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Cadillac Racing V-LMDh Shows Promise At 2023 24 Hours Of Daytona

The all-new V-LMDh racer fielded by Cadillac Racing for the IMSA circuit made its first competition showing at the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona. Racing alongside rivals in the newly formed GTP class, the V-LMDh proved that it will be a formidable competitor on the endurance racing scene, as the three Caddy-badged entries finished third, fourth and fifth.

The No. 01 Cadillac Racing machine, driven by Sebastien Bourdais, Scott Dixon and Renger van der Zande for this event, rallied back from an incident that put it two laps down. Dixon was forced to brake in order to evade a spinning race car from another class, taking rear damage as another competitor was unable to avoid the No. 01 V-LMDh. Repairs to the bodywork followed, putting the No. 01 V-LMDh off the pace. A drive-through penalty was also assessed to Dixon later on after leaving the pits with the fuel hose still attached.

“Obviously, we didn’t run the perfect race but as close as you can get to it considering it was the first outing in a race for the Cadillac V-LMDh,” Bourdais said of his team’s performance. “Honestly, I just didn’t think it was going to take the perfect race.”

Pipo Derani, Alexander Sims and Jack Aitken co-drove the No. 31 V-LMDh at Daytona. The No. 31 Caddy was involved in a wreck that damaged its suspension, prompting a lengthy repair that put the team 12 laps down. “It’s just one of those things and one of those races where you have to be there at the end and unfortunately, we got crashed by a GT,” said Derani. However, once the repairs were made, the No. 31 V-LMDh bounced back to a decent finish, though it never really got the chance to shine.

Meanwhile, the No. 02 Cadillac Racing team, which competes in World Endurance Championship, was driven by Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn and Richard Westbrook to a fourth-place finish on the lead lap, without incident.

Overall, Cadillac Racing said that it was pleased with the performance of the new race car. All three vehicles crossed the finish line, and none of them displayed any sort of mechanical or hybrid unit issues.

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Alexandra is a Colorado-based journalist with a passion for all things involving horsepower, be it automotive or equestrian.

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Comments

  1. Forgive my ignorance in the sport please. What do they mean, “hybrid unit”?

    Reply
    1. Many race car classes are now incorporating electrical drive components. Motor-generators tied to turbosuperchargers and the front wheels. The improved efficiencies allows additional power available while using the rule limited fuel quantities. The competition has driven technologies for permanent magnet motor-generators, the control electronics, electrical power storage.

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    2. Rolf the hybrid system actually works this way. It will move the car from stop in the pit to the top speed of the electric motor on pit out. The driver then engages the clutch and then the engine bump starts like popping a clutch in a street car.

      Once on the track the electric motor will charge the battery and also power the car as they have no alternator. You lose the hybrid you lose the gas engine due to no power.

      If you saw the race the cars launch fast but little to no wheel spin.

      There are no turbosuperchargers like in the case of the Cadillac that runs the Chevy V8.
      There is no front drive either. These are all few cars with the hybrid unit incorporated in the transaxle.

      They all use the same unit from Williams and they can tune differently for the different engines.

      They do not add additional power or really make much difference in fuel range other than on pit road.

      They may in the future increase what they can do but that is it for now.

      The IMSA site and many other stories explain this. Not sure where others got their info as it is not accurate.

      Reply
  2. Watch out Europe ! Here comes Cadillac!

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  3. Who are the fans of this series? I watched the highlights and there were few visible fans.

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    1. They had one of their biggest crowds for a Daytona 24h. They are all in the infield campgrounds.

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    2. me

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  4. Hybrid Unit has an energy recovery system that feeds an electric motor much like the new E RAY CORVETTE not sure if the front wheels are driven though. A little help here.

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  5. Mostly euro junk and rice burners and of course the rules are always designed to slow the American V8s down. I believe the caddy was naturally aspirated but lost to the (Penske) Acura which had more turbo chargers than biden has dementia pills.

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  6. Rolf Hybrid Unit means that these cars have a internal combustion engine AND an electric (or more) motor; so when there are no issues with the Hybrid portion of the propulsion system, is said to be OK.

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  7. LMP2, non hybrid and same chassis as LMDh, was better racing throughout the event. Settled on a last lap pass in the tri oval to decide the winner.

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    1. That was an exciting finish.

      The best was still Dan Gurney in the Daytona Continental. In the 60’s.

      It was a timed race but not 24 hour. With only a few min left his car broke. So he parked near the wall at the start finish line. He was so far ahead he could sit in the lead.

      Time expired he got the car to roll over the line to win on the starter.

      Hmmm kind of like the hybrid system that may have been the first electric win. Lol!

      Reply
  8. CADILLAC engine is naturally aspirated just like some people are naturally void of intelligance i.e. #45.

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  9. To those who don’t watch the 24, you’re missing a great race.

    I couldn’t understand why the two Caddies decided to race each other at the end and lost sight of working together to chase down the leader for the win. But they had a pretty good weekend overall.

    Reply
    1. They are still two different teams and at the end they were racing for position.

      I think bot cars due to race damage just lost some speed. The yellow car lost the rear section and got come major repairs.

      Also these cars are not really that different than last year. Acura was jut a bit better last year. Cadillac has a new aero package that still needs development. They will get it sorted out.

      Reply
  10. Either from superior power output or better aerodynamics, during the last hour of the Daytona 24, the Acuras ran away and hid from the Caddys. The difference in speed was very noticeable on the part of the Tri-oval the IMSA course uses. The winning, Meyers-Shank Acura entry was admittedly their “Rabbit” but the car held together for the entire race. Honda has a lot of experience with Hybrid power thanks to their involvement with Red Bull in F1.

    Reply

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