Jack Aitken drives WEC rookie test for Cadillac: Does this seal his DTM exit?

(Motorsport-Total.com) - The signs are mounting that Jack Aitken will not be competing in the DTM next season: The Emil Frey Ferrari driver, who fought for the DTM title until the finale in 2025, has been announced by the World Endurance Championship (WEC) as a Jota Cadillac driver alongside Ricky Taylor for the rookie test this coming Sunday as part of the season finale in Bahrain ( all information on TV times, stream, etc. ).

This suggests that the 30-year-old Briton, in addition to his continued involvement with Action Express Cadillac in the US IMSA series, which was confirmed a week ago, will now also take over Jenson Button's WEC seat at the Jota factory team in the #38 Cadillac V-Series.R. The former Formula 1 world champion has announced his retirement – ​​and this could give his successor the opportunity to work with the Jota factory team.

"This will be another good opportunity for the Cadillac programs to cross-pollinate - and I am looking forward to working with the Cadillac Team Jota after seeing them in action at Le Mans earlier this year," Aitken is quoted as saying ahead of the rookie test.

Emil Frey team boss: "There was a good chance that a double program would take place"

"We've had dealings with each other several times before, but it's good to try out their car myself and see how things are going in the WEC." To be able to prepare for the upcoming season?

Quite possibly, because Cadillac already knows how Aitken performs in the V-Series.R hypercar. The Briton, who has been a factory driver for the General Motors brand for years, has been piloting the LMDh car in the IMSA series and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2023. Cadillac therefore doesn't need to use the rookie test to check whether Aitken is fast enough.

What does all this mean for the Emil Frey team? Team boss Lorenz Frey-Hilti was surprised to hear about it. "The chance of this double program happening has always been very high, but I'm not sure if it's now 100 percent certain," the Swiss national told Motorsport-Total.com .

Why Cadillac's double program is incompatible with DTM

Frey-Hilti, however, praises the open communication with Aitken. "Jack has always been very transparent. And it was also clear from our side that we would have to find another solution if he was going to take on the double program," explains the Emil Frey team boss.

And this is despite the fact that the DTM has no scheduling conflicts with either the WEC or the IMSA series. "We want a driver who focuses on the DTM. Sure, he doesn't have any scheduling conflicts, but what if you can't test anymore? It was already often a big challenge. We don't want that anymore – and he knew that."

Aitken was therefore informed that "we have been looking for a replacement for some time now," Frey-Hilti clarifies. "The signs were already very strong that he might have a double assignment, which we naturally find regrettable, because the experience he gained on the vehicle over the past few years is very valuable."

Aitken on a possible DTM exit: "I would miss it too"

Furthermore, Frey-Hilti lamented the loss of the former Formula 1 driver, saying they had "a score to settle" with Aitken "because he did a solid job right up to the last races of the season." Indeed, Aitken was fully on course for the title this season before bad luck and his own mistakes in the final stages cost him the championship in his third DTM year.

Aitken himself would have liked to drive a fourth DTM season with the Emil Frey team, according to his own statement. "I would miss it too," said the Emil Frey Ferrari driver at the season finale in Hockenheim. "I really enjoy being here, especially now that we're truly competing at the top." However, he added that clarity would only come in the coming months.