Cadillac has announced it will return to endurance racing in 2017 with the debut of its new DPi-V.R racecar.
The new racecar is built to IMSA’s Daytona Prototype international specifications, which will replace the Daytona Prototype cars beginning in 2017. Both Action Express Racing and Wayne Taylor Racing will field the DPi-V-.R, with AXR making a two-car effort and WTR fielding a single car.
Surprisingly, Cadillac has opted to use a 6.2-liter V8 engine in the DPi-V.R. rather than the twin-turbocharged LF4 V6 found in the Cadillac ATS-V.R touring car. The V8 will produce around 600 horsepower as per IMSA Balance of Performance Rules and will be linked up to an X-Trac six-speed sequential transmission. Cadillac has selected Dallara to build the chassis for both AXR’s and WTR’s respective machines.
“Cadillac is proud to return to the pinnacle of prototype racing in North America after a 14-year absence,” Cadillac boss Johan de Nysschen said in a prepared statement.
“Cadillac’s V-Performance production models — the ATS-V and CTS-V — are transforming our brand’s product substance, earning a place among the world’s elite high performance marques,” he added. “The Cadillac DPi-V.R further strengthens our V-Performance portfolio, placing Cadillac into the highest series of sports car racing in North America.”
Cadillac last competed in a major professional endurance racing series in 2002 with the troubled Northstar LMP program. The Northstar LMP’s best-ever finish came in 2001, when the two factory-backed cars finished 3rd and 4th at Mosport in Ontario, Canada. Cadillac also brought its Northstar LMPs to Le Mans, achieving a best finish of ninth and 12th overall in 2002.
The Cadillac DPi-V.R. will make its on-track debut during IMSA’s two-day pre-season test at Daytona International Speedway on December 13th and 14th. It’s competition debut will come at the 2017 24 Hours of Daytona on January 28th and 29th.
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Comments
Look’s pretty sweet, first thing that comes to mind is C8 test bed?
Not anything close to a C8. This is a true high tech race car and not some test bed for a street car.
Well I see here a card being played from the Audi Deck. Not only does this car look like one of the Audi cars but it is the same thing they did to promote their line and in time their Diesel engines.
I would suspect Cadillac will run the Chevy based engine to start as it is reliable as the day is long. They will work this car for a year or so with it to make it competitive. Once the chassis is up to the task look for them to get the Cadillac V8 in the car once it is ready. It will promote the engine they use in production cars and help promote the brand. The engine is the only thing really linked to the car in this class.
Audi did the same thing with their Diesel race cars and it worked well till they got caught on emissions.
The last prototype Cadillac race car failed mostly due to a new chassis and a new production engine. They both left them with a car that was not up to the task while they were sorting out engine issues. This approach is the right way.
Pratt and Miller will head up a GTLM class car for Corvette. Next year will be the C7 but I would expect a C8 a year later. I would day they are already working on it as it will take them a 2 years to get the car ready from paper to track. They have a long history with mid engine cars so it should not be too dramatic.
Working the rules and rules changes will be the drama.
So nothing learned or developed from this program will ever see the light of day or make it’s way to the C8?
Right!!!
You are confusing a full blown race car chassis that has nothing to do and nothing shared with the production car here.
Just as the Indy car program contributes nothing to the Corvette this too will contribute nothing to the Corvette.
This program will be a marketing tool for Cadillac and if and only if they chose to use a Cadillac based engine in the future there really little even remotely Cadillac here other than the block in this car may be shared in some way with the CTSV.
If you want to draw any kind of comparison as I pointed out look to the GTLM class once Pratt and Miller enters a C8. That one is the car that may share somethings but even with it that car will still be heavily modified.
If you do not believe me just look a the rules and content of these cars and you will see the truth.
Feb 2, 2016:
PONTIAC, MI – General Motors opens the doors to its new Powertrain Performance and Racing Center, a $200 million advanced testing and development hub for accelerating the transfer of technology between the racetrack and the showroom.
Hum, that can’t be true, Can it?
http://m.wardsauto.com/engines/new-gm-powertrain-facility-speed-engine-tech-transfer
Same can be said about hi-performance mid-engine chassis development, I guess GM has enough of that to just slap one together for the C8 and just start selling it to the public.
It’s going to have a 6.2 liter V8 and you think nothing from that came from or more importantly, will make it to the street?
OK!
Might note the head lamps mimic the coming sedan to a degree. No wreath is carried over too. While not a production nose it does give a hint as the direction of a little of the styling points.
Meh,at least the Corvette DP cars looked like a Vette in the front and rear,this just looks like another generic race car,guess I will be a fan of Trans Am next year.
Scott3, I was going to say these same thing.