Certain manufacturers we've come to expect to dominate endurance prototype racing: Audi, Porsche, even Toyota or Peugeot. But Cadillac?
Yes, Cadillac. The American luxury marque positively dominated the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship this year, wrapping up just about all the top titles in the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta this past weekend.
Cadillac returned to top-tier motor racing this season with the DPi-V.R, essentially a Dallara P217 LMP2 chassis (one of four approved for use by the FIA, ACO, and IMSA), powered by Caddy's own 6.2-liter V8 and unique bodywork. And it not only started winning right out the gate, it kept winning until there was nothing left to win.
Out of the ten races this season that included the top-tier prototypes, the DPi-V.R won the first seven – including the endurance races at Daytona, Sebring, and Watkins Glen. Despite a poor showing at Road Atlanta, the Cadillac entries still accumulated enough points to win all six top titles, including the drivers', teams', and manufacturers' trophies for both the full season and the endurance cup (for the five long-distance races).
In fact, Cadillac drivers locked out the top three spots in the standings, leaving those running under Nissan, Mazda, and Gibson power fighting for table scraps. Nissans won at Road America in Wisconsin this past August, and at Road Atlanta this past weekend, with a Gibson-powered Ligier winning at Laguna Seca. Otherwise, though, it was all Cadillac.
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