IMSA MEDIA CONFERENCE

October 3, 2026

Eric Warren

Chris Mitchum

Earl Bamber

Jack Aitken

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Good evening, everybody. Pleased to be joined by the first group of many to come in here this evening. Our championship-winning team, manufacturer, driver in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, GTP class.

Let's start with the manufacturer Cadillac. Dr. Eric Warren, vice president of Motor Global Sports Competition for General Motors.

Eric, if you could speak to the achievement of both programs individually, Cadillac to Corvette.

ERIC WARREN: I think for General Motors and Cadillac, it really just comes down to great partners that we had. We had really two great teams this year. We worked on this Team Cadillac approach. Really the consistency the Cadillac team has shown has been incredible. The performance at every track starting at Indy last year, we were talking about Cadillac, I think we've been on the podium 10 races in a row there. Other than the end of Road America...

Couldn't be more proud of the work that's been done. These cars are tough to race, the competition, different manufacturers racing against. It's a great honor for GM, Cadillac. Same thing with Corvette. What a battle that's been. A little bit rougher than I'd like to see probably.

It's been exciting. The Corvette Z06 GT3.R really has come into its own the last year across IMSA, WEC. Really proud of that championship. Came down to the wire there, as well. It's great to have another championship. That car is just incredible. Couldn't be more proud.

THE MODERATOR: We'll slide over to our team champion, Chris Mitchum.

Chris, congratulations. Obviously a very, very strong season for the team. Just what made the difference for you guys this year? Why did it go so well?

CHRIS MITCHUM: I think, to back up, it sounds awesome. Pretty incredible to hear. I don't think it will sink in until tomorrow. We're focused trying to pull off a win.

Thinking beyond that, really it comes down to execution, having the tools to do the job. We're so fortunate to have had such a long partnership with GM all the way dating back to the GRAND-AM and DP time to now.

Those tools that we get from -- we say we're a good partner, the reality is it truly is a one-team approach. We would not be sitting here in this position without our partners at Wayne Taylor, how much effort they've put in. We've truly grown as one team. I think we can always get better.

I can't unfortunately tell you all of our successes this year, but I can list seven of our missed opportunities if you look at tonight. I think that's what racers are. Same cliché, but it's true when you live it. We hate losing more than we want to win. I think that's what drives everybody in our team.

I think our drivers will back me up when I say our pit crew was phenomenal tonight. Can't say flawless. Definitely had our moments. Everybody does. It's about how you recover. I think what made the difference this year is when we weren't able to finish on the top step, we were resilient, we recovered and got the most out of it we could.

Kind of alluding to what Eric pointed out with the number of consistency in the podiums, that was really the secret to the championship this year.

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with our driver Earl Bamber.

Earl, talk about your sense of pride for being a part of this, what this team accomplished.

EARL BAMBER: Just really proud to be part of the whole thing. Joining the team last year, it was really a building year. We did a lot of work. Then all of a sudden the floodgates opened at Indy, we went on this amazing podium streak.

It was all the hard work in the background, from the team guys at the workshop, the drivers, then the effort that Cadillac has put in. Everyone sees the teams execute the races, but no one sees the massive amount of hard work and effort that everyone from the tech center, General Motors, a new aero kit this year, so much work going on here and for the WEC. I think you can see across all the programs we're just slowly raising the bar every single week.

So it's nice to get this championship for the manufacturers and the drivers. Everyone's focus is the last two WEC races and on to Daytona. Everyone is hungry to get a win there.

THE MODERATOR: Sliding over to our second driver, Jack Aitken.

Jack, obviously you had to get off the grid. How relieved were you to do that? Once that happened, take us through the emotions of the last 10-plus hours.

JACK AITKEN: I mean, the start of the day was a little bit more stressful than usual. Recalled lap was very steady. I usually have unwavering faith in the EV launch on the Cadillac V-Series.R. I was really praying that it didn't let me down this one time, and it didn't. Got off the grid.

Yeah, a bit of a weird feeling winning a championship rolling to the green. It's been a fantastic year, which we've all mentioned, the incredible consistency we've had as a brand, as a team. 10 podiums in a row for Cadillac. We've been up there for quite a few of them.

I could not have done it without my teammates. It does feel a little bit bittersweet that Earl couldn't be with me because, honestly, he should be. Missing that one race, sort of it doesn't really mean anything to me. He should be right up here. That's a shame.

It's been a fun year because we've been flawless, the crew has been flawless. The one-team approach has really helped us. The car has come on leaps and bounds in the last four years since we won in 2023. Yeah, like Earl says, just looking forward to going and attacking Daytona. It's a special win for me.

THE MODERATOR: We'll go to questions.

