The Cadillac V-Series.R, originally named the Cadillac V-LMDh, is a sports prototype racing car designed by Cadillac and built by Dallara. It is designed to the Le Mans Daytona h regulations, and debuted in the IMSA SportsCar Championship at the season opening 24 Hours of Daytona.[6][7] The car is also contesting the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2023 onwards.[8] The engine's 5.5L displacement is the largest displacement of any of the GTP cars debuted in the revival of the GTP class at the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona.[9]

Cadillac V-Series.R
The No. 31 V-Series.R practicing for the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona
CategoryLe Mans Daytona h
ConstructorCadillac (Dallara)
Designer(s)Chris Mikalauskas (Exterior Designer)[1]
Aaron Pfeifer (Vehicle Technical Lead)[2]
Adam Trojanek (Lead Propulsion Engineer)[3]
PredecessorCadillac DPi-V.R
Technical specifications
ChassisLMP2-based Dallara[4] carbon fiber monocoque
EngineCadillac LMC55R 5.5 L 90° V8 NA, 32-valve, DOHC
Electric motorRear-mounted 50 kW (68 PS; 67 hp) spec MGU supplied by Bosch
TransmissionXtrac P1359 7-speed sequential manual[5]
Power500 kW (680 PS; 671 hp)
Weight1,030 kg (2,270.8 lb)
FuelTotalEnergies (WEC)
VP Racing Fuels (IMSA)
LubricantsMobil 1[5]
BrakesBrembo carbon 380/355mm with Brembo Monobloc 6-piston calipers[5]
TyresMichelin slicks with OZ one-piece forged alloys, 29/71-18 front and 34/71-18 rear[5]
Competition history
Notable entrants
Notable drivers
Debut2023 24 Hours of Daytona
First win2023 12 Hours of Sebring
Last win2024 Grand Prix of Long Beach
Last event2024 Grand Prix of Long Beach
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
2131156
Teams' Championships1 (2023 IMSA SCC)
Constructors' Championships1 (2023 IMSA SCC)
Drivers' Championships1 (2023 IMSA SCC)

Background

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On August 24, 2021, Cadillac announced they would participate in IMSA's new GTP class and join the FIA World Endurance Championship's Hypercar class in 2023 using an LMDh-compliant racing design.[10] It was also confirmed on the same day that Dallara was chosen as the chassis supplier for their LMDh contender, and that Action Express Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing would campaign the car in the 2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship season as well as contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans.[11][12]

Cadillac released renders of the car on June 9, 2022. It was also announced that the car would use a hybrid powertrain, consisting of a 90° Naturally-Aspirated V8 internal combustion engine and standardized hybrid drivetrain components provided by Williams Advanced Engineering, Bosch and Xtrac, and that Chip Ganassi Racing would campaign one car in the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship season.[13][14][15]

The first shakedown was completed in July 2022.[16] This was followed by testing at Sebring International Raceway and Road Atlanta, where the car covered nearly 19,312 km (12,000 mi).[17][18][19]

Racing results

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Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

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(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

Year Entrants Class Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pts. Pos.
2023 Cadillac Racing GTP DAY SEB LBH MON WGL MOS ELK IMS PET 2673 7th
  Sébastien Bourdais 01 3 7 8 1 5 9 4 7 2
  Renger van der Zande 3 7 8 1 5 9 4 7 2
  Scott Dixon 3 7 2
  Earl Bamber 02 4 306 21st
  Alex Lynn 4
  Richard Westbrook 4
Whelen Engineering Racing   Alexander Sims 31 5 1 5 3 2 7 6 4 6 2733 1st
  Pipo Derani 5 1 5 3 2 7 6 4 6
  Jack Aitken 5 1 2 6
2024 Cadillac Racing GTP DAY SEB LBH LGA DET WGL ELK IMS ATL 594* 4th
  Renger van der Zande 01 10 2 1
  Sébastien Bourdais 10 2 1
  Scott Dixon 10 2
  Álex Palou 10
Whelen Engineering Racing   Jack Aitken 31 2 10 2 600* 3rd*
  Pipo Derani 2 10 2
  Tom Blomqvist 2 10
Source:[20]

Complete IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup results

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(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

