sports car racing is going. And certainly, this is something that I’m very, very excited to be a part of going forward.”
It’s the full season in the US this season but there are a lot of unanswered questions at the moment about Cadillac and Chip Ganassi Racing. They have committed to both major Championships from 2023. Have they told you anything?
“To be honest, other than trying to get the job done this year no.
“I think where the future goes in terms of where anyone will be going. I think that’s certainly just still up in the air right now. I’m just loving the North American adventure. So yeah, where it goes, I’m not sure.
Pretty clearly the Rolex 24 Hours is a season highlight right away. What else are you particularly looking forward to?
I’m really looking forward to the California leg. So Long Beach, Laguna Seca. I think that’s going to be really special. But then there’s Mosport, Watkins Glen, you know all the races.
“It’s to be honest with you a dream programme. I’ve never really seen that much of North America, even when I was younger, I think I did like Disneyland once when I was a kid. Other than that, I’ve never been to America other than racing in Sebring.
“So to be honest I’m treating it as an adventure, as an experience. So that that for me is why I’m looking forward to spending a lot of time here, in between races, staying out and, and experiencing everything.”
So here we’ve got effectively Cadillac versus Acura. There’s also rivalry between the Cadillac teams, and there’s been no little needle involved at times!
“To be honest, I feel like when I did one race in 2017, I felt that the needle because that came off the famous 2017 Daytona end to the race with Action Express so I felt the intensity then.
“I think to be honest, when you’re part of Chip Ganassi, it’s a bit different. I think we’re just really focused on ourselves. And you know, this is a big, big thing for Cadillac right now and going into the future. So we’re here to represent the brand, do the right thing
“Across the paddock, everyone is super friendly, the paddock is open and relaxed. But of course, the difference is, is when the lights go out it’s totally the opposite. And that’s what’s kind of fun about it.”
How does this Series lend itself to such an atmosphere amongst its participants?
“I think it’s honestly the safety car rules. The cautions, you know, always keeping the race tight. You know, the, actually the circuits themselves lend to traffic being a problem, it’s always very tight and twisty on the some of the old school circuits.
“This weekend in general for instance, 61 cars around a quite short track. As many cars as Le Mans on a circuit, that’s maybe a third of the size. So that’s mental really.
“So then you think about what dynamic does that give it? A lot of craziness. But also fun, cars are very close in competitiveness. Every time there’s a caution a bunch gets put back together. In other aspects of sports car racing it’s a pure pace race. This is different.
“Since I decided to go on this journey I haven’t stopped smiling. It’s a different direction in my career, and away from Formula E. And I’m actually just super, super happy to be doing it.
