Cadillac DPi-V.R

The Cadillac DPi-V.R is a sports prototype racing car which started competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in North America in 2017. It is the manufacturer variation of Dallara P217 base, and replaces the Corvette DP. It marked Cadillac's return to sports car racing as a full constructor for the first time since the Cadillac Northstar LMP that competed in American Le Mans Series from 2000 to 2002. It was unveiled on November 30, 2016.[4]

Across six seasons of competition, the DPi-V.R won the IMSA SportsCar Championship three times, doing so in 2017 with Wayne Taylor Racing, and in 2018 and 2021 with Action Express Racing. The DPi-V.R was one of the most successful DPi cars by the end of its time in competition, and it would be replaced by the Cadillac V-Series.R in 2023, following a change to the new Le Mans Hypercar and LMDh ruleset for sports prototypes.[5]

Background

A closed-top design, it incorporates several new mechanical and safety features not used in the previous Corvette DP car. Zylon anti-intrusion panels are built into the frame that prevent any mechanical components from coming into the chassis in the event of an accident. The Cadillac DPi-V.R has an electrical power steering system and an improved gearbox.[6]

Competition history

With the DPi regulations in place for the 2017 IMSA SportsCar Championship, the Cadillac DPi-V.R officially made its first start at the 2017 24 Hours of Daytona, where it also completed its first victory courtesy of Wayne Taylor Racing and drivers Jordan Taylor, Ricky Taylor, Max Angelelli, and Jeff Gordon.[7] Cadillac proceeded to take victory in the next six races; four from Wayne Taylor Racing and one from each of the two entries from Action Express Racing. Cadillac completed a dominant season by taking home the Teams', Constructors', and Drivers' championships, with all three Cadillac entries occupying the top 3 of the standings. Wayne Taylor Racing, with the Taylor brothers, took home the Teams' and Drivers' titles for Cadillac.[8]

Cadillac carried their momentum over to the 2018 IMSA SportsCar Championship, winning the season-opening 2018 24 Hours of Daytona with Mustang Sampling Racing and drivers Filipe Albuquerque, João Barbosa, and Christian Fittipaldi.[9] Eric Curran and Felipe Nasr secured the championship with Whelen Engineering Racing, marking back-to-back titles for Cadillac.[10] Across all three entries, the DPi-V.R secured a total of 11 podiums.

The next two seasons were less fruitful for Cadillac, as the rising levels of competition began to even out the field. The DPi-V.R finished runner-up twice in the 2019 IMSA SportsCar Championship and the 2020 IMSA SportsCar Championship, completing each season in 2nd overall behind Acura and Team Penske.[11][12] Cadillac did continue to win the 24 Hours of Daytona, winning both the 2019 and 2020 editions, extending their record at Daytona to four consecutive wins, a streak that eventually ended in 2021, when then-recently departed Wayne Taylor Racing won the race with the Acura ARX-05 under five seconds ahead of the Ally Cadillac in 2nd.[13][14]

The DPi-V.R won the series title for a third and final time in the 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship with Whelen Engineering Racing, the team experiencing a late season streak of podiums and victories in the second half of the season, from Watkins Glen to Road Atlanta, to take home the championships for Cadillac.[15] In its final season in 2022, Chip Ganassi Racing were the highest-placed Cadillac in the standings, ending their season in 3rd.

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

Results in bold indicate pole position. Results in italics indicate fastest lap.

External links

• Cadillac Racing Official Website
• The Official Website of Cadillac