Year Entrants Class Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 Pts. Pos.
2023 Cadillac Racing GTP DAY SEB WGL PET 38 3rd
  Sébastien Bourdais 01 3 7 5 2
  Renger van der Zande 3 7 5 2
  Scott Dixon 3 7 2
  Earl Bamber 02 4 9 9th
  Alex Lynn 4
  Richard Westbrook 4
Whelen Engineering Racing   Alexander Sims 31 5 1 2 6 40 1st
  Pipo Derani 5 1 2 6
  Jack Aitken 5 1 2 6
2024 Cadillac Racing GTP DAY SEB WGL IMS ATL 9* 6th
  Renger van der Zande 01 10 2
  Sébastien Bourdais 10 2
  Scott Dixon 10 2
  Álex Palou 10
Whelen Engineering Racing   Jack Aitken 31 2 10 18* 1st*
  Pipo Derani 2 10
  Tom Blomqvist 2 10
Source:[21]

Complete World Endurance Championship results

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(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

Year Entrants Class Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Points Pos
2023 Cadillac Racing Hypercar SEB POR SPA LMN MON FUJ BHR 79 4th
  Earl Bamber 2 4 4 5 3 10 10 11
  Alex Lynn 4 4 5 3 10 10 11
  Richard Westbrook 4 4 5 3 10 10 11
  Sébastien Bourdais 3 Ret 4 ** **
  Renger van der Zande Ret 4
  Jack Aitken Ret
  Scott Dixon 4
Action Express Racing   Alexander Sims 311 17 ** **
  Pipo Derani 17
  Jack Aitken 17
2024 Cadillac Racing Hypercar QAT IMO SPA LMN SAO COA FUJ BHR 14* 7th*
  Earl Bamber 2 DSQ 10 Ret 7
  Alex Lynn DSQ 10 Ret 7
  Sébastien Bourdais DSQ
  Álex Palou 7
  Sébastien Bourdais 3 Ret ** **
  Renger van der Zande Ret
  Scott Dixon Ret
Whelen Cadillac Racing   Felipe Drugovich 311 15 ** **
  Pipo Derani 15
  Jack Aitken 15
Source:[22]

* Championship ongoing. ** Not eligible for championship points.

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References

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  1. ^ Mikalauskas, Chris (November 28, 2022). "How Cadillac put its stamp on the LMDh concept". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  2. ^ Perez, Jerry (June 10, 2023). "How Cadillac Scrambled To Fix Its Le Mans Hypercar Overnight After Fire in Qualifying". The Drive. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  3. ^ Perkins, Chris (July 29, 2023). "Cadillac's Big Naturally Aspirated Race V-8 Is a Monster In a World of Small Turbo Engines". Road & Track. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  4. ^ Newbold, James (December 18, 2022). "Inside the spec hybrid spine of LMDh cars". Motorsport.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d "Entry List 2023" (PDF). 24 Hours of Le Mans (in French). Archived (PDF) from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Cross, Stefan (February 9, 2022). "Cadillac Previews Project GTP Race Car" (Press release). Cadillac. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Goodwin, Graham (February 9, 2022). "Cadillac Tease Forthcoming 'Project GTP' Car". www.dailysportscar.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  8. ^ "Cadillac to Compete in IMSA and WEC in 2023". media.cadillac.com (Press release). Cadillac. August 24, 2021. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  9. ^ "New Year, New Cars: Cadillac V-LMDh". IMSA. January 4, 2023. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  10. ^ Toma, Sebastian (August 24, 2021). "Cadillac Will Compete in WEC and IMSA in 2023 With a V-Series Prototype". autoevolution.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  11. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (August 24, 2021). "Cadillac Announces LMDh Program with AXR, Ganassi". sportscar365.com. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Pruett, Marshall (August 24, 2021). "Cadillac confirms LMDh program for IMSA and WEC". racer.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (June 9, 2022). "Cadillac Previews LMDh Car Design; Confirms V8 Engine". sportscar365.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  14. ^ Watkins, Gary (June 10, 2022). "Cadillac reveals 2023 LMDh racer for WEC and IMSA programmes". autosport.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  15. ^ "Cadillac Shake Down New LMDh Racer". dailysportscar.com. July 8, 2022. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  16. ^ Dagys, John (July 8, 2022). "Cadillac LMDh Car Completes Rollout". sportscar365.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  17. ^ Days, John (August 26, 2022). "Cadillac V-LMDh Completes Three-Day Road Atlanta Test". sportscar365.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  18. ^ Malsher-Lopez, David (November 4, 2022). "Cadillac completes 24-hour test at Sebring". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  19. ^ Lopez, Jonathan (December 1, 2022). "Cadillac Racing V-LMDh Passes Crucial Testing, Development Milestones". gmauthority.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  20. ^ "2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Points - Official.pdf" (PDF). results.imsa.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  21. ^ "2023 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Points" (PDF). results.imsa.com. Al Kamel Systems. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  22. ^ "Season 2023 Results". FIA World Endurance Championship. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.