The first Pirelli World Challenge Series Sprint-X race in 2017 is set for this weekend at Virginia International Raceway. The SprintX format comprises a 60-minute races that require at least one pit stop and a driver change, so Cadillac Racing has brought on Cadillac DPi-V.R drivers Jordan and Ricky Taylor to drive their two ATS-V.Rs alongside Michael Cooper and Johnny O’Connell Saturday. Strangely, though, the team has yet to confirm the driver pairings for the two SprintX races.
“Cadillac Racing will declare its driver pairings just prior to the first of two races on Saturday,” Cadillac said in a press release. “Jordan and Ricky Taylor have tested with the team in the late winter, but the team is going to take the data collected in the free practice time leading up to Saturday to declare which of the Taylor brothers will join Cadillac PWC series regulars Johnny O’Connell and Michael Cooper.”
The Sprint-X Championship points will be tallied separate from the Pirelli World Championship points for 2017. The Sprint X races, which will also be held at Mosport, Lime Rock, Utah and Circuit of the Americas, attract competitors from outside the PWC series due to the relative cost of running a short schedule. As such, the Cadillac drivers are expecting stiff competition at VIR.
“I think it’s going to be a very tough race,” Jordan Taylor said. “There are lots of strong cars, teams, and driver line-ups. I have a lot of confidence in our guys. The Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupes always run strong, and I think the endurance style event should suit us even better.”
The first Sprint-X race of the weekend will go green on Saturday, April 29th at 3:30 p.m. ET, with the second scheduled for Sunday April 30th at 2:40 p.m. Click here for a full schedule for VIR and here to view the full SprintX entry list.
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