Q. Jack, you mentioned the cars coming by leaps and bounds. As well as you. For you, when did it start to click that a championship run like this could be possible?

JACK AITKEN: In a way, this time last year when we surprised ourselves by finishing second with such a strong end to the year with our back-to-back wins in Indy and here.

I think it sort of showed us we were ready as a team to go on a streak like we have done. The pieces have been in place for a long time, but we needed a little bit of luck and things to fall in place to really get going with results on paper. That's how it is in racing always.

I don't think we expected it to go quite as long as it did. Yeah, as we went through the first races of the year, had a few near misses in terms of winning, but we were always there, always on the podium, fighting with the top guys, whoever they were. It became clear pretty quick that we were on to something pretty special this year.

Q. Earl and Jack, incredible year with eight podiums, nine races. Any race that stands out to you being particularly meaningful to the championship, one of the wins or effort?

JACK AITKEN: I think the home win at Detroit was a bit of a watershed moment for us. I think we, like I said, had a few near misses early on in the season. We were happy with what we were doing.

Like Chris says, we're racers. Not being on the top step is a bit grating, and being in here and giving reasons why we were still happy but would be a bit happier if we would have been on the top step was also getting a bit old. To finally get the win at home with friends and family all around at the home of GM was a pretty awesome weekend, I think it's fair to say.

Q. Earl, obviously Jack alluded to the fact it's bittersweet to him to not share the overall championship with you. What are your emotions in this moment?

EARL BAMBER: I'm just really proud of what we've achieved. Like joining the program at the very beginning, first time to drive the car on a roll-out, and now to be winning all these championships. To get Jack his first championship, 'cause I missed that one race, every single time you're in the car, you're feeling that weight on the shoulders because you missed one race, so you want to get it done for him and the whole team. It was really nice to get that.

But yeah, we were trying to fight for third tonight, didn't quite go our way. Sometimes that happens. We've also got a bigger picture. We're on the global stage as well with the global championship. There's still a lot of boxes to be ticked. We want to get that first Le Mans win. We were really, really strong this year. I think we could all taste it.

What's amazing, everyone at Cadillac, Corvette, GM, everyone's racers from the very top to everyone in the program, right? We all want to go get wins. That makes it special to go racing with these guys.

We didn't win tonight. I'm sure everyone is thinking how we're going to go win the next one. That's what makes this group special.

Q. Said he owed you a beer.

EARL BAMBER: He owes us watches (smiling).

Q. Jack mentioned a drop round potentially. How would that particularly work? How do you feel about that?

EARL BAMBER: I like the fact you have to be very consistent in the championship. At the end of the day, race wins are really good, but championships are what makes it. You're the most consistent team, manufacturer, drivers throughout the year. You can do some really bold moves sometimes and win a race. That measured attack, approach, of what you're going to do throughout a whole season to win a championship makes it all something special.

Not to be harsh, but I'm sure no one in three years' time is going to remember who won one of the 2 hour 40 minute races this year. They'll remember forever that Cadillac and Jack won the championship this year.

Q. Chris, ties Action Express with Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing. Obviously those two organizations are storied in motorsports. What does it mean for this team to be mentioned in the same breath as those guys?

CHRIS MITCHUM: I mean, a tremendous honor, right? You're talking about some of the strongest teams in the sport, I think that everybody knows, globally.

I think having Action Express' name partnered with a global, dominant brand like Cadillac, we really came into the season with that pride as part of our program already.

I've been fortunate enough to be with Action Express for 13 years now. Our team manager, Gary Nelson, has a very straightforward racing approach. That's why I like working here.

Hindsight, he's great, but he always shows up late. I think our racing approach of always fighting for the win every opportunity we get has gotten us to a point where we can be compared to. I would have to be completely honest that it's more of an honor to compete against those groups than it is to be compared against them.

But to know that the numbers are stacking up in our column, I think it's a testament to all the men and women that have put Action Express together. There's a number of people that you'd want to call out and say how long and how much effort they put into it.

We've been through a rotation of people, for sure. At the top it's always been Gary Nelson and Iain Watt; our crew chief, Bill Keuler; and our shop foreman, Brian Hay. Have all been there longer than myself. We've all been together since 2014. That bond has allowed us to get to where we are.

Maybe I'm not saying it clearly, but I don't know that I'm the one that should be able to take that credit, to be honest. I think all the people that have worked at Action Express over that many years to make it happen have given us that opportunity.

What's more exciting from what you just said is that we've have an opportunity next year to take that next step and stand there on our own with eight championships. That will be our goal.

THE MODERATOR: Gentlemen, thank you. Appreciate you coming in. Congratulations.