Cadillac Explores Racing Options For 2015 Season
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As the arrival of the next-generation Cadillac CTS-V begins to draw closer and Cadillac Racing’s current CTS-V.R model slowly grows longer-in-tooth, the brand is exploring its options for the future of its V-Series GT racing ventures. Cadillac Racing took the Pirelli World Challenge drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships home to General Motors the past two seasons, but has yet to confirm its return to the series for the 2015 season.
“We’re committed to GT and there’s variations in GT and we’re looking at all of them,” Cadillac Racing technical program manager David Caldwell told Sportscar365. “There’s a huge amount of global opportunity in GT3 and a lot of potential success there but it’s not the only strategy to play. Our options are open for a couple different directions to go.”
Cadillac Racing’s current CTS-V.R car is legal for World Challenge competition until the end of the 2016 season. An influx of FIA-spec GT3 cars this year with more downforce and more complex aerodynamics has added an extra level of difficulty to the series for Cadillac, the CTS-V.R being only one of two cars on the grid not built to GT3 specifications.
It’s been rumored that Cadillac was looking to enter FIA GT3 competition with a GT3 car of its own, however Caldwell wouldn’t comment on the matter to Sportscar365 and denied that a decision has already been made.
“At this point, we want to keep all of our options open. We want to look into all of the series, all of the classes and all of the variations and want to make the best decisions to deliver on the goals for Cadillac,” he said.
Some think Cadillac, who is looking to slowly integrate itself into the luxury segment in Europe, should enter various race series in Europe to help drum up excitement for the brand. European consumers have been witnessing Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi compete and win in Europe for years, so the idea is seeing a Cadillac alongside them on the grid would contribute positively to brand image.
Additionally, Cadillac V-Series and Racing Marketing Manager, John Kraemer, said “no major changes” would be made to the Cadillac Racing program for the 2015 model year. We take that as indication the team will return to Pirelli World Challenge competition with the same Pratt & Miller-built CTS-V.R racecar.
“The success that we’ve seen here and seeing the series (Pirelli World Challenge) grow, it’s been a good thing to be a part of,” Kraemer said. “I don’t see any drastic changes.”
Kraemer also said the automaker was interested in starting a customer racing program similar to what Porsche and Ferrari does, but recognized the number of challenges starting a customer racing program would present.
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A few Caddy’s racing in European championships is LONG overdue for a brand that wants to become a key player in that region. I think this needs serious consideration by Caddilac’s top brass. As for the Pirelli World Challenge cars, maybe going over to GT3 spec will help them stay firmly at the top where they belong.
I was at the WC race last week and spent some time with the Cadillac team. The thing that really got me about the CTS that ran against Audi. Ferrari and Benz was the sound.
I told my buddy the CTS sounded like a pro stock car.
Later we were talking to the lead driver Johnny O Connell and I told him the car sounded amazing. He agreed and said it sounds like a drag car. I told him it was a shame the car did not get that sound on TV.
Pratt and Miller has done a great job with the Corvette and now with the Cadillac and needs to build on this work.
You would be amazed how much of the original car is still there under the skin. Yet it did come down he GM line as any other production Cadillac as a body in white.
The real question is what do they race next year as they will lose the coupe since it will be out of production. Will they kepe with the old body or move to a sedan or ATS coupe?.
Would be very interesting to see which model and spec P&M go with for the 2015 WC series. Just wish i lived in the US to see these cars in the flesh. This is why i am so keen to see the brand race in the UK and Europe. If i were wealthy enough, i would even set up my own privateer team to run these awesome yet little known of cars.
Like i mentioned previously, GM really need to launch Cadillac into Europe in a big way if they want a slice of the BMW/Audi/Merc-Benz pie. These brands all appear in Europes 2 top racing championships (DTM and BTCC) and surely have a good effect in terms of sales. Cadillac need to bring Cadillac racing to The German DTM with a CTS-VR and the British BTCC with an ATS-VR not to mention many of the other series that could be joined also.
They could but first they need to reorganize their dealership and have their own stores, offer fuel efficient power trains (mostly diesel), more smaller models such as wagons and offer LHD models. Until then, Cadillac and GM should not bother racing over seas because it will be a big waist of money if GM is not fully committed to Europe like they are